The Importance of Learning Paths in Employee Training

1. Brings More Structure

With learner paths, training programs become more structured and sequenced. Although learners can choose the pace and pathways of progression, administrators can control the order in which the courses are assigned and the duration for which a course becomes available.

A learning path can also be implemented to address the needs of multiple learners or teams. Administrators can identify the specific needs of an individual and assign respective courses to only that learner. 

2. Enables Self-Paced Learning

Employees differ in their abilities to learn, grasp and implement the information they perceive. Without a learning path, they will be forced to stick to a specific pace, making it harder to catch up with the rest.

One of the most striking benefits of learner paths is that they make learning self-paced. Learners can choose when, where, and what they want to learn. More precisely, the control of choice shifts from the administrator to the learners.

Know More: Pro Tips to Create Custom eLearning Paths

3. Makes it Easier to Define And Pursue Goals

One reason why training programs fail is that they are formulated without a goal in sight. Fortunately, learner paths eliminate such inconsistencies and bring more meaning to the learning process with well-defined goals.

As these pieces of training become purpose-driven, employees will get a sense of accomplishment and reasons for starting the program in the first place. With instant and visible roadmaps, learners will be motivated to complete the course and will have insights on how far they are from reaching their goals.

4. Helps in Accelerating L&D Goals

The purpose of employee training is to upskill individuals and align those acquired skills with the organization’s growth and requirements. This can be collectively called the learning and development process, which has the utmost significance for a company’s long-term success.

With learner paths, companies can align the courses in such a way that they address the immediate needs of the organization. As several modules collectively contribute to the final goal, employees can quickly implement their skills acquired from each lesson.

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5. Saves Admin Time

Whether it is an IT employee or an administrator, their time is an invaluable resource. For admin users, utilizing learning paths will help in enrolling a considerable number of learners at the same time and leaving the rest to their comfort and pace of learning.

As there will be a well designed roadmap for reaching the intended goals, learners will be self-sufficient – reducing the burden placed on the administrators. Additionally, when a learner completes a course, they are automatically enrolled in the next, without admin intervention.

6. Promotes Continuous Feedback

Training alone won’t help the employees acquire new skills and knowledge. Instead, they must receive continuous and constructive feedback to reassure that they are following the right track.

A learner path, coupled with multiple assessments and methods to apply the acquired knowledge, will help both the employee and the organization to assess whether the programs are useful from a business perspective.

As a learning path covers multiple modules, admins can monitor how each employee engages with each module and tweak the entire program if needed. As feedback is almost immediate, employees will also have the opportunity to correct themselves.

Know More: How to Design Learning Path for an Employee Training & Development

7. Makes Learning a Continuous Process

Unlike a few decades ago, employees are now more aware of the importance of upskilling and are keen on learning new things. Of course, the “keenness” to learn depends on how interactive and relevant the lessons are to an individual.

Additionally, employees tend to prefer organizations that are more enthusiastic about professional development. With learning paths, organizations can continually update their training programs and will have the flexibility to add more modules in between.

8. Small Bites Are Better for Retention

Learner paths make it easier to deliver relevant information in an organized manner, throughout a stipulated time period. This is especially critical to engage and retain employees as training cannot be performed once and left there.

To make the acquired information useful and profitable for the organization, it must be repeatedly delivered via multiple channels in an engaging fashion.

As learning paths follow bite-sized learning (also known as microlearning), there will be less clutter and lesser cognitive load on the employees. Smaller chunks can also improve retention as learning is more understandable, with a few takeaways and more time to absorb.

9. Nurtures a Learning Environment

As previously mentioned, employees are inclined to stick with organizations that invest in their skill development. With learning paths, companies can nurture a learning environment that views upskilling as a continuous and essential process.

As organizations invest more in training, they can understand the overlooked gaps in employee development, which can boost productivity when resolved. Starting with onboarding, learning paths will make it easier for employees to attain excellence when a clearly defined path is set to follow.

When learning becomes a habit, companies can also reduce costs associated with expensive workshops or frequent talent hunts. As employees are enhancing their skillsets, meeting the skills demands across multiple departments will be seamless.

Also, learning will not be overwhelming anymore, as employees can estimate the time and effort required to master a specific topic.

Know More: Transform Training Program Learning Path