“Online learning is nowadays often a necessity and not a choice, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing.”

Jos BerdenApril 12, 2021Learning makeover

7 forms of learning that work surprisingly well online

Have you ever had a meal without knowing what you would get? Maybe a surprise menu from the chef at a restaurant or eating at a friend’s house who just whipped something up.

That situation can go one of two ways. Either you are pleasantly surprised: “I never knew I liked scallops that much!”. Or you have to find a way to cope with the disappointment: “It looks de-li-cious, too bad I filled up on bread already…”.

A surprise meal. That is what learners have recently been given, too. Online or virtual was not a didactical choice. It was mandatory. Fortunately, there were some pleasant surprises too!What turned out to be more effective, fun, practical, or tasty than expected?

Who better to answer this question than aNewSpring’s own didactical chefs, our customer success managers? They work with training providers on a daily basis, designing and creating online learning solutions. Especially the past year, they helped out with bringing every training and course online.

What didactical choices, online learning techniques and examples of assignments did they encounter that will not go back to ‘the vintage classroom’ setting, but remain online?

Nicole
Customer Success Manager

Nicole is a cheerful CSM who just loves to keep learning and has a passion for helping people. She loves dogs and new recipes. Things she still wants to learn: pottery and woodworking.

Social learning and learning independently

“The past year, I noticed that clients increasingly opt for social learning: they deploy it more quickly and also find it more pleasant to use. If they have a solid structure in place, they notice that participants are more likely to share knowledge or give tips.

I see in the aNewSpring platform that the discussion function is turned on much more often and participants are encouraged to give their opinion. When there are online meetings, they try to keep the groups small. For example by splitting them up using break-out rooms, so that participants are more willing to participate actively.

Some customers also create a community outside the platform (such as on Facebook), so that participants feel a little more ‘freedom’ to share and interact with each other.”

“If you set up a solid structure for it, participants of your online training or course are happy to share knowledge and tips with each other.”

“I also see this with customers who have made the switch from being completely ‘offline’ to online. That can be a big switch, because it often requires more self discipline and less guidance by mentors.

The traditional classroom lessons (with PowerPoint presentations and textbooks) are converted into manageable parts, so that the participants can go through them by themselves online. And the online meetings are becoming a place where the trainers or mentors take on a coaching role, rather than a transmitting role.

These kinds of adjustments get a lot of positive feedback from participants. The learning impact is clear, participants find it easy to find their own path through the material and discussing it with each other is a very positive experience for everyone.”

Reinier
Customer Success Manager

Reinier is a curious educational scientist who likes to learn new knowledge and skills. He likes to transfer this knowledge and skills to our clients in order to build inspiring learning journeys together! What he would still like to learn: Salsa dancing and growing his own vegetables.

1-on-1’s

“Last year many customers looked for online solutions for something that was always offline. I expect that in many cases it will move back to the classroom when that is possible. However, there are a few exceptions, such as 1-on-1 meetings.

The fact that the personal moments between a mentor, trainer or supervisor and learner are now online is surprisingly well received. The convenience of not having to travel and that we are all getting so used to video calling, makes it an easy way to connect.”

“Short consultation moments between a trainer, mentor or supervisor and learner are much more convenient online.”

“Also, I see a place in an online learning environment for the ‘classic’ top down teaching approach, where no input is needed from the group. Again, it’s about how easy it is to reach a large group, and at the same time how accessible it is.

As long as your goal is specifically to instruct and inform, doing this online can be the right solution. I am hearing that participants and trainers find that it works better than expected.”

Roy
Customer Success Manager

On Roy’s learning bucket list is learning how to write good thrillers. Furthermore, he is an enthusiastic educational scientist with an eye for learning innovation. He loves helping ánd learning. An ideal combination for a CSM.

Working in groups

“As a customer success manager, I also provide training myself and, of course this past year, I have also been doing this online. For me, there are a few practical advantages, especially in workshops that deal with how you work with (our) software; the platform.

For example, via screen sharing you can very easily switch what you are presenting. I also really like the breakout rooms, because you don’t have to physically walk around and it’s easy to form groups. Group work generally goes surprisingly well online.”

“The argument that working in groups always goes better ‘offline’ is certainly not true in all cases.”

“Effective training in smaller groups with online methods works fine. Even if it is a very ‘hands-on’ training course where participants get to work on an assignment themselves.

The things you do miss online are the aspects outside of the training; chatting at the coffee machine, being able to look each other in the eye, etc. These are important arguments in favour of doing group work in the physical classroom. But in terms of didactics, working in groups online does not differ that much from offline. The only thing is that you have less control of your group; are they paying attention and does everyone understand what is being told?

In the end, it is still a balancing act based on didactic, practical and personal preferences, but don’t just dismiss online group work on the basis of a lack of effectiveness.”

Stefan
Chief Customer Officer

Stefan is Chief Customer Officer and is able to be completely inspired in one minute and decide to build a boat; “But I have no idea how to build a boat!”. What he would still like to learn is running an ultra marathon and philosophy.

Creative collaboration

“What I have noticed in the past year is that people have become so much more comfortable sharing what they know or have learned with others in an online setting.

For example, sharing their stories, examples of what they have created or sharing interesting content. This is something you did not see as often ‘before’, even though these are important elements of social learning. That is why online social learning works so much better than was often thought.”

“Online collaboration tools actually help to spark creativity in groups.”

“The fact that we have become so accustomed to online learning and online collaboration means that people are much more inclined to share their screens, share links in chats and make themselves heard in online meetings.

At the same time, technology is becoming less of a burden and more of a tool. For example, the functionality of breakout rooms or collaboration tools like Miro or Mural. If you use it well, it helps to stimulate creativity in (larger) groups.”

Rik
Product owner

Rik may not be a CSM, but as a product owner he knows the customers’ wishes like no other. He likes to think (out loud) about how to make a product that really makes an impact and helps people achieve their goals. On his own learning list: 3D modelling and writing stories.

Feedback and brainstorming

“As part of the product development team, I spent a lot of last year talking to designers and customers where everything suddenly had to go online. What struck me as surprising was that giving feedback and brainstorming in an online setting can also work very well.

I think the tendency has often been to do these moments of personal interaction when you are physically together. But there are also aspects to doing this online and asynchronously (not at the same time as the others) that are very valuable.”

“Giving feedback in an asynchronous, online form provides the time and space to better articulate yourself.”

“Giving feedback on what someone has made can be very useful ‘live’. But sometimes it is also nice to look at it in your own time and at your own pace, without the explanation of the other person. That way, you come up with different insights and you have time to put your feedback into the right words. Another advantage of the asynchronous format is that you can look at it at a time when it is really convenient. That also benefits the quality.

Another form of learning that also works unexpectedly well online are brainstorming sessions. The online whiteboards that you can use for this are a good replacement for the physical version. Those tools work well and are pleasant to use, they are easily accessible and you don’t have to deal with illegible handwriting.”

Michiel
Customer Success Manager

As a CSM, Michiel works according to his motto: ‘Learn and let Learn’, inspired by ‘Live and Let Die’ from Guns ’n’ Roses. Speaking of which, playing the guitar is something he wants to learn. And becoming a grandmaster in chess; why not.

Making recordings

“Of course, there are a few practical advantages to online learning that we are now seeing more clearly. Less travel time and therefore more flexibility in planning. More efficient sessions, because there is often less chit chat and people don’t want to spend the whole day (anymore) Zoom’ing. We are now seeing these benefits much more clearly than before.

Flexibili-time is often an important factor in many training programmes. I can imagine that in the future, online sessions will often be chosen instead of classroom meetings for the reasons mentioned above.”

“Making recordings from online sessions these days is very easy and they can be used in many ways for your learning process.”

“Something else that is proving very useful is the ease of making recordings of training sessions or meetings. These can be used in many ways as learning tools. For example, you can reuse fragments or exercises from a session for training purposes; as an example, for feedback and reflection or as any other learning occasion. Plus, participants who were not present can still watch the lesson.

As a trainer, you can also learn something from viewing recordings. That is also an opportunity to see if you have taken enough (short) breaks and processed all the input and agenda items. Just like in a classroom setting, that’s important in your online training.”

About the author

Jos Berden

A thinker, questioner and listener. The perfect combination of a pragmatic and idealist.

On the wish-list to learn: soccer tactics, flying a helicopter, reading other people’s minds.

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“Online learning is nowadays often a necessity and not a choice, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing.”

7 forms of learning that work surprisingly well online

Social learning and learning independently

1-on-1’s

Working in groups

Creative collaboration

Feedback and brainstorming

Making recordings

Jos Berden

Feeling inspired?

Check out more content like this

Get more from your blended learning journeys

Getting practical: 8 learning activities to enhance soft-skills training

GITP’s Jet Zantvoord about the success of virtual classrooms

About us

The learning platform

Learning methods