How to organize individual training for staff online

Initially, training was only individual. An experienced mentor passed on knowledge to another person “by word of mouth”, immediately answered questions and corrected mistakes. Until about the 12th-13th century, people of any profession were trained in this way. Group forms of classes began to appear only over time, when it was necessary to simultaneously train many people. One teacher transferred knowledge to several students at once, which helped to save time and get more trained personnel. At the same time, the individual form of education has been preserved, but now it is used much less frequently.

 

Today, individual training is carried out for top managers and employees who occupy key positions in the company. Often this format is used when only one employee needs the skills. Before the development of online learning, an individual educational format was expensive. Now, with the help of custom LMS, such educational courses are being created, where employees can receive personalized knowledge and skills without serious investments by the company.

What is individual training?

Individual training is a type of education in which an employee develops according to a plan drawn up personally for him. Individual training is based on the needs of a particular employee for new knowledge and skills.

 

There are several forms of personalized employee training:

 

• the teacher conducts classes for only one student,
• two students teach each other, simultaneously receiving and transmitting knowledge,
• the student learns without the participation of teachers and colleagues with the help of individually selected materials.

The last form of education today, as a rule, is organized online, using a special online platform, such as Open edX LMS. Individual distance learning can take place without direct contact with the teacher. For example, a company may develop a personalized online course for an employee using Open edX LMS. You can also use ready-made courses or create an individual program from individual modules. At the same time, the employee will receive exactly the knowledge that he needs, in the form and at the time that is convenient for him. And the company will spend almost as much on individual employee training as on group classes, by using Open edX LMS.

 

Differences between individual and group learning

Group training is widely used for the development of line personnel and middle-level managers. As a rule, such employees have enough universal knowledge in order to perform their job duties well. And since this category of workers makes up more than half of the staff, it is convenient and economical for the company to train line employees at the same time.

 

Individual training tools are often used to develop key employees and top management. The skills and competencies required by this category of workers are not suitable for other employees. And when learning, it’s not speed and mass character that come first, but schedule flexibility and exclusivity. Online learning platforms help make elite learning accessible to the majority of employees. Therefore, it is increasingly used for the development of non-key personnel.

 

Consider three main differences between group and individual learning:

 

1. The group format does not take into account the level of knowledge of each employee. All students receive the same amount of information and take the same tests. Individual vocational training helps to meet the real needs for knowledge for each employee. This allows you to make good use of time and maintain high motivation for learning.
2. In group training, each employee adjusts to the overall pace of the group. The custom format makes the process more flexible. An employee can skip information that he already knows and dwell on difficult points.
3. The group program, as a rule, remains unchanged throughout the training. On-the-job training can change at any given time. For example, if during the course it turns out that an employee has gaps in knowledge, appropriate blocks can be added to the program.

 

Features of personalized learning

If you take a group training program and use it to conduct classes with one employee, they still cannot be called individuals. A personalized learning model may include one-on-one communication with a teacher. However, this is not the only and not the main feature of the individual approach. For example, during distance learning there may not be a teacher, but the classes will still be personalized.

 

The main principle of individual training is the active position of the student employee. He not only receives knowledge, but manages his own educational trajectory. With online training, an employee can choose additional courses and modules that will help him gain the necessary knowledge and skills. Therefore, another feature of personalized education is a high level of student motivation. Unlike group learning, there is no element of competition with others. The foundation of individual learning is to strive to outdo oneself, not other students.

 

Conclusion

A well-designed personalized learning approach allows you to quickly train employees in exactly the skills they need to succeed in their jobs and the success of the entire company. At the same time, the program and training mode can be flexibly customized for each student, if you do not save on the development of a good educational system personalized to the specifics of your company. This is the advantage of individual learning over group learning.