How to Create Effective Employee Training Modules

Effective employee training builds the foundation for successful organizations. It ensures your staff learns the job-related skills required to perform their duties while further developing their careers and setting them up for success within your company.

The impact of structured training is backed by significant data:

• 86% of HR leaders view training as critical for talent retention.
• 218% higher revenue per employee is generated by businesses with formal programs.
• 92% of employees report a positive impact on engagement.
• 90% of staff are more likely to stay with a company offering development.

Training modules are one of the most effective ways to train employees. Companies can build a training module for virtually any use case or learning initiative. Staff can complete modules at their own pace, while leaders can track and measure the results. 

Key Takeaways

• Impact on Growth: Comprehensive training programs can generate up to 218% more revenue per employee.
• Retention Power: 90% of employees are less likely to leave a company that offers robust development opportunities.
• Modular Design: Effective modules are self-contained, independent units focusing on specific learning objectives.
• Format Variety: Using a mix of video, interactive assessments, and microlearning improves engagement and knowledge retention.
• Mobile Accessibility: Delivering training via mobile apps allows employees to learn at their own pace, increasing participation rates.

If you’re interested in creating modules for training employees, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll break down the different ways you can use online training modules and types of training modules before walking you through the step-by-step process of building one that delivers real results. 

What is a Training Module?

A training module is a self-contained element of instructional information that focuses on a specific topic within a broader training program. Each module is designed to provide learners with skills, knowledge, and information related to a particular subject matter.

Training modules are components of an online course or instructional guide. Typically, multiple modules must be finished to complete a course or earn a certification. 

It’s common for training modules to be delivered through an online or mobile learning management system. Within each module, there’s a range of content that’s used for training—most often starting with informational content before formal assessments and evaluations.

For example, modules may start with a slideshow or video before testing what’s been learned through a quiz or test. 

Ways to Use Module Training For Employees

Module training can be used for any type of educational setting. But within the realm of an employee training program, these are the most common ways to use a modular training course: 

• New hire training, onboarding, and orientation
• Leadership training
• Sales coaching
• Product training
• Job-specific technical training
• Employee safety training
• Diversity training
• Mandatory corporate training (sexual harassment, soft skills, etc).
• Cybersecurity training protocols

You can create online training modules for virtually any type of learning objective within an organization. 

Types of Training Modules

Employee training modules come in all different shapes and sizes. But you can mix and match your content delivery and training assessments based on the specific goal or learning objective of the module. Here are some common types of training modules used for employee training:

Online Course

This type of online training module is a comprehensive e-learning initiative that’s designed to inform learners about a specific topic. It’s commonly presented in a slideshow format with a mix of text, images, and videos. Once a slide has been consumed, the learner continues by clicking a “Next” button to proceed. Online courses work really well for providing sequential training with information that builds on what was previously taught. 

Interactive Assessment

Interactive assessments are an engaging way to evaluate employees’ understanding of the training material. These assessments can include quizzes, drag-and-drop activities, or interactive simulations. The key is to make these assessments interactive and dynamic, allowing employees to apply what they’ve learned in a practical context. This type of module is particularly effective in measuring the retention of knowledge and skills, and it can be adapted for various topics ranging from product knowledge to compliance training.

Video Lectures and Presentations

Video lectures and presentations offer a visual and auditory learning experience that can be more engaging than text-based content. These modules can feature recorded lectures, interviews with experts, or animated explanations of complex concepts. They are particularly useful for delivering detailed information in an easily digestible format. Incorporating videos in training modules can enhance learners’ understanding and retention, especially for topics that benefit from visual demonstrations, like technical skills or product features.

Scenario-Based Learning

Scenario-based learning modules immerse employees in real-life situations relevant to their job roles. These scenarios require learners to make decisions based on the information provided—mimicking the challenges they may face in their actual work. This approach promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Scenario-based learning is highly effective for training in areas like customer service, conflict resolution, and decision-making processes.

Microlearning

Microlearning involves creating short, focused training modules that cover a specific topic or skill in a concise manner. These modules are typically 5-10 minutes long and are ideal for busy employees who have limited time for training. Microlearning is effective for reinforcing key concepts, providing just-in-time training, and supporting ongoing learning. It’s suitable for topics that can be broken down into small, standalone units, such as software updates, policy changes, or quick tips.

Live Group Training

Live group training modules involve interactive sessions conducted in real time, either in-person or through video conferencing tools. These sessions can include workshops, webinars, or group discussions led by a trainer or subject matter expert. Live group training fosters collaboration and allows for immediate feedback and interaction among participants. It’s particularly useful for topics that benefit from group dynamics and discussion, such as leadership development, team building, and brainstorming sessions.

How to Create Online Training Modules For Employees (5 Steps)

Creating online training modules is easy when you follow specific guidelines. Use the five steps below to build each module.

Step 1 – Establish the Key Training Objectives

The first thing you need to do is determine the learning objectives for each module. By definition, a “module” is a set of independent units or parts of a more complete structure. So you don’t need to cram everything into one lesson. 

For example, if you want to train employees about cybersecurity protocols, you can break this down into three separate modules—one for BYOD policies, another for password management, and a third for breach protocols. 

Each module is completely independent of the other topics within the broader scope of cybersecurity. An employee doesn’t need to understand password policies to complete the module on breach protocols. But each of these is a key objective within the big picture of cybersecurity training. 

Step 2 – Define Success For Each Training Module

Every module needs to have its own definition of “success” or “completion.” This can vary depending on the type of training.

For example, success for new hire onboarding may simply require an employee to watch a set of videos and consume content within a slideshow. The act of watching the video to completion and clicking the “next” button after each slide may be enough for this. Then you could collect a signature from the employee that acknowledges they’ve read all of the policies and understand what’s expected of them.

By harnessing the power of mobile technology, you’re offering much more than an employee training solution—you’re fostering a culture of continuous learning and development within your organization. 

Frequently Asked Questions