The Top 6 Training Delivery Trends For Professional Development Programs

Online education continues to evolve as we dive further into a remote-first world. So much so that it seems anything can drive the need to expand and elevate what you offer as professional development. Whether it is availability, hardware, or collaboration, there’s always something you can do to take your training delivery beyond its current reach. Can learners take the course at flexible hours? Is the material accessible from an iPad? Do learners have the opportunity to network with each other? 

Many healthcare agencies still rely heavily on in-person training or consider “online” to be a PowerPoint presentation. If your organization is like this, you’ll need to work even harder to meet the expectations of your learners. Here are the trends you need to follow to navigate the ever-changing world of health training.

These are the trending training delivery methods for remote learning

Cloud-based Learning

The “cloud” refers to the Internet in this instance. Cloud-based learning on a hosted LMS (learning management system) is a convenient and relatively low-cost way of delivering curricula to learners who want the ultimate flexibility. Because courses are hosted online, learners can access the content 24/7 no matter where they are. 

Training that’s delivered over the Internet and always available is an expectation among most learners, especially younger ones who have already experienced learning online as part of high school and/or college. Additionally, WFH and hybrid models have introduced the need for cloud-based solutions in most working environments, so cloud-based training delivery will continue to gain traction for professional development.

Gamification

Anyone who has spent too many hours playing Candy Crush, or seen someone else glued to an X-Box, understands how games can grab your attention like nothing else. Savvy educators have noticed this too, and they’ve applied video game design elements to motivate learners. The theory is if something is fun, learners are engaged, and they’ll learn better and retain those skills.

A course with game-based elements might include immediate feedback, rewards such as “badges,” or increasing challenges.

(Read more about how Millennials embrace gamification.) 

Localized Curriculum

Depending on the subject, an off-the-shelf curriculum can be perfect for your staff. Industry certifications and other generalized programs can work perfectly fine this way.

However, your program may significantly benefit from some localization. A good example of localization is translating the course content into Spanish or providing case studies that match demographics. This trend makes training delivery much easier. 

Mobile Learning

More people are drifting away from their desktop computers in favor of their smartphones. This is driving the trend of more courses, or elements of the courses, to be available on mobile devices, and thus mobile learning, or m-learning. In practical terms, it means that the course should be visible when you’re looking at it on your smartphone. It might also have features such as forum updates, or compatibility with social applications.

More than half of searches occur on a mobile device. In today’s world, it’s already crucial for websites to be responsive, if not designed to be mobile-first. When planning your online training program, consider this delivery trend as part of the design. Especially for supplemental materials like videos or PDFs, mobile-first design will help your learners access the content on the go.

MOOCs

MOOCs (massive open online courses) are about the biggest — and most controversial — thing in learning now. A MOOC is a cloud-based course on the web that is widely open to an unlimited number of participants. Many of these courses are free, at least for students, or priced low. However, many of these pages charge for the final exam, giving the students the opportunity to “audit” for free or get a certificate by paying a fee.

Even if you don’t know the term MOOC, you’ve likely seen this type of program through pages like Coursera or edX.

Social Learning

Just as social media revolutionized the way people communicate with each other, social learning is a trend that may change the way people learn with each other. Social learning employs many of the same tools and technologies of social media and applies them to the digital classroom. This might include Twitter, blogs, wikis, YouTube, and Facebook.

One key benefit of this training delivery trend is that you’re bringing the content to a platform most of your staff is already familiar with. Plus, these platforms are free (with the possible exception of paying to host your blog), which is significant if you’re facing budgetary restrictions.

The Right Training Delivery Method Can Greatly Increase Your Chances of Success

As a program manager, you want to ensure that your professional development initiatives hit the mark with learners and directors alike. Working with a trusted partner can make all the difference in the success of your online learning program. If you’re ready to explore the options available for you, contact us for a free consultation.

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