Workplace learning used to be different.
In the last decades, learning was considered just an event. People studied four-year careers only, pursued a job for life, and then retired.
But times have changed—and today’s employees no longer see learning as a one-stop shop for a job.
Lifelong Learning is now more important than ever. And that’s more true for Millennials and Gen Z workers than just about any other group.
These are the modern learners who are vastly different temperamentally, attitudinally, and psychologically than their predecessors, the Baby Boomers.
As someone who has to cater to the needs of these new generations in the workplace, you have to create eLearning courses that appeal to their unique behaviors and learning preferences. You have to adapt your strategy and start designing learning experiences that will hook and keep them glued to the screen and make them wonder what more you have in store for them.
Become familiar with the anatomy of a modern eLearning course:
Modern learners are tech-savvy. They have grown up handling technology. One-way and passive courses are not for them!
Forget PowerPoint slides! Say bye-bye to boring PDF training manuals. Instead, design eLearning courses that let the learners interact with the content. Today’s learners are very self-directed and comfortable with an active approach to getting content, so pepper your eLearning courses with interactive activities that make them think, let them act, and steer the course of the learning themselves.
Scenarios with relatable and believable mentors and settings, quizzes, games, and social environments that facilitate (friendly or feisty) exchanges with peers and competitors are some oft-used interactive tools you can use to make your courses engaging.
So here's your golden rule: Show, don't tell.
Modern workers are not only short of time but also get easily distracted. Social media, smartphones, emails, reading blogs, whatever is beaming on the television—there is no dearth of "attractions" vying for his attention.
So you have to make your point right away; beat around the bush and your learner will exit from the course. Present only meaningful content; they have no time for fluff. They want to be sure they will be immediately applying what they are learning to real-life situations in the workplace.
Here's what to keep in mind when you create content for the modern learner:
Read: Stop Blah, Blah eLearning! 5 Rules for Creating Relevant and Fluff-free Courses
As the saying goes, if you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know how to get there? This applies to your eLearning courses too.
Modern learners want to feel like they’re “leveling up” and not just remaining stuck in their careers, doing random courses that are not adding up to a bigger plan. If they feel the learning opportunities are few and far between in their current organization, they will move on to a new job in another company. As a training manager, you know the cost of replacing an employee.
Here's how you should create courses that will give employees an increased sense of purpose in their present jobs:
Modern learners have read more blogs than humongous classics. They express their thoughts in one-liner status updates and tweets in the language of their heart. So no matter what the topic is, you should make learning experiences fun by adding continuous informal learning activities (video, mobile, micro, and social learning, coaching, etc).
Also, lighten up the serious tone! Make learners comfortable with writing in a language that is informal and conversational. Ditch the formality by talking to them and NOT talking down.
Games specifically are excellent tools to bring a breath of fresh air into a complex or staid subject matter. Regardless of your audience or subject matter, gamifying content can help you boost excitement among your learners.
Millennials and Gen Z workers were born into video games. They not only like to play games but also thrive in a competitive environment where their efforts are rewarded—access to higher levels, weapons unlocked, "lives" increased, and gold coins added to the kitty. You speak to them when you incorporate games into your courses.
Here are some ideas:
Modern learners love to have things go their way. They want to be able to control the pace of their learning and decide when and where they learn. So don't create courses that tether them to the desk or make them reschedule their already-overflowing calendar. Create courses that they can take on the go and that smoothly integrate into existing employee workflows and technology ecosystems.
Make the most of available technology to reach out to your learners in the way they prefer. Go Mobile to make learning accessible.
As the workplace changes at a faster pace, the more your training and eLearning strategies should evolve and adapt. More Millennials and Gen Z will continue joining the workforce. It is imperative that you learn their language and create modern courses to get into their good books.
Also read: 3 Signs Your Training Strategy Needs to Evolve