The real question should be, can you afford to NOT invest in digital learning tools?
There are a ton of reasons to make the shift towards digital learning tools in classroom-based learning, and reshaping what learning and development looks like.
Ultimately, digital training tools will enhance the learning experience; however, the trainer must be adept with using the tool, too, or the training will fall flat.
Still wondering why your organization should employ digital learning tools?
Here’s an overview of why your business should adopt digital training tools:
Digital promotes engagement.
Using digital tools helps to involve participants. For instance, it creates a social, cohesive experience for employees, as everyone is working on the same tool and towards the same goal. Digital tools are generally is easy to use, too. The trainer can take the lead, launch the tool’s features automatically and guide participants through the training, ensuring that no one gets “lost” during the session. It’s also easy to help shy participants who might not otherwise speak up in front of a group get involved.
Digital drives innovation.
Digital training spurs people to create more ideas, expand their thoughts and collaborate. The latter is especially important. As employees are exposed to the ideas of others, it leads to curiosity and new ideas. It also helps employees see alternative ways to make decisions, identifying ways to avoid past mistakes and make better decisions in the future. Working collaboratively also enables employees to quickly sort their ideas and guide their thoughts.
Digital encourages memorization.
Digital tools are hugely helpful for people who learn primarily through kinesthetic means (or learning by doing activity), and for anyone employee who needs to learn through visual means.
With innovative digital tools as the delivery medium, the experience is memorable. As a result, employees will share their experience with colleagues and friends, helping to further solidify the knowledge built during the training session.
Mobile learning also extends beyond the classroom and helps with distance learning.
Mobile learning allows for memorization because learners have access to learning materials at all times. With the ability to interact with the content at any time, learners can combat weak short-term memory.
Digital helps with organization.
As the learning and development professional or trainer is preparing materials for the class, the digital tool can promote optimal organization. By creating modules on the digital device, the trainer can keep track of what he or she wants to focus on for that session.
The tool also helps trainers better manage their ideas and make more effective associations between content and activities. In terms of classroom management, the trainer can easily manage classes, assign evaluations from one place, and quickly access reports.
It saves the trainer time, while promoting optimal follow-up with students. Digital tools also promote organization for the learner. It helps learners keep track of notes, allowing them instant access to their documents no matter where they are. Instead of trying to keep track of lots of sheets of paper, the digital tool keeps everything in one place.
These digital tools are not just a benefit for training sessions. Your organization can also employ them in meetings, too.
The Millennial force
Perhaps even more important is the fact that Millennials are going to take over the workforce soon.
By 2020, Millennials are expected to represent nearly half of the workforce.
This is an important trend, because they not only are comfortable using the technology; they expect to use digital tools.
However, the increase of mobile learning even started in 2004 when researchers noticed that it became more and more complicated to engage students. Organizations experience the same problem: Digitalization is a way to connect to this over-connected generation.
For learning and development professionals, the rise of tech-savvy individuals in the workplace should inform their investments in training and the tools they use.
More importantly, Millennials don’t want to work just to make money; they take learning seriously, and they want to continually advance their capabilities. They’ll be drawn to — and stay with — organizations that provide both.
Get ready for the Millennials now, and get a host of benefits in the process for your current employees, with digital training tools.
