Are you struggling to get e-learning content out to employees with limited internet access?
We understand what you’re going through. You’ve finally cracked how to deliver online learning and it’s going down great with most employees. Everybody’s completing their training, learning new skills and engaging more with content.
But, you’ve hit a bump in the road. Some employees can’t access e-learning courses because of limited internet access on their computer or mobile device.
Perhaps your employees want to learn on the tube on the way to work or you have employees that work remotely in other parts of the country.
Whatever the reason, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world when the internet isn’t accessible. It’s the 21st century - there’s always something that can be done.
So, let’s dive in and look at the ways you can still provide e-learning content for employees that have limited access to the internet.
Simple Media Choices
When your employees have limited access to the internet, you don’t want e-learning content to be complicated.
One thing’s for sure, if your employees don’t have great bandwidth and fast access to the internet, you don’t want to provide them with HD videos and premium recordings that are going to run slowly on their computer or eat away at their mobile data.
Making simple media choices for learning is going to be a lifesaver for you and your employees. Now, when we say ‘simple’ media, we don’t mean providing sub-standard learning content.
We mean making smart choices on how that information is delivered to your employees through the LMS.
You need to choose e-learning content that is easy to play and uses less bandwidth to get it going. For example, text and MP3 files are easiest to access and play when the internet is limited.
Instead of providing employees with HD videos and slow loading content, try creating content that is audio only. This is going to be a bandwidth-friendly option and act just like a podcast for training.
In addition, your employees can even do other things as they listen, such as driving and exercising. It’s a versatile option and lets you do many activities at once, increasing productivity.
With simple media, you can still provide the in-depth learning experience you want for learners with limited Internet access and it’s less complicated for you to create. Now you no longer worry about creating animations or fancy slideshows - Everybody’s a winner!
LMS Offline Access
Just because you don’t have internet access doesn’t mean e-learning has to stop.
There’s still ways to deliver employee content without being online. In fact, by choosing a suitable LMS, you can provide the same online content offline from anywhere you are - problem solved.
This can be done in two ways – through synchronization and by downloading e-learning content for using later on.
Synchronization works simply by recording an employee’s progress when they are offline and uploading the data to the LMS when they establish an internet connection again.
This means that you can learn anywhere, from on a plane to out in the countryside and then regroup when you are back in civilization.
The great thing about a LMS that has offline synchronization is that it will let you start where your internet access left off. You don’t have to worry about losing your place on quizzes or learning materials.
The other option you’ve got to provide e-learning content offline is by choosing an LMS that allows you to download materials when you have internet access and then use it when you are offline.
This is the perfect option for employees to learn anywhere and on the go, as well as at their own pace. This also means you don’t have to change your content – you can still provide videos and animations, without worrying that they won’t play on limited bandwidth access.
Track with Experience API
If you’ve created content that is capable of being used offline, you still need to know who is using it to keep up-to-date with employee training and learning. That’s where Experience API will help.
Experience API, sometimes known as Tin-Can, is going to keep you in the loop with employee progress. It’s always a great idea to have content available for offline learning, but if nobody’s using it, it’s pointless.
Using Experience API on your LMS is going to let you track your employee’s progress. Any learning experiences that happen offline are stored in the cache memory. Once the user has established a connection online again, these statements are then uploaded to the LRS like they were never offline.
It doesn’t matter what device your employee uses to access quizzes or educational videos offline – Experience API will pick it up and report back as soon as internet access is available.
Be sure to choose a LMS that’s compatible with Experience API to get started.
There you have it – ways to deliver quality e-learning content to employees with limited internet access. See, it wasn’t so hard after all!
By using simple media, such as audio and text files, you have the power to deliver the same quality content in a form that’ll suit low bandwidth and limited internet access. Not to mention, it’s easier for you to create.
A LMS with offline access to going to serve employees well, whether it’s through synchronization or through downloadable content. Employees are work at their own pace and still use e-learning content like they would online. Nobody has to miss out.
Last, but not least, you can keep an eye on employee progress by using Experience API. This will track all online and offline learning to make sure you aren’t left behind.
