How to Create Online Courses Which Actually Foster Employee Engagement

Engaged employees are more productive, motivated, and satisfied in their roles, but one big killer of engagement can be lengthy, online courses. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Well-designed online courses can actually boost employee engagement and drive motivation. 

In this blog post, we'll explore how to create online courses that foster employee engagement by leveraging micro-learning, bite-sizing, gamification, short form videos, and promoting continuous learning.

Embrace Micro-Learning

Micro-learning is a powerful strategy to engage employees effectively, with 58% of survey respondents more likely to use their company’s online learning tools if the content was broken up into multiple, shorter lessons. It involves breaking down complex topics into small, easily digestible units. Here's how to integrate micro-learning into your online courses: 

• Bite-Sized Lessons: Create modules that are short and focused, ensuring that employees can complete them in a short amount of time. This allows for better retention and minimizes cognitive overload.
  
• Frequent Assessments: Incorporate mini-quizzes or knowledge checks throughout the course. These assessments reinforce learning and prevent Roediger’s ‘forgetting curve’ (Roediger, H. L., & Karpicke, J. D. 2006).

Gamification: Making Learning Fun

Gamification injects an element of fun and competition into online courses and allows users to see their own progress and success. Consider deploying these strategies:

• Points and Badges: Award points and badges for completing modules or achieving certain milestones. Employees can compete or collaborate, fostering a sense of achievement.
• Leaderboards: Implement leaderboards to display top performers. Healthy competition can drive engagement and motivate employees to excel.

Short Form Videos

Visual content is often more engaging than text-based material. Short form videos are an excellent way to convey information effectively:

• Engaging Content: Create short videos that explain complex concepts or demonstrate practical skills. These videos can be easily shared and accessed at any time.
• Interactive Elements: Include interactive elements within videos, such as quizzes or branching scenarios, to keep employees actively participating.

Promote Continuous Learning

The learning process should not end with the completion of a course. Encourage continuous learning with these strategies:

• Resource Libraries: Provide access to additional resources, articles, or videos related to the course topics. This encourages employees to explore further.
• Regular Updates: Keep courses up-to-date to reflect changes in industry trends or regulations. Encourage employees to revisit the content periodically.
• Feedback Loops: Allow employees to provide feedback on course content. Their input can help shape future courses and demonstrate that their opinions are valued.

Creating online courses that foster employee engagement is a dynamic process that requires thoughtful planning and implementation. For example, 5Mins.ai uses AI coupled with a role based skills map to deliver personalized content, and making learning engaging via our gamification etc.

Conclusion

By incorporating micro-learning, bite-sizing, gamification, short form videos, and promoting continuous learning, you can design courses that not only deliver essential information but also captivate and motivate your workforce.

Engaged employees are more likely to embrace learning opportunities, leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction. Invest in designing engaging online courses, and watch as your employees thrive in a culture of continuous learning and growth. Employee engagement is not just a buzzword; it's the cornerstone of a successful and motivated workforce. Start crafting engaging online courses today to reap the benefits of a more engaged and empowered team.