Chatbots in E-learning: An Evolving Trend to Boost Your Onboarding Experience

With increasing scope of innovative technologies such as Virtual Reality, simulations, Augmented Reality (AR), chatbots and more, workforce training is all set for incredible growth. Modern enterprises are talking a lot about chatbot functionality within the Learning Management System (LMS) space, thereby generating huge interests. By enabling the new hires to communicate via interactive bots, organizations have improved their overall level of collaboration, retention and efficiency.

You might think of a platform which is easier to access for different tasks such as assigning training, running a video or submitting an assessment. You might also look for a conversational interface where relevant content can be searched at the point of need. Then, LMS chatbots serve as an ideal solution. There has been a lot of hype about chatbots supported by e-learning platforms to deliver effective onboarding training solutions. But, with evolving learning needs, the deployment of smart bots to impart a personalized onboarding experience has improved. As per the research, chatbots could save businesses $8 billion annually by 2022, from $20 million employers expected to save by 2017. [Source: http://fortune.com/2017/05/10/chatbots-business-billions-savings/].

Automating Onboarding Process Using Chatbots

When an employee joins the organization, the same type of training is delivered during multiple induction programs. Chatbots can make this process more interactive by effectively pulling a set of answers from a structured set of data, structuring that data and providing an accurate answer. From hiring to orientation, there are a plethora of ways how chatbots help to deliver an engaging workplace training experience:

• Chatbots make the new hiring process more flexible as learners can simply ask queries based on their job roles, department, potential responsibilities and more.

• During orientation, bots are used to provide documentation through a set of predefined questions, instead of filling forms manually. Consequently, it helps to track how employees adapt in the new environment and perform.

• Chatbots ask short questions at short intervals, instead of giving feedback to individuals. This helps the managers to accumulate employee data and take necessary decisions on strategies and regulations.

Undoubtedly, chatbots at the workplace are meant to improve the overall learning uptake by delivering more impactful user experience. LMS chatbots help the majority of employees to apply what they have learned and ensured intuitive conversation delivery. Today, there are a plethora of methods bots can be used to improve the efficiency of employees as well the business on a whole. From hiring to onboarding, chatbots aid to streamline e-learning approaches, thereby allowing the enterprises to focus more on fostering strong communication with their employees.

Embracing the Need to Blend Games with Effective Mobile Learning Solutions

The traditional training approach was confined to a dedicated computer system within a classroom setting. Technological advancements have resulted in the evolution of mobile learning solutions that allow learners to access information-anytime and anywhere. Today, e-learning developers focus on ways- learners can be best engaged. So, they prefer incorporating games with online courses to create impactful learning opportunities for all.

Learning games are also provided across personalized mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets for a highly impactful learning experience. In today’s digital scenario, mobile learning and game-based approach go hand-in-hand, thereby creating fun-filled experiences for all:

• Gaming environment is fun

An interactive gaming environment is the biggest factor to decide whether training delivery will be effective or not. If the overall environment is engaging and presents ample challenges to the learners, then learning games prove to be effective across multiple mobile devices. As games have become appropriate for the mobile platform, they are designed considering the mobile device screen size and other specific capabilities such as touch screens, etc. Several e-learning developers are not enthusiastic about mobile learning games being touch-screen enabled, as they want the games to be accessible across laptops and desktops as well. This apprehension is now fading as most learners are choosing mobile learning games designed as per their pertinent learning needs. 

• Learn & Play- anytime & anywhere 

Another significant benefit of mobile learning is it enables learning at the point of need. This benefit is further enhanced by embedding games with e-learning as people prefer playing games, thereby making use of non-productive times such as travelling, waiting between jobs, etc. Undoubtedly, mobile learning provides an immense way of learning through interactive games – even when there is no or limited access to the Internet.

• Collaborate through games

E-learning games prove to be a powerful tool to boost learner collaboration and knowledge retention. Through games, learners can connect easily by participating in quizzes, posting scores on a leaderboard and sharing tips on a discussion board. Collaborative tools such as comments section can prove to be effective for discussions and effective learning. The game-based approach motivates learners to access more courses, thereby boosting their overall collaboration and retention levels. 

Delivery of interactive games via mobile learning make a perfect blend, not just for entertainment but for learning also. Smartphones and tablets play an increasingly important role in improving communication between diversified audiences. With the emergence of game-based approach and mobile learning solutions, the overall experience of corporate training has become more impactful than ever.