12 types of training methods for employees

Training can be difficult to implement without the right training method. But with new technologies and educational approaches, you can deliver training to your employees in many effective ways. Learn more about the types of training methods for employees and choose the best one from this top 10 list.

What are employee training methods?

These training methods are strategies to teach your employees new skills, frameworks, and mindsets for compliance, upskilling, onboarding, and other development needs. It’s how you’ll deliver learning material and conduct teaching sessions for your team’s development.

These employee training methods will also determine what resources you need to conduct the learning program. Traditional training methods like lectures and classes need paper, pens, and a dedicated space like a seminar room.

Additionally, there are new learning methods that only require an electronic device and an Internet connection. Check out which of these types of training methods best fit your employees’ training needs.

1. eLearning

eLearning or electronic learning is training and development through electronic devices like computers, laptops, and even smartphones. It’s a flexible learning approach that’s perfect for today’s fast-paced teams.

This is usually done by sending courses, videos, or other learning materials to your team. Just set a deadline and your team will decide when and where to complete their lessons. Your team only needs an Internet connection and an electronic device to get started.

You can use a learning management system (LMS) like Mitti (by SafetyCulture) to get the full benefits of elearning like automated management, course creation and delivery, and learner data reports. This platform can streamline every part of your eLearning training program.

2. Instructor-led training

Instructor-led training is similar to a lesson in a classroom setting. An instructor, an industry expert, or a manager in the company conducts a live learning session with your team. They’ll teach your employees complex skills, new mindsets, or leadership insights. This is usually accompanied by a presentation and several activities.

This is one of the standard types of training for employees for a good reason. It’s suitable for teaching technical skills and complex topics that need demonstrations or questions from your team. Your employees may also benefit from conversing with the instructor for instant feedback.

3. On-the-job training

Another training method for technical skills is on-the-job training or hands-on experience. Instead of learning from another person, your employees will practice new skills by doing them in real-work situations. It’s great for new employees, interns, and teams that have rotating roles.

This can also be done through shadowing where your team will observe other employees do their daily tasks, solve their assigned problems, and face common issues on the job. The overall goal of on-the-job training is to give your team realistic and practical job experience.

4. Coaching

There are training strategies that can oversee your employees’ development in the long term. One of these is coaching. This when an experienced professional personally trains each of your employees. This can be a manager, supervisor, or senior employee.

This is a great option for employees looking to learn more about their jobs and career paths. Since it’s one-on-one, it’ll be easier for them to ask questions and get specific insights about their job activities. Coaching is also flexible because it can be done through video calls.

5. Gamification

Training can be made into a fun game. Through gamification, your employees can earn points, awards, and badges while learning new skills and concepts. You can add this to your regular training program through leaderboards, engaging activities, and adding rewards.

The best way to use gamification for training is through an LMS. Mitti has a ton of online activities in their template library like image matching, Jeopardy, letter jumble, and more to make your courses fun and engaging. Your employees can also compete for custom Achievements after reaching training milestones.

6. Simulations

Simulations are one of the other types of training methods that can impart valuable career skills to your employees. It’s an interactive training method where employees are put in common workplace scenarios like customer calls, employee conflicts, and emergency scenarios.

Your employees can role-play how they would react in a certain situation, testing their problem-solving skills and etiquette. This is perfect if your employees’ job requires them to handle different situations. This applies to technical jobs like pilots or software engineers but can also work for duties that rely on customer service.

7. Case studies

Another training method for talking about specific work challenges is studying case studies. These are common or notable problems that happen in your company or your industry. When you use case studies for your training program, your employees can practice their problem-solving and analysis skills.

Case studies can easily be added to other programs. However, it can be difficult to find the specific case studies that apply to your employees. It also requires a lot of data collection and research to help you facilitate how your employees tackle a case study.

8. Collaborative training

This method is done through knowledge-sharing sessions where your team shares their working experiences with one another. Not only can they learn new concepts, but their bonds can deepen.

This is one of the easiest types of employee engagement strategies you can implement. It also comes in different forms like co-working, peer review, and feedback so choose the one that fits your team’s job. This can eventually create a shared learning culture in the workplace.

9. Blended learning

This educational approach is one of the most effective training techniques for employees. It combines conventional face-to-face teaching and online learning to create a dynamic training method. Blended learning uses the advantages of both learning mediums to cover multiple sides of your employees’ development.

This training method is completely customizable to your team’s needs. You can add videos of demonstrations and lectures, online activities, and discussions to regular instructor-led sessions. If your employees need to learn a complex topic or master a skill, blended learning can speed up the learning process.

10. Mobile learning

One of the newest training methods right now is mobile learning. With applications like LMSs, learning can be easily done through mobile devices like laptops, tablets, and smartphones. It’s an adaptable form of eLearning that can be done on-the-go or without a desk. They just need to complete the course anytime before the deadline.

Mobile learning works best with an LMS that works on all mobile devices, like Mitti. Their courses are visually appealing, responsive, and readable on screens of any size. With their Heads Up feature, you can use custom notifications to keep your team focused on training. You can create announcements, send reminders, start discussions, and more with just a notification.

11. Flipped classroom

The Flipped classroom method is used by encouraging your teams to learn the training materials on their own before sessions. This allows them to take an active role during discussions, as they’re already familiar with the skills and knowledge covered.

As a result, training sessions focus more on clarifying information and applying learnings. Additionally, your team members learn more from courses as the emphasis is placed on critical thinking and exploring personal insights.

12. Learning through teaching

Learning through teaching is one of the most engaging types of training methods you can use. With this approach, you ask learners to train their peers by explaining a topic. Teaching drives team members to discuss subject matters in their own words, deepening understanding both for themselves and others.

You can include this technique during training checkpoints and reviews. These could be two to five-minute presentations on specific topics or skill applications that your learners will lead.

Why is it important to choose the right employee training method?

Choosing the right employee training method is critical to efficient learning, adjusting to different types of learners, and making the most of your resources. It keeps training relevant to your team’s job roles and encourages engagement and motivation while staying adaptable to industry changes.

This approach gives clear metrics for assessing progress, accommodates growth, and meets regulatory requirements, all while making the most out of your training budget.

Another thing is that the correct employee training method fosters employee satisfaction, which, in turn, enhances retention rates and contributes to your organization's overall success. It's a strategic decision that tailors training to your unique workforce, driving skill development, motivation, and productivity in your team.

How to choose the right training method for your employees

With all these great training methods, it can be hard to figure out which one is best for your team. Each type has its pros and cons so here are some tips to help you pick the training method best suited for your employees.

Use your current resources

Training isn’t costly when you work with what you have. Before investing in more resources, check if you can use your team’s devices, your office space, your company’s current materials, and other assets to conduct a certain training method. The easier it is to implement, the simpler it’ll be to manage.

Time investment is also a considerable resource for employee training programs. Training methods like coaching or on-the-job training work best across a quarter. Other learning strategies like case studies and simulations may also need more preparation to find the best learning material for your employees.

Check your team’s learning styles

Each of your employees will respond differently to a certain type of training. Some may find learning through lectures difficult or respond more effectively to demonstrations. A quick survey can tell you how your employees prefer to learn and what equipment they have so you can choose the appropriate training method.

Consider your chosen topic

Some training methods fit certain topics better. For example, if your employees need to train in a technical skill, a face-to-face training session is best. A topic like compliance training can be done consistently with any type of training method. In any case, make sure your topic can be efficiently taught using your chosen training method.

You can use an alternative learning approach called bite-sized learning or microlearning to break down complex topics. Mitti’s courses are powered by this approach. They’re designed to be brief and engaging so your employees can take in the essential details of your lessons. In just a few minutes, your team can be properly trained and ready to use their skills in the workplace.

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