The importance of customized courses within your organisation

You're probably familiar with the expression “cheap is expensive”. At first, something may seem cheaper, but in the end, you're often disappointed in the quality of what you've bought. With e-learning, we also see this principle. There are thousands of online courses available on the internet. Online libraries full of information. No matter what topic you type into Google, you can learn everything online. But, does the course that is offered suit you? With your specific interest, your frame of reference, your prior knowledge, and your learning style?

In this blog, we discuss the importance of customized courses, and provide useful tips on how to design them (without too much extra cost) within your company or organisation.

What are the benefits of customized courses?

Unlike standard, ready-to-use courses, customized courses provide content that is directly relevant to the specific tasks and challenges that an organisation faces. This has several advantages, for both employees and the organisation:

1. With tailor-made courses, employees feel seen and heard

When employees know and feel that they are really being listened to, this is very good for the intrinsic motivation. The input that employees provide (we'll discuss how to effectively design this below) is also very valuable for the organisation - because the organisation knows exactly what's going on and what is needed when it comes to learning new knowledge and skills who support the employee in his or her work on a daily basis.

2. Tailored courses make learning journeys much more personal and relevant

Nothing more annoying than unnecessary repetition or boring theory. Each employee has a unique learning process, with different learning styles and a different pace. With a customized course, employees can learn in a way that suits them best. This not only increases the effectiveness of the training, but also ensures that employees are more engaged and motivated.

Tailored courses focus on developing specific skills that are directly relevant to an employee's role and responsibilities.

This focused learning process ensures that no time is wasted on irrelevant topics and that the employee can fully focus on developing the necessary skills in his or her role within the organisation.

3. Tailored courses are accessible to everyone

Whether employees who follow your e-learning prefer to read, listen, or watch, the fact is that if you present the information in a way that activates the brain the most, the best learning outcome will be achieved. For example, you want to depict something in an infographic (which, by the way, you can also create with AI). This is sufficient for some employees, for example if they already have a lot of prior knowledge about the subject. For employees who are new to the subject, prior knowledge must be activated first. They may need a little more background information, a refresher, or context.

That's why it's useful to present the information in other ways in addition to an infographic, so you can paint a complete picture.

For example, record a podcast where you walk through the infographic, add a more comprehensive text that describes all the steps of the infographic in detail, or record a video explaining each of the parts of the infographic in more detail. This may seem redundant, but this way you offer a very complete learning experience.

It has been proven that a combination of visual and auditory learning works best, this is also known as “dual coding”.

4. Tailored courses are always up to date and specific

Tailored courses are often developed together with experts from the specific field and experienced learning experts. As a result, the courses are seamlessly in line with the latest trends and developments in a specific sector.

This ensures that employees not only learn the skills they need today, but are also well prepared for tomorrow's challenges. So it's a good long-term investment!

How do you develop customized e-learning in an organisation or company?

1. Take a personalized approach. By asking employees specific questions in advance about their role, responsibilities, position, or level of experience, you can then tailor the learning content to their specific needs. This ensures that everyone learns exactly what is relevant to them, saving valuable time.

2. Check the prior knowledge. With a “diagnostic assessment”, you can easily identify what knowledge and skills are still missing and what the strengths and “weaknesses” of employees are in terms of certain competencies. Based on the results, you only offer the learning content that is needed, without unnecessary repetition of what they already know. This makes the learning process more efficient and focused.

3. Use “branching” scenarios. Create an interactive learning experience where the employee's choices determine how the scenario continues to unfold. This approach shows employees how their decisions can work out in practice, helping them better understand the subject matter, put it in perspective and context, and apply it. It also allows them to make mistakes without an actual risk: after all, it's a simulation!

4. Take advantage of personalized feedback and reflection. Let employees reflect on the learning goals they set in advance and give them the opportunity to receive tips and feedback that are specifically tailored to their situation. This helps to really put what you have learned into practice, to be held accountable for it, and stimulating behavioral change.

5. Create a customized action plan. Based on the employee's input and choices, you create a customized action plan. This plan offers concrete steps that employees can take to effectively use their new skills in their daily work practice.

With this approach, you ensure that customized e-learnings not only meet the needs of your employees, but also contribute to their professional growth and development and to the goals of the organisation.

Are you curious about what a customized course looks like for your company or organisation? Contact us in the chat and we would love to think along with you!