The percentage of people working remotely has been gradually climbing since 2015 at a yearly rate of between one and three percent. However, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 drastically disrupted the global economy and markets. Due to the sudden shift in working conditions, many companies were forced to allow remote work options for the first time. This mass work-from-home experiment has revealed several opportunities for more innovative learning strategies that empower employees.

The traditional in-person training and outdated development strategies are no longer adequate for today's remote and hybrid workforces. Employees are demanding more personalized and self-directed options that fit their unique schedules and learning styles. Let's talk about why it's time to embrace new learning methods that take advantage of technology.

Why Traditional Learning Is Failing Us

If there's one thing that makes traditional learning ineffective for employees, it is that it requires them to learn the same thing at the same time. It forces them to keep up with an inflexible schedule, regardless of their individual needs and interests.

Generally, when you force yourself to understand something before you're ready or interested, it's difficult to retain the information and apply it effectively. Employees learn best when they can go at their own pace and study what interests them the most at that moment.

Other reasons why traditional learning is not effective include:

• One-size-fits-all approach: Traditional training assumes that all employees learn best in the same way. This neglects the fact that people have different learning styles, paces, and needs.
• Passive learning: Traditional learning often involves listening to lectures or watching presentations in a passive manner. However, sometimes, teaching strategies in the classroom are less effective for knowledge retention compared to active and hands-on learning.
• Lack of interaction: Traditional learning lacks the opportunity for real-time discussion, feedback, and clarification that helps cement knowledge and understanding.
• Limited application: Traditional learning provides limited opportunities for employees to immediately apply their new skills and knowledge to their day-to-day work. Without application, learning fails to stick.

Due to these disadvantages, inquiry based learning has become more prominent as an effective alternative. These learner-centered strategies place the responsibility of learning directly on the shoulders of the students. This digital transformation is pushing companies to embrace new tactics, offering flexibility, interactivity, and opportunities to truly drive knowledge retention.

The New Era Of Learning

eLearning and other types of innovative learning strategies are optimizing the way people acquire and retain knowledge. Among these three, eLearning is significantly changing the corporate learning process due to its convenience, flexibility, and cost efficiency.

It became the go-to solution for companies because of its ability to provide interactive and personalized learning experiences that fit the busy schedules and different learning styles of employees. This technique engages students even more as it's not as boring as lengthy manuals and endless PowerPoint presentations. As a result, the entire team's development, engagement, and overall success improve.

But how exactly do eLearning methods level up teams within an organization? Here are some of the benefits:

Own pace learning due to flexibility

eLearning allows employees to study at their own pace and schedule. They can go through lessons, videos, and other material whenever it's most convenient for them. This self-directed approach ensures learners fully grasp concepts before moving on.

Immediate application

The instant availability of eLearning content means employees can apply what they learn directly to their work. They don't have to wait for an in-person session to try out new skills and knowledge. This boosts retention and leads to faster productivity gains.

Interactive and engaging content

eLearning courses utilize multimedia like videos, animations, and simulations to keep learners engaged. Interactive tools like quizzes and games make the content more interesting and memorable. These techniques improve motivation and focus during the learning process.

Better knowledge retention

When learning is interactive, self-paced, and immediately applicable, employees retain information at higher rates. Research shows learners retain up to 90% of what they learn through eLearning compared to only 10-20% through classroom lectures. This leads to long-term benefits for companies.

As for the company, eLearning is a cost-efficient solution that saves on training and travel expenses. Employees can access courses from anywhere, which reduces downtime and disruption to business operations. What's more, eLearning content can be reused and updated easily, ensuring a consistent learning experience over time.

New Era of Innovative Learning Strategies

Blended Learning For Today’s Workforce

Blended learning combines the benefits of online learning with traditional in-person learning. It provides flexibility through digital resources while maintaining the interaction of physical classrooms. This dual approach caters to different learning styles through online videos, readings, and physical activities with instructors and peers.

Learners can apply their knowledge through practical projects and activities discussed during meetings, helping them bridge theory with practice. Instructors can quickly identify and assist students who need extra support.

Project based learning (PBL) enhances this process by allowing employees to engage in real-world challenges, fostering deeper understanding and practical application of concepts.

This type of blended approach fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement within organizations. Employees are motivated to keep sharpening relevant skills that directly impact their work. And companies see performance gains as workers put new ideas into action immediately.

Adaptive Learning For Unique Needs

Adaptive learning uses AI and machine learning to personalize the learning experience for each individual student. Courses dynamically adjust based on a learner's responses, providing tailored feedback, guidance, and content. This results in a few key benefits:

Higher efficiency: By focusing only on knowledge gaps, adaptive learning ensures students spend less time on content they have already mastered. This allows them to progress through courses at their own pace and complete lessons more quickly.

Improved comprehension: By receiving targeted recommendations and repeated practice on challenging concepts, students develop a deeper understanding of the material. Adaptive learning pinpoints areas of confusion and provides additional resources to overcome obstacles.

Increased engagement: Students receive a more personalized education that caters to their interests, needs, and abilities. This boosts motivation, effort, and involvement throughout the learning process.

Better performance: By identifying and remedying weaknesses, adaptive learning helps students achieve learning objectives and improve performance on tests and assignments. The system also detects when a learner is ready for assessment.

Greater self-direction: The individualized guidance that adaptive learning provides empowers students to take charge of their education. Learners receive support tailored to their goals while gaining confidence in their ability to master complex skills on their own. This fosters crucial self-directed learning competencies that extend beyond any particular course.

In summary, adaptive learning has the potential to make education more effective and relevant by tailoring courses to each learner's unique profile and performance. As this technology advances, we may see significant improvements in learning outcomes, knowledge retention, and skill development.

Conclusion: Why Invest in Innovative Learning Strategies?

As the corporate world continues to evolve into a globalized, knowledge-based economy, businesses must invest in innovative workforce strategies to gain a competitive edge. Traditional methods of training and development are no longer sufficient for developing the skills and talents needed to thrive in today's rapidly changing environment.

Overall, innovative learning strategies can help businesses build a culture of lifelong learning that drives innovation, fuels growth, and keeps them ahead of the curve. The time to invest is now - companies that embrace these strategies will develop a competitive advantage that shapes their future success.

Don't hesitate to explore Intellezy's modern learning solutions to see how we can help your team advance their knowledge and maximize their potential.