A recent survey conducted by Software Advice reveals interesting insights on how corporate learning programs can drive employee engagement.

From the responses gathered, 58% of workers would like online learning content to be divided into multiple shorter lessons. 35% desire real-life rewards based on learning progress, while 24% prefer social networks in the form of discussion forums. Consequently, employees are advocating for microlearning, gamification, and social learning.

However, they have specific ideas on how these techniques should be integrated into their training. Therefore, consider what employees genuinely want from corporate training, ensure your corporate learning programs can effectively support employee desires, and implement requested techniques only if they have an educational purpose and directly align with learning objectives.

Corporate Learning and Microlearning

The majority of surveyed workers stated they would be more willing to participate in online corporate training programs if the content was divided into several lessons, lasting five to seven minutes, instead of one hour. 58% responded it was “much more likely” or “somewhat more likely.” Microlearning aligns with how the human brain prefers to process information—in manageable fragments.

Moreover, employees may not always have the luxury of taking long breaks from work for training, and the time investment in microlearning is low, allowing them to quickly acquire the needed information. They can also access micro-content instantly when they need it.

Gamification

Gamification involves using game elements (rewards, missions, leaderboards, role-playing games) and game design techniques in non-game contexts. While games are fun and can be addictive, the survey reveals that 35% of employees preferred real-life rewards for progressing in training.

Gamification leverages the motivational power of games to alter behavioral patterns. It enables learning through failure, as employees have the freedom to make mistakes and try again.

Social Learning

Social learning entails learning through social interaction with others. It is collaborative and a form of informal learning. 24% of respondents preferred discussion forums as their preferred form of social learning interaction. This preference is not surprising, considering humans are social creatures. When social interaction levels are high, online learning experiences result in greater content retention.