When alone in front of their screens, learners often struggle to complete a training course. This is especially true if it takes place entirely through e-learning and asynchronously. Beyond self-discipline, what are some tips for staying engaged throughout your training and aiming for a 100% completion rate? Here are some answers.
Set achievable goals
Training helps achieve educational objectives . This could be using an office tool independently, designing a training offer for 10 remote participants, or recognizing a management control approach… However, ” nothing prevents learners from breaking this final objective down into mini-intermediate objectives in order to maintain their commitment ,” says Grégory Gallic, Training Offer Manager at the Cegos group.
When a training course lasts 6 weeks, learners can aim to complete 35 to 40% of the course by the end of the first two weeks. This is because motivation is much higher at the beginning. Another technique is to divide a training block into timed stages , using the “Pomodoro” organizational method.
Train yourself a little every day
It’s better to train for 30 minutes a day for three weeks, rather than completing a course all at once, in one day. On the one hand, because this pace makes it easier to anchor knowledge in memory. On the other hand, because it’s easier to be engaged in short training sessions.
Indeed, it’s easier for learners to re-immerse themselves in the training content if the work periods are close together. The learning is still fresh, so they waste less time getting back into it, especially if they’ve been taking regular notes. ” This means setting aside dedicated training time slots in their diary and sticking to them ,” says the expert.
Join a learning community
Sometimes learners become isolated and end up abandoning their training midway through the program due to a lack of support. Training designers are aware of this. Many are deploying learning communities that allow participants on the same program to exchange ideas (via chat, forum, etc.) about the training and the difficulties they encounter.
“Through these communities, learners can complete exercises together, correct each other, and help each other, ” explains Grégory Gallic. Sometimes, these online communities even lead to IRL ( in real life ) meetings. A WhatsApp group created to encourage mutual support between learners can, for example, initiate face-to-face meetings between participants.
Be tutored by an expert
Being supported by your peers is good, but sometimes it’s not enough. When choosing a 100% online course, learners have every interest in having access to tutors synchronously . If they encounter difficulties during their training, they can turn to these experts to get “unblocked.”
“The tutor’s role is also to influence the learner’s motivation. They must encourage them, support them, and encourage them to continue their training,” recalls Grégory Gallic. Ideally, this tutoring is individual—and not via remote classes—so one-on-one with a tutor . For the Cegos expert, “the right mix could be between 1 and 2 hours of support with a tutor for a 25-hour training course,” he explains.
Opt for a gamified course
Learning should be fun for learners. Thus, if some e-learning courses include reward elements, it’s precisely because the game’s dynamics foster this desire. Edutainment boosts learner engagement, objectifies their progress… In short, it encourages them to continue their efforts until the end!
So when choosing your program, check that it offers a gamification approach. Points, medals, or badges earned by answering quizzes can effectively boost participant motivation. It’s even better if participants can display their rewards on their avatar. “By making them visible to other participants, we’re entering into a group emulation approach,” concludes Grégory Gallic.
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