Remote training: how to do it in the middle of a pandemic?

Remote training is something that should be done, especially now that we are experiencing the different situation of being in a different working environment, which is at home.

The year 2020 will remain in our minds for many years to come.

A year in which a virus, causing the disease COVID-19, spread around the world and transformed the routine of an entire society.

Characterized as a pandemic, the virus has a high level of contagion, so according to the WHO the most prudent attitude for its prevention is to continue with social isolation.

As a result, all sectors of the economy have had to adapt and reinvent the way they work.

Remote working, for professions that allow it, remains the most prudent alternative.

However, the home office brings with it many doubts and uncertainties, especially for managers.

With this work format, companies need to trust their employees more than ever, offer them autonomy to carry out their activities and, above all, provide a healthy routine of activities.  

These factors present training and development professionals with many challenges: after all, how do you keep employees learning and evolving with such restrictions?

Training and development have become even more essential.

After all, at this time, it is crucial to have employees who are prepared for the new normal.

This means that teams need to develop a series of new skills.

We can highlight collaboration, protagonism, among others that are important for your business to survive and become more competitive during and after the crisis.

Is it possible to develop remote training in the pandemic?

We need to open our minds and understand that this reality will probably be with us for many more years.

Because, even with its level of contagion controlled, our interpersonal relationships have already changed dramatically

What's more, the recovery will be gradual and care will have to be taken.

So one thing is clear: professional activities must continue.

And, more than that, to find viable alternatives for its implementation.

Today, we have a great advantage compared to other generations when hit by such a serious pandemic.

Our main ally is technology.

Internet, cloud sharing, videos, live broadcasts, social networks, emails, messaging apps, task management software... the possibilities are endless.

Although the working environment is no longer the same, working relationships are still possible with the home office.

With all these technological advances, it's up to T&D professionals to use creativity combined with knowledge to find effective options for remote training of their employees.

In the following topics, we'll look at some options for you to apply to your team.

Microlearning

Small pills of knowledge continue to be one of the most effective alternatives to distance learning.

This is because, even remotely, employee demand remains the same or even above average.

Shorter content is a way of avoiding fatigue and keeping you learning on a daily basis.

What's more, with smaller content, your employees can access it wherever they are and on any device with an internet connection.  

This even makes it easier to include all employees in training.

After all, even professionals with busy personal lives will be able to take part.

The topics covered can be diverse, ranging from strategic content, training on the position held, remote working tips and how to deal emotionally with the current situation.

Interactive Content

Staying focused in the home office is no easy task, after all, the new workplace has countless distractions.

What's more, the internet is a distraction in itself.

So how do you keep all your employees' attention during a particular piece of content?

Very simple! Interactive content was created precisely for this purpose: to maintain or even increase user engagement with the material in question.

Unlike traditional recorded videos or sending notifications, this type of material allows employees to actively participate in their learning process.

A good example of this for online training is social learning.

This type of resource enables integration between employees, who can share knowledge, questions and help each other as a group.

Another option is to provide short assessments to validate the learning of a particular module.

Live classes

Lives and webinars have gained prominence in the digital world in recent months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Artists, musicians, influencers, educators and professionals from the most diverse fields have embraced this type of content.

This is because this type of live broadcast allows for closer contact with users, even with physical limitations.

Users can also actively participate in the content by sending comments, compliments or questions. A way of "getting closer" even at a distance.

This is also a great option for training sessions.

You can create a schedule of live meetings, but ideally they should be weekly.

These meetings can be used for orientation, motivation or even learning.

Broadcasts that break away from the "work" theme are also a great option for ensuring the health and emotional well-being of employees.

Providing guidance on the coronavirus could be one of the contents, covering ways of preventing it with the use of masks and alcohol gel, as well as reinforcing the main symptoms.

Topics related to physical exercise at home and its importance for releasing endorphins could also be an option.

In addition, tips on how employees can make everyday life in the home office more productive and less stressful are essential.

How to start remote training?

Now that you know the main alternatives for applying remote training in the midst of the pandemic, it's time to define where it will take place.

First and foremost, you need to choose an e-learning platform that meets all your needs and has the interesting features you need for better training performance and follow-up.

Features such as social learning and live classes are essential to ensure the effectiveness of your remote training and development plan.

Another important feature of an e-learning platform is the performance reports. There you can evaluate and measure the success of your training sessions.

Not all platforms have these complete features, so be careful when hiring.

Hotscool, for example, is a distance learning platform that has all these features.

It also allows you to create an environment that is completely customized to your company's identity and needs.

You can take a free trial to evaluate all the functionalities, and the complete dashboard to monitor the development of all trained employees.

Start your test now!

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