Just-in-time learning is not only a catchphrase; it’s also an effective strategy that enables employees to learn and apply information on demand. Organizations can empower employees and increase knowledge retention by providing a vehicle for people to get information quickly in the flow of work.
But what if your organization does not have a just-in-time learning strategy? Have no fear: Launching one is not difficult. Read on to discover four ways to implement on-demand learning in your organization.
1. Don’t complicate it.
Several tools and programs have been created specifically to house just-in-time learning content. Although these content delivery vehicles are convenient, you don’t always need elaborate software to create a strategy. A simple shared site, intranet, or knowledge database will often suffice.A great place to start is to leverage your knowledge management system. It’s a great place to house content such as articles, answers to frequently asked questions, video tutorials, and job aids. If your organization already has one, congrats. If not, consider the other tools you currently have at your disposal. Chances are you have access to a shared site or intranet that all employees can access. Make it easy for employees to access content from a centralized location, ideally with no more than two clicks.
Once you have located a space for your resources to live, you can begin to compile your just-in-time assets. Your goal is to provide employees with content that will help them resolve problems or find answers to questions when needed. To encourage use of the platform, keep resources simple and concise. For example, if an employee needs to learn how to transfer a call to another department, they should be able to find the answer to that question in under a minute. Doing so will allow their workflow to remain uninterrupted.
2. Embed training in training.
Design training that requires learners to solve problems using your just-in-time learning platform. This teaches learners to use your resource repository to find answers to questions or learn new processes.For example, imagine you are preparing leadership training that addresses how to give effective feedback. You will most likely create application-based practice, such as role plays or scenarios. This is an opportunity to incorporate your learning platform and link learners to material such as a template or a job aid they can refer to as they practice giving effective feedback. Your goal is to acclimate learners to the platform as part of their everyday workflow.
3. Develop a marketing plan.
If you build it, they will come. Or will they? Don’t count on it. Create a marketing plan to generate excitement and buzz around your new initiative.Find stakeholders within the business who can champion your just-in-time learning platform. Think about the audience you are trying to reach. Then go one or two levels up, and target these leaders as champions of your strategy. Once you’ve shown this group the benefits of your approach, use them as messengers, and ask them to promote your plan.
Get the news out by developing a communication strategy. Create a teaser video or flier and send it out to broader groups. Email, group Slack or Teams messages, meetings, and road shows are examples of promotional tools you can leverage to spread the word.
Develop any training materials users will need to access your platform. Consider creating a tutorial video you can send out as part of your communication plan. If users feel confident using the tool, adoption will increase.
4. Measure it.
To gauge your learning strategy’s success, put an assessment plan in place. One of the first metrics to track is the adoption of the tool. You can accomplish this by analyzing views and clicks on individual resources. Analyze which resources are viewed most often. This could indicate a need for additional training about the topic.After your platform has been in place for a few months, survey your learners to identify opportunities for improvement. Use this survey to determine if there is a demand for additional topics in your repository.
The benefits of an on-demand learning strategy are vast and allow for streamlined and efficient learning in the flow of work. With the right tools and resources, you can ensure your just-in-time learning strategy is successful, even without complex technology.
