Tag: elearning companies

20 Sep 2023
Medical training videos importance

What do you learn in medical training?

Medical training has been critical for new employees so that they can fit themselves with the policies of the hospital.

However, there can be problems during onboarding itself when the new hires feel secluded. They think that the new information is too much for them to grasp. So, all of a sudden, they are bombarded with duties, which makes them feel appalled. They can’t understand what their role requirements are and are also confused with training because it’s not enough.

Apart from that, they can also feel that their seniors are not happy with them.

This can cause dissatisfaction and make them look for jobs elsewhere. The employees feel disoriented during their onboarding when they have not been properly told about their job duties.

Patient safety is an important reason why medical training is paramount. A new hire in the medical profession requires a lot of mentoring. They should accompany the experienced doctors so that they earn a lot of valuable experience.

When medical professionals don’t have proper knowledge about procedures and policies, it can cause a lot of accidents. It can also damage the reputation of the healthcare provider. The following errors can be prevented with the help of medical training:

  • Diagnostic Errors:

There can be many errors which can arise in the beginning. For example, the doctor can prescribe the wrong medication to the patient, which happens due to lack of experience. There can also be a need for more consideration of how one drug interacts with another, leading to side effects.

There can also be a wrong diagnosis of the disease. This can hamper the recovery of the patient because sometimes symptoms which lead to an indication of an ailment are not recognized early, leading to an exacerbation of the situation.

The medical provider has to be extremely cautious during any surgery because even the wrong blood transfusion can cause issues for the patients. This happens when the doctor does not check that the blood types don’t match. In this case, the blood transfusion should not happen because this can cause a life-threatening condition for the patient.

Even surgical doctors require intensive medical training so that they know how to conduct the process properly, like not leaving any incisions open or causing any unwanted damage to the patient.

Moreover, when doctors look tired, they should be sent home because the fatigue causes them to make wrong decisions, which is not favorable for the hospital.

  • Discharge errors:

Medical training videos are so crucial for doctors because they can only discharge patients after giving them all the tips for necessary care so that if any symptom develops, they are to immediately consult. The patients must have all the post-operative care instructions given to them so that they don’t lack any knowledge. Any resources not being disseminated to them means patients are in the dark about their condition and can lapse in their post-surgical or treatment routine. They can miss the visits to the hospital or even skip medicines.

  • Surgical errors:

Infection control procedures also need to be taken seriously because if any medical treatment is not done properly, the patients can be inflicted with serious conditions. The infections that a patient gets when any external object is inserted into the body or any time during which he is in the hospital are known as hospital-acquired infections. For example, a urinary tract infection can occur when a catheter (medical tube) is inserted into the urinary tract of a person to drain out urine because a patient cannot do so himself. When a situation arises, precautions have to be taken so that no germs enter the body. The doctors dealing with such a patient have to keep their hands clean, wearing gloves all the time. Even the catheter has to be cleaned so that no infection happens to the body.

So, all these precautions can be learned by the new hires when they observe the elder doctors performing such procedures.

Hence, the doctors need to be shown medical training videos so that all procedures are standardized and any evidence of any negligence is taken care of in time.

The medical training videos can be a lot of aid in preventing such errors. The doctors can be taught about how to administer important processes so that if any adverse events indicate a symptom, this can be clearly shown to a novice. This can help the doctors in getting to any infection that might have occurred after the process. Various case studies can be shown where any negligence by the doctor has led to a severe condition so that it can be prevented in future by exercising due caution.

  • Lack of informed consent:

Medical training videos are also very effective in situations when patients don’t have much clue about the procedure. They are not aware of the post-operative cure and the surgical risks, like how much success rate it has. So, in that scenario, the consent of patients must be taken after duly informing them about surgical risks through such videos where they can also get a better understanding of their condition.

When informed consent has not been taken from patients, there can be a risk of legal consequences.

When surgery is being conducted, or treatment is under process, the doctors cooperate among themselves to provide the best cure to the patient. Therefore, the teams need to be trained in collaboration with each other. Each of the doctors, whether he is an anesthesiologist or a surgeon, has an important role to play and hence must be shown videos about complex conditions when their duties intensify.

25 Aug 2023
Create instructional video with Mayer's principles

How to make an instructional video using Mayer’s principles?

Instructional videos are at the core of learning now. But how to ensure that the learners remember everything? It’s not so simple. The learners don’t watch a video completely, hence an organization cannot transmit all the information. Moreover, learners can also not pay attention to a video while watching it, which means they go through it for entertainment purposes only.

Hence, in that case, the businesses cannot ensure that an instructional video has created the cognitive impact that they wanted to create. Due to a lack of understanding, the video is not stored in the long-term memory of a learner.

The eLearning companies USA know how to create the perfect instructional video for the learners which makes them focus. The research has proven over the years that when certain features are used in videos, user engagement is more. For example, in the case of demo videos, highlight boxes can be used to capture the attention of learners. Such boxes make users understand which button to press to complete or initiate a certain action. With the use of highlight boxes, the users can be made to remember such minute information for a long time. 

There are certain principles suggested by Mayer which are necessary to follow to have the maximum impact of a video. 

  • Signaling principle:

The first principle of signaling says that the user needs to be signaled that something important is about to come on the screen through narration or other means so that attention is maximized toward that slide only.

So, just like highlight boxes, in the case of text, we have blockquotes where a certain text is enlarged and enclosed with quotes to make sure that the user pays attention. The user does not know what to watch keenly, he can only do so when his attention is diverted to the important part.

Therefore, signaling is important because there is so much information contained in a slide, that the user can’t retain everything. But when important text is shaded, users know that it needs attention.  

  • Temporal Continuity Principle:

The temporal continuity principle is also crucial, as per which the users get the best explanation of things when the visuals and the text are shown on the screen simultaneously.

This implies that the audio and visuals should be displayed on the screen at the same time. The user gets the best understanding of the screen when both audio and video happen together, rather than audio coming after the animation.

  • Pre-training principle:

The pre-training principle of designing multimedia elements states that the users must have been given an introduction so that they can get the best out of the video. Such an introduction makes sure that the learners are not confused by the visuals included in the first slide, but rather comprehend them.

Hence, pre-training is critical before imparting the actual training.

A little history of the topics and the meaning of basic terms included in the module can be provided to the learners before the instructional video begins. 

  • Personalization Principle:

The personalization principle is also important for an instructional video as per which the user understands a simple language than the use of difficult words.

Hence, instead of using the third-person tone, it’s better to use the second-person tone to ensure the user understands. This is the basic principle behind localization also, where the use of complex words in the narration avoids forming a connection with the audience. 
  • Image principle:

Image principle is also vital in making a better instructional video where the use of visuals is better for human understanding rather than talking heads. In the talking head video, a human narrator explains the basic concepts, but the learners might not be interested in listening to him.

So, relevant visuals should be used to explain the concepts to the learners. Mayer has stated that when a talking head is included in a video, it does not mean better learning results. Research is still getting conducted on whether talking head videos are effective for learning or not.

A talking head in the video means that the source of the information is credible. It can be used at the beginning or the end of the video but refrain from using it throughout. Instead, the visuals should be used for a better understanding of the audience.

The following assumptions have been used to formulate these principles: 

  • The Limited-Capacity Assumption:

There is the limited capacity information stated by Mayer, which forms the basis of all his work. As per this assumption, most humans only have two-three channels of information that they can focus on. So, they can’t watch all the news channels at the same time, rather just one or two.

Similarly, they can’t understand five or seven actions at the same time in a module, rather their attention must be put to two or three. Hence, the important information must be highlighted in a module so that they understand everything because their cognitive load must be limited. 

  • Active-processing information:

Humans have to be made to understand, rather than expecting them to absorb everything which is fed/transmitted to them. This can cause problems for the learners.

So, to tap into their cognitive load, it’s better to organize knowledge into visual and auditory chunks. This knowledge can also be supplemented with the introductory session so that users can correlate it.

The learners must be able to build up knowledge by linking together auditory and visual pieces of information.

Hence, keeping these assumptions in mind and following the above-listed principles, an instructional video must be prepared. 

23 Aug 2023
Technical training advantages

What are the uses of technical training?

Technical training has made its way into our lives due to the rapid proliferation of technology. Now, everybody is using software to streamline tasks, whether it’s marketing professionals or other people. With technical skills, anyone can finish daily tasks faster. Companies want to find employees who have the requisite skills for the job. Every organization is using software for data entry these days, and it’s imperative that the professionals are accustomed to using it.

Knowledge means power. When an employee does not have the needed skills, it can also endanger a company’s operations.

What is technical training?

Technical training is not the same thing as IT training, which involves just learning IT-based software.

It means learning that software that is just required for routine tasks. By knowing how to use such software, the employees can follow the processes competently, and lead to better results for the company.

Examples of requirements for technical training:

An employee who does not have the knowledge of how to set the temperature of a refrigeration unit in an inventory can cause the perishable goods to be destroyed, leading to losses. The company can lose its goods meant for sale.

Also, the same happens when an employee is not able to convert a lead because no prior information was stored about the former in a CRM. The employee does not attend to him in time because he is not aware that the person is interested in buying. Today, theoretical knowledge is not enough for employees, and they must have skills-based technical training to deal with the practical duties of a job.

Importance in the manufacturing industry:

In industries such as manufacturing and construction, technical training can’t be taken lightly. The employees must have a complete understanding of how to operate the machines, otherwise, it can cause accidents. For example, there is software that lets employees know about the maintenance schedule of the machines.

But for being able to leverage such software, technical training is important. When a machine is not taken care of in time, it can lead to a lot of downtime for the company. Furthermore, when an employee is not given technical training on machines, he can produce a lot of defective output in trying to learn the functioning.

Moreover, the employees must be trained on how to use simple software for filing reports. This is important in the case of hospitals as well, where any wrong information entered in the system can prove to be hazardous. When the employees don’t know how to enter a patient’s information correctly, it can cause problems like a wrong diagnosis, inability to connect to his insurer, etc.

Also, it can prove to be problematic when the information gets wrong hands because the protocols of how to keep data safe have not been followed like locking the PCs when leaving the desk etc.

Needed in every industry:

Technical training is now needed in every aspect of the business.

It is needed in project management, communications, social media marketing, and customer servicing. So, no employee of the company can be deprived of such training. In fact, every industry is now using such software to get ahead, so this kind of training is needed everywhere. With the lack of technical skills, it’s impossible to hire the right candidates for the job. The requirement for technical training can’t be ignored because such developments have become so rampant. There is a need for knowing such software in every other profession now.

When the employees are not trained, customer satisfaction gets adversely affected. For example, just imagine an employee not knowing how to access data through customer relationship management software, which can make him pester an uninterested customer with calls. This can hamper a business’s growth because its reputation is affected.

For example, even HR employees need to be trained in using human capital management software. This software ensures that the HR is able to conduct their operations properly which involves interviewing employees, onboarding them, and handling their compensation matters. With the use of this software, HR can streamline its operations and store employee data in one place. When HR uses this software, it can ensure that the return on its investment in human resources is maximized.

Moreover, employees also need to be acquainted with SaaS company software because when they can’t assist customers on how to use the same, the sales can decline. Customers are able to use the product and just start using options; hence, companies can get a better return with more knowledgeable CSR employees. Such employees can walk customers through the product, enabling them to learn it faster.

Benefits for employees:

  • Better engagement: When a company invests in technical training, not only it gets a better workforce, but it also leads to enhanced confidence. They are more invested in their jobs because they know all the software. They are not hindered by their lack of knowledge in anything.
  • Satisfied employees: Skilled employees are more satisfied in their jobs because they don’t have the fear of termination. They also know how to reach their goals easily. For example, an employee who knows how to use the CRM software better knows what a customer wants to buy and can adapt his sales pitch accordingly. With this software, he wastes no time trying to sell products to the uninterested people.
11 Aug 2023
implementation of skill development

How to create a skill development program? 

Skill development is an important term for every individual now. Although the company might implement such programs for employees, problems can occur when employees are reluctant to accept them. The employees are not so eager to pursue such programs because they have their growth trajectory already planned in their minds. They might have planned to join a bigger company. Also, the company might implement a skill development program, but the employees might refuse to participate in it. 

The employees might also decide to do upskilling on their own terms without getting any contribution from the company. This happens when the employee is completely acquainted with his skill development. But this is often not the case because he is not aware of his goals.

The company can guide him on how to attain such goals through upskilling. So, a company can support an employee in his skill development initiatives by ensuring that he knows what to learn to fulfill his career-related aspirations.

The L&D group has experience in suggesting the right training strategy for upskilling an employee. The employees must also have an interest in upskilling themselves because if they don’t then the company is just wasting money on them. They might not be willing to learn any new skills. A company can make sure its skill development programs are successful by following these steps:

  • Ensure mistakes of the past are not repeated:

The L&D team must ensure that it has done considerable research on what employees did for their upskilling in the past. It can reveal a wealth of information to the team because it can cover why such programs didn’t strike a chord with the employees. The L&D team gains a complete idea of what was wrong in the prior skill development program, whether it was not using the right technique or whether the material was outdated.

So, in the new program, they can avoid all such loopholes. The L&D team can check the need analyses on which such older programs were based and detect what such programs did not contain. It’s because the programs didn’t follow the needs analysis correctly. If they had, they might not have missed the employees’ needs.

  • Use mentoring:

Mentoring can aid a company in uncovering an employee’s skill development needs. When an employee approaches a mentor, he has a guide who knows how to solve his troubles. The mentee can resolve his/her problems through the mentor by utilizing his knowledge and experience.

Mentoring is useful for a company in discovering what kind of skill development is needed by an employee. Mentors can help him forge a plan for growth and development in his career. The employee can hence be soon on the right skill development path and get promoted within his company.

  • Such development must happen on a company-wide scale

The L&D teams also need to understand that upskilling must happen on a large scale. It should not be restricted to a specific department. When the company understands such initiatives need to happen throughout the organization, they tend to encourage growth-based psychology.

Companies have to understand that they can’t ignore any department when it comes to upskilling because all the employees need to be agile. When the company has focussed well on skill development, it can handle any changes in the business environment involving technologies. It can make sure that it does not lose out to competitors because of a delayed response to changes in market conditions. 

The skill development programs need to take into account an entire organization because then the trained employees can have better skills and be more adept at handling challenges. They can easily understand the jobs of other departments which leads to a better collaboration with them.

Skill development is necessary for both junior-level employees so that they don’t resign from their jobs. On the other hand, it’s also important for top-level employees so they can be trained for future leadership.

Advantages of skill development:

  • Compliance training:

Companies can’t ignore the need for skill development in different departments because compliance regulations need to be taken care of.

The employees can’t be expected to commit mistakes when they have been trained properly in the latest rules.

  • Better image:

Companies that focus on skill development often create a positive image for themselves in the eyes of investors and clients. With their better trustworthiness, they are likely to create a better name for themselves in the market. When a company focuses on a bigger skill development program, then it can ensure that there are no problems at any level of the organization.

  • Technical changes:

It’s because all the employees are competent enough to do their jobs after training. In today’s times, the older ways of an organization’s functioning are changing due to technology taking over. Hence, skill development needs to happen in sales, marketing, finance, and HR to update employees.

03 Aug 2023
performance coaching

Why is performance coaching needed?

Need for performance coaching:

Mental health has become a major concern for everyone these days. People are feeling burned out these days. This is hurting companies now. Companies have to understand the characteristics of employees suffering from burnout.

Employees who suffer from this phenomenon don’t feel attached to anything. They also want to stay away from events in their personal lives. Since such employees become annoyed frequently, this can lead to depleted productivity, more leaves, and less cooperation with the team.

Some industries also require employees to work longer, such as customer service representatives, who have longer working hours. A company’s environment can also affect the health of an employee. Despite his best performance, an employee is not promoted or appreciated for his efforts, which can cause burnout. The lack of interaction with other employees also leads to burnout.

Overworking is the main reason why burnout happens. When employees don’t get any rewards for their work, they can lose interest in it.

Performance coaching can help a company alleviate burnout among employees:-

  • Training to eliminate stress:

First of all, the employees should be taught how to handle stress. Every employee faces stress, but simple coping mechanisms can help him wade through it. When employees become resilient to stress, they can handle daily life situations better.

When an employee knows what causes him to feel stress, he/she knows how to handle that situation better.

The employees can be trained on how to do deep breathing to stay calm in such situations. These kinds of techniques help employees avoid becoming frustrated even after facing stressful situations at work.

  • Time management training:

Goal setting is also crucial for companies so that employees are not overburdened with work. This is important for employees to achieve a perfect work-life balance. This can be done by the employees sitting down with the management and deciding what their career goals are. They can then create short-term targets out of these long-term goals.

The employees can also learn how to manage important tasks so that they don’t miss out on any family events. When they can prioritize, they can take time out for themselves rather than trying to finish all the work in one go. When employees have to do too much at once, burnout happens.

  • Communication training:

Communications at the workplace is very important so that employees can understand what others want from them. They must also have the patience to listen to others and respond with empathy. Good relationships at work can help a company have a harmonious environment.

Performance coaching can help employees avoid negative situations and convey their needs. Employees must how much to talk to other employees without crossing boundaries. When employees have learned the power of communication, this can help them avoid being submerged in work without causing a conflict. So, when employees learn where to draw a line, they can have a better work-life balance. They also let the other person know how much work they can handle.

  • Career-related training:

Companies also need to acknowledge the hard work of employees. This goes a long way in preventing burnout among employees. Therefore, companies must put money in their employees’ skills growth. When employees have growth opportunities, they feel satisfied and are therefore less likely to burn out.

How can performance coaching help?

For example, companies can enlist the aid of career mentors to help employees get personalized advice for their career growth. This also helps them set goals for such growth. A company needs to hire performance coaches to make sure that the employees are as motivated to stay in their jobs as possible. They can help them deal well with stressful situations.

They know how to psychologically help employees by providing them with positive feedback about their work. When employees get such feedback, they can maintain a positive work-life balance and also succeed in their jobs.

Performance coaching is also helpful for employees to set goals and develop action plans to attain them.

Coaches can also help employees not deviate from achieving their goals and get the best results from their hard work. It’s because in performance coaching, the performance of employees is continuously monitored.

Skill-based training is also imparted by such performance coaches, which helps employees confront negative situations through communication skills. When an employee knows how to turn an adverse situation in his favor by simply communicating, he can avoid stress.

Ensure that employees have a work-life balance when they have devised the right strategy to achieve their goals.

He was a German psychologist who is known for discovering the forgetting curve. According to this curve, the biggest decline in memory happens within 20 minutes, and then 1 hour.