There is no question that mobile devices are changing corporate learning forever. However, this doesn’t mean classroom-based training or formal eLearning courses are going away, it just means the mobile movement is demanding companies to rethink their training strategies and to create learning programs especially for mobile devices.

“Modern corporate learners” are an enigma. They want to learn but abhor classroom training. They crave deep learning experiences but do not want to sit for too long to “study.” This gives headaches to many L&D professionals. They have a hard time figuring out how to connect with their “enigmatic” audiences and make them pay heed to their messages. But L&D professionals do have one thing clear: the traditional didactic models of learning have outlived their needs. They need newer training models to connect with the modern corporate learner. They need to design learning content to appeal to their learners—a demanding breed that wants training to be developed and delivered considering their lives, likes, and routines.

We are carrying on with our series where we decode the science of forgetting. We peek inside the human brain to decipher why learners forget your training. The knowledge will provide you with valuable insights on what to do to create memorable eLearning courses. The modern corporate learner is overwhelmed by a constant influx of stimuli and information. Employees have to relentlessly sift through a sea of information to sort the facts from the fluff. They have to carry out sundry personal and professional responsibilities. They also want to work on their dreams and cherished projects. They basically have too much going on in their minds. Their attention wanders and they can't focus on the learning as much as they would have liked to.

What’s memorable? What leaves an indelible impression on your mind and changes you fundamentally? We all have our favorite movies, songs, or books. There are stories, tunes, and characters that stay with us for the rest of our lives. As an eLearning developer, wouldn’t you love to design courses that create such everlasting memories for your learners? But in the core of our beings, we know how challenging it is to create unforgettable eLearning courses. There are deadlines. Work has to be completed yesterday. The result: you create courses mindlessly. You spend long hours working on courses that hardly resonate with your learners. So you end up wasting precious time and effort creating content that your learners forget the moment they complete the course.

You just got new software. It’s going to be great! It will increase productivity and communication and yield great results…IF everyone knows how to use it. But if they’re not well trained, you’ll never reap the benefits you paid for. As the Training Manager, you’re responsible for training employees on the new tools and programs. It’s your job to make sure they know how to use its features, QUICKLY. Getting everyone in the company up-to-speed is your priority.

While formal learning is still one of the most commonly used training methods in companies, it’s just one way of the many ways of approaching training. In addition to learning formally, individuals can also learn informally and non-formally. Let’s review these three learning methods, analyze their meaning, depict their main characteristics and discuss examples. After reading this post, you’ll know when and how to best implement each type of learning, and how to combine them to keep your employees engaged and continuously learning. Combining formal, informal and non-formal learning is key to train today’s modern workforce.

How well do you know the people you lead? How can you create value for your employees, so they stick around and support your business visions? Are you sure that your employees are happy and don’t sigh because they believe the grass is greener on the other side? To be an inspiring leader, you have to understand the modern workforce. You have to delve into their minds to find out what inspires them to come to work every day (or if they have to beat themselves to come to work) and what keeps them around (or are they eyeing greener pastures). You would want to know how they expect you to train, inspire, and help them succeed in their careers. You should also be aware of the trends in the workplace and the changing needs and aspirations of the workforce.

Creating an effective eLearning program is no easy task. It takes hard work, commitment, continuous trial and error, and making LOTS of mistakes along the way before you hit the mark. In this post, we wanted to share some of the lessons we've learned the hard way and give you some valuable pieces of advice, so you don’t make the same mistakes we (or our clients) did. We can only hope that walking you through these lessons-learned can help begin your eLearning design endeavor the right way.