2018 Employee Training Trends: A Look-Back

Now that the year is nearing its end, it’s time to look back to the 2018 training trends. What training trends have become popular for human resources this year?

In this post, we will take a look back at these methods and strategies and how it has fared all throughout the year.

1. Interactive Video Learning
Employee training is not spared from the technological advancements that we are experiencing nowadays.

This 2018, there has been an increase in the use of interactive video learning method. By using this method, the element of interaction is added to regular videos. This allows the learner to apply what s/he has learned from the learning material.

Despite its convenience, some of the training are still done best with an instructor. For 2018, we have seen an increase in the use of this method, but it hasn’t completely swept away the traditional mode of training yet.

This 2019, we can see that this trend will continue to increase, and most companies will look into what trainings they can convert to this kind of method.

2. Metrics-Based Evaluation
With the increasing awareness of the importance of employee training and development, companies have started to put in place a better evaluation mechanism for their employees.

By keeping track of the employees’ need for training, companies will be able to address their training needs thus making them fulfilled individuals. This can lead to employee satisfaction, therefore, increasing the percentage of attracting and retaining top talents and decreasing turnover rate.

With the improvement of the metric-based evaluation mechanism, companies are a step closer in making use of the data they gather from assessment methods.

3. Microlearning
Microlearning has been searched a lot this year. This just shows that human resource managers have started considering or implementing microlearning for employee training.

In some industries, attending training seminars can be out of schedule because of the busy day to day operations employee have to fulfil.

With Microlearning, employees can break down these lengthy learning courses into smaller chunks of information. This will give employees flexibility and will give them more chances to absorb the training since it will not hamper their usual work routine.

In this case, HR’s role in the training process is to look at their current training and try to break it down to smaller sessions.

4. Virtual Instructor-Led Training

This kind of training trend makes use of technology. In a Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT), the training can take place even if the instructor and the learners are in separate locations. An example would be a webinar.

With this kind of training, employees will still get the benefits of a classroom-based, instructor-led training even if the trainer is not physically there.

Companies can save on travel costs but still get the expert they want.

5. Gamification
The last training trend explored this is year gamification. With this trend, learners are given the chance to learn in a fun and creative way.

Companies can make use of virtual reality and a simulated environment to train employees. This will put employees in real life situation and allow them to have a hands-on practice in case these situations happen in real life.

This can be very helpful for them as they can already imagine the environment and the situation they’ll be in once they are onboard.

The different training trends of 2018 show how technology is utilized to make employee training practices and methods better and more convenient.

However, as these methods provide convenience and a new approach to employee learning, companies must conduct their own assessment if these new methods are effective.

2018 can be seen as a year where companies took a step to transition from traditional to digital or automation. These trends are still faring through the training industry and will continue to grow in relevance if utilized correctly.

Companies must take into careful consideration their resources before jumping to the decision of fully utilizing the different training trends of 2018.