eLearning Revolution - The lessons we've learned

Lisa Stern, Digital and eLearning Manager, REINZ

“Will there be an online version available?” is often the first question we now hear when releasing new training courses. At this stage, almost everyone has undoubtedly joined a Zoom meeting, live webinar or attended a virtual conference. This is a trend we were able to see even before the impacts of COVID-19 and lockdownrelated restrictions on gatherings. 2020 has forced us to adapt to new ways of learning and at REINZ we have experienced this change first-hand.

Within the first week of the Level 4 lockdown in March 2020, we transferred hundreds of learners from face-to-face courses to the online versions. By the end of the year, online enrolments had more than doubled compared to the previous year; a behavioural shift and acceptance that has carried over to 2021.

However, completing courses online is often easier said than done. We have adopted terms like ‘zoom fatigue’ or ‘zoomed-out’ into our everyday vocabulary. How do we stay alert and motivated during an online training session? Here are some tips that can help:

- If possible, keep training sessions short (between 30 minutes and an hour is ideal). Research has shown that the average adult has an attention span of around 20 minutes. Essentially, it is normal if you lose focus and cannot be blamed on a lazy attitude. So, make sure you take enough breaks

- Try not to multi-task: Schedule dedicated time for your online training. It seems almost impossible not to check your emails or quickly respond to that one urgent text while attending an online class. However, it is best to limit distractions by closing all other applications on your computer, minimise your notifications and focus on the training at hand

- Get up from your seat: Taking regular breaks, stretching, or going for a quick walk around the office or house is good for your physical and mental health. Physical activity throughout the day boosts your dopamine and endorphin levels, which are linked to an increased attention span and improved mood.

Above all, it is the Learning Designer’s responsibility to create content that keeps the learner engaged by using gamification, a variety of media and creating mini competitions.

The shift to increased eLearning has enabled many organisations to deliver more content at a faster pace. Education has never been more accessible, for example, by removing time and physical limitations such as the commute to the classroom.

One question remains: Will online learning ever fully replace the classroom experience? The answer is ‘probably not’. Classroom learning still has many benefits. Humans thrive on social interaction and forming personal connections. For this reason, blended learning experiences have become more popular, using a combination of online, face-to-face and on-the-job learning activities. For example, many REINZ face-to-face workshop attendees love the networking and in-person discussions of up-to-date case studies.

Where do we go from here?

Rodney Beach from Liberate Learning recently stated: “2021 can be a time to embrace the changes and advantages thrust upon us in 2020.” At REINZ, we have taken the learnings from 2020 and plan to fully embrace the changes in 2021 and beyond.

If you want to learn more about what online courses REINZ offers or have a topic you would like more training on, please reach out to education@reinz.co.nz REINZ is always looking to serve its members better through education – please send all general enquiries and training needs/requests to education@reinz.co.nz

Lisa Stern

Digital and eLearning Manager, REINZ