In one of our previous posts we spoke about the power wielded by millennials, who will soon become the most dominant demographic at workplaces across the globe. In this article, we look at how eLearning designers, trainers, HR managers and those in charge of talent development can leverage digital teaching aids and technology to cater to the needs of this target audience.

Young workers today are committed to lifelong learning because, unlike the generations that came before them, millennials are passionate about finding ‘meaningful’ work that resonates with them. They are unlikely to ‘settle’ for a typical 9-5 job, and are more self-directed in their search for a satisfying career. However, having grown up with technology and the Internet, these learners have also come to expect on-demand information, in bite-sized pieces, and flexibility in the way training material is accessed.

Here are some key pointers while creating courses for these new-age learners:

1. Using technology to design courses from the inside out
Today’s learners are not going to be satisfied with a simple PPT with a few snazzy graphics, or a clunky video that looks like it was put together by an amateur. We live in a visual age, and our experiences are routinely mediated by technology. As a consequence, we have come to expect sophistication in the content we consume. Trainers have to be mindful that they are harnessing technology intelligently, to design courses that exploit video, audio, photography and text to the fullest. This is possible using software tools like Adobe Captivate or Articulate Storyline. These products use design thinking to produce sleek, engaging content that will hook your audience from the get go. These tools also do all the heavy lifting, so your course will look and feel the same, and play seamlessly, no matter what device is being used to access the material.

2. Enable Just-in-Time Learning
Employees today also want actionable intelligence, or knowledge delivered to them not years or months in advance, but just in time for them to apply it. eLearning designers can facilitate this by unbundling courses, and allowing learners to be self-directed. Let students navigate courses offered by your company in the order of their choosing. Let them decide the pace of their learning, so they can complete lessons, or take tests at a time convenient to them.

3. Enable Microlearning
Allowing students a high degree of control over their own learning also means chunking up information into easily consumed segments. Today’s students are unlikely to respond well to hour-long lectures, or lengthy chapters crammed with information. Use microlearning strategies to transfer knowledge in short, focused bursts to close skill gaps. These nuggets of information can be delivered using focused videos that are under 3 minutes in length, taking students through scenarios, sharing an infographic, a quick interactive questionnaire and so on. There are also possibilities to use gamification and present information in a rich media context, using interactive tools for maximum efficacy.

4. Leverage the power of collaborative learning
Today, eLearning takes place within a social media universe, and we learn from our peers, mentors, and subject matter experts in a highly collaborative fashion. This is why your online courses must enable group chats, allow students to comment on threads, ping teachers to clarify questions, tag fellow students to discuss a particular aspect of the course, share videos or blogs, so conversation around the subject can drive a far richer learning experience.

5. Enable Continuous Feedback
Effective eLearning courses also must provide feedback to learners, at regular intervals, so they can assess their progress. Students must be able to access short tests, questionnaires and quizzes at every stage to apply their learnings. They also must be evaluated frequently, so they can meet a series of measurable, incremental goals as they make their way through the course.