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Developing engaging content
A good e-learning strategy requires a high level of commitment from learners. The development of a high-quality educational programme is therefore a step that should not be overlooked. After all, isn’t that the heart of the matter?
Here are some tips on how to do this:
- The training should be easily integrated into their daily work routine (via laptop, tablet or smartphone), and based on realistic situations.
- Prefer training with short modules or divided into several sessions so as not to be counterproductive.
- Also remember to organise your content clearly; this will make it easier for your learners to find their way around, concentrate on the key points and remember them better.
- Give them as much autonomy as possible and give them greater responsibility by allowing them to choose the chapters that interest them and let them progress at their own pace (but giving with clear objectives).
- Boost their motivation with interactive content and varied, dynamic or even fun formats.
- Finally, involve the trainers as well to make the support you are providing more dynamic.
Give users a meaningful (memorable) experience!
A visually appealing and stimulating environment, a captivating story and small doses of humour are the keys.
Choose relevant technologies
Mobile learning, social learning, immersive learning… Digital training courses are available in a wide variety of formats. But not all of them will necessarily be appropriate to your expectations. Choosing the right tools and technologies is therefore essential.
Here are a few questions to ask before considering a specific technology:
- Are you considering “pure” e-learning or blended learning?
Blended learning is a system that combines two learning methods: e-learning and classroom-based training.
- Will your course be synchronous, asynchronous or both (blended)?
Synchronous digital training is training that must be taken on a specific day and at a specific time; in contrast, asynchronous digital training is training that is available at all times. Blended training combines asynchronous training (rather individual, free access training) with live online or classroom training.
- What type of content are you considering? Mostly textual or very graphic, including video?
- Are you planning to use collaborative tools? If so, which ones (wiki, chat, forum, community platform…)?
- What evaluation tools will you use (tests, quizzes, surveys, etc.)?
- What level of interactivity are you looking for?
- Simple: with e-learning content for example,
- Moderate: with branching scenarios,
- Total immersion: simulation experiences close to reality are an example.
- What level of gamification do you want? Scores, rewards, serious games…?
- Which terminal(s) do you think your learners will use (computer/smartphone)? Will any platforms need to be created?
At this stage of your strategic thinking, remember that choosing an innovative technology is not enough to produce a quality e-learning course; it is also a matter of meeting a specific need.
Evaluating the impact of your animal health training
Evaluating a course, getting feedback and observing the resulting changes are all complex. It is not easy to assess the impact of a training course. Classically, the return on investment (ROI) is calculated by dividing the return by the cost. However, while it is easy to quantify the investment involved in setting up an e-learning course, it is much harder to measure the benefits, which are not just monetary.
The solution is to use the Kirkpatrick Model, which defines 4 levels of evaluation:
- Satisfaction: What are the learners’ reactions at the end of the course?
- Learning: What knowledge, skills or soft skills have they acquired?
- Behaviour: With the benefit of hindsight, do the learners use what they have learned from this course?
- Impact on the company: What is the impact of the training on the company’s performance?
This model is rather old (1959). Today it is supplemented by the ROE (Return on Expectations). ROE is different from ROI and its logic is purely financial: it is a genuine collaborative approach to impact assessment. ROE starts before the training course by identifying the company’s expectations (whether monetary or not) and translating them into success criteria which relevant evaluation criteria will stem from.
Think about evaluation before developing the course
It is important to think about evaluation before developing the course and to integrate indicators or KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) into your strategy, this will enable you to judge whether the investments that have been made are relevant.
To conclude this trilogy of articles, the Covid-19 crisis has led to veterinary training becoming more and more digital, more and more quickly. E-learning is becoming synonymous with competitiveness, innovation and investment in human capital, but getting started with e-learning requires careful planning. Your e-learning strategy needs to be carefully designed. Our team of training strategy experts and specialists in the veterinary sector can help you at every stage of the process to create the training experience that suits you.
