E-Learning Training Course Post-Launch Tips to Improve Success and Return on Investment
There are multiple steps to successfully deliver an e-learning training course to your team. Those steps include planning your approach, determining your learning objectives, appointing professional e-learning developers, going through the development process, and launching the course.
One area that is often overlooked, however, is post-launch, i.e. the things you can do after you have launched your e-learning course that will improve the results you achieve. Those results include:
- Engagement rates
- Learner experience and satisfaction
- Retention rates
- Measurable behavioural change
- Return on investment
Below are the steps you should take after you launch an e-learning course to make sure it is as successful as possible.
Promote the Launch
The obvious first step is to promote the launch of the e-learning course to ensure everyone who should know about it knows about it. This includes those you want to complete the course as well as their managers.
You can do this through your normal communication channels – email, communication platforms, company portals, intranets, etc.
Identify Early Adopters
Early adopters can really help you get others enthused about the training course. You should identify them as soon as you can to take advantage of their early adoption of the course.
Examples of what you can do include:
- Respond to their feedback and implement their suggestions where possible
- If they haven’t given feedback, enthusiastically ask for their input
- Publicly recognise their success and achievements
Review Reports
Reviewing reports from the Learning Management System (LMS) of your e-learning course developer is another crucial post-launch step. You should look at everything from completion rates to aggregate quiz results to technical performance and more.
The more you know about how the course is being received and how it is performing, the better.
Review Other Performance Indicators
LMS reports are not the only indicators you can review. Other things you should look at include behavioural change in the organisation or business performance reports.
Another important step you can take is to speak to the managers of the people completing the course to get their feedback as well as an understanding of any behavioural changes they have noticed.
Encourage Feedback More Generally from All Learners
You should also encourage all learners completing the course to give you feedback. This request may be included as part of the e-learning course content, but it can also help to follow up to remind learners.
Update the Course to Prevent It from Becoming Out-of-Date
There are few things more off-putting to learners than content that is wrong or outdated. So, when new information becomes available, update your e-learning course.
Add New Content to Keep the Course Fresh
It can also be helpful to add new content to the course. This isn’t about keeping the information accurate and up to date. Instead, it’s about keeping the content fresh and new.
Keep Learners Up to Date with Emails
There is no point updating your e-learning course if you don’t tell learners there is something new. An easy way of doing this is by email, but you can also use any other commonly used communication tool in your company.
Run a Competition
This tip won’t apply in all situations, but in the right circumstances, it can be very effective. For example, you can enter everyone who completes the e-learning course by a specific date into a prize draw, or you could give prizes to the learners who score highest on quizzes and tests.
You don’t even need to give away big prizes to get interaction. Time off work, small donations to employee-nominated charities, and gift vouchers can all generate interest, improve engagement, and make the course more successful.
Interact on Social and Communication Platforms
You should be active on social channels and communications platforms where learners are either talking about the course content or the general topic it covers. Answer questions, provide encouragement, give information, etc.
Create Micro E-Learning Modules on Related Topics
Another option you have is to create micro e-learning modules on topics related to the main topic of the e-learning course.
For example, you might mention a topic area in the content of the main course without going into it in detail. Instead, you may give learners a link which they can access further information if they want to. This is the sort of topic that is ideal for a micro e-learning module.
A micro e-learning module, or micro byte, is a super short course that focuses on a very specific topic.
Update Additional Resource Information
You should also regularly update the additional resources available to learners. You will probably provide an initial list when you launch the e-learning course. Adding new content, links, and resources to this will keep it fresh.
Start Working on Your Refresher Course
Finally, you can use the time post the launch of an e-learning course to start work on a refresher course on the same topic. This is often recommended and is usually completed by learners six to 12 months after they complete the main course.
A refresher course is not as big or detailed as the initial main e-learning course. Instead, it gives an overview of the topic again to jog the memory and help improve long-term retention rates.
Making a Success of Your E-Learning Course
You don’t have to adopt all the above tips to ensure your e-learning course is successful. However, you should not simply launch it, hoping for the best. By being proactive and taking steps to maximise engagement and interaction, you will ensure good results.