Just in time training is a trending approach to workplace training, and it comes with plenty of benefits, like increased motivation, efficiency, and confidence. But giving your employees open access to your training library without clear directions won’t automatically improve outcomes.
You need a strategy to decide what parts of your training should be delivered on-demand, and the right tools to easily create that content – or modify what you already have. If you’re convinced of the benefits and ready to using JIT training for your teams, here are the steps you can take to apply this proven training method.
A well-rounded training strategy leverages JIT training, but it can’t be exclusively that style. To find the right blend for your organization, start with a solid foundation of knowledge for each learner through the onboarding process. Then you’ll need a good grasp of what type of information needs to be delivered ‘just in time,’ and an awareness of the best methods to share that with your teams.
Here are 7 steps you should take to mix JIT training into your L&D strategy:
1. Ask these questions
Does a culture of learning already exist at our organization?
Do employees have an awareness of where they can find resources? Do they have the motivation to find answers and seek out correct information in moments of uncertainty?
💡 TIP - Continu helps you build your culture of learning by giving your learners access to quality training resources. Key integrations with content partners like OpenSesame help you to consistently share relevant content with your learners that answers their questions and builds their confidence on the job. They can confidently locate training resources from their Continu dashboard and find answers on-demand.
Do we have a supportive technology solution to organize our training content?
And is that tech solution optimized for mobile devices to support learners who aren’t in front of the computer all day?
Are we aware of the gaps in our current training program?
Do we know the pain points and FAQs that our learners need support with? Can JIT training content effectively address those gaps?
2. Pinpoint your topics
For success with JIT training, you have to identify the precise topics and content that will benefit most from being on-demand or adapted as shortform content. Use a training needs assessment and listen to your learners as they share their struggles and FAQ. Where do they need a boost of confidence from access to best practices? When do they feel confused or uncertain as they’re on the job?
TIP - Context makes or breaks JIT training content. A long block of text may not be the best way to help the information stick when it’s needed on the spot. Scenarios and sample situations taken from customer interactions can help your employees better visualize and internalize the concepts on the page.
3. Downsize your training content
No, we don’t mean to start deleting all your SCORM courses, workshop recordings, and training manuals! But you need to start to break your content down into smaller, chunks with a single focus or subtopic. For example, break a 30-minute video lecture down into ten different 3-minute videos that give a succinct topical overview or answer a single question. Approach your current training content with a curator’s mindset to be sure you make the most of everything you have already created.
4. Organize efficiently
An LMS helps you to keep all training content organized and highly accessible to your team members. They can easily search and find what they’re looking for without needing to dig through a full database or scrub through a 40-minute recording to find a specific 2-minute clip. Keep each piece of JIT content short with a narrow focus, but link or direct learners to more information or a resource that expands on the topic.
The accessibility component of an LMS is key. Your teams won’t need physical copies of diagrams, flowcharts, or other manuals; they’ll be able to pull those up on a phone or tablet whenever they need support on the job. Using an LMS, you can easily catalogue this content and use filters or tags to make it easy to find.
5. Take a multimedia approach
Keep in mind that most users will access the JIT content on a tablet or smartphone.
Optimize your content for those platforms. Use video, infographics, search features, and images to help the concept stick quickly. A great LMS helps you to build training content directly in the platform, mixing different elements to help administrators create engaging content on the spot.
In some contexts, the augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) approach is a cutting-edge way to encourage active, on-demand learning. VR and AR training methods have been successfully applied in the automotive industry, in healthcare settings, real estate, and architecture.
6. Leverage integrations
Choose an LMS that integrates with the tools your team uses on a daily basis. Workplace learning will never become part of the everyday workflow if it only happens in person or at set times. For example, with Slack, MS Office, and Salesforce integrations, users can search for training content on a specific keyword or topic right within the app. This ease of access encourages spontaneous, on-demand learning and removes barriers to quick training like confusion or boredom.
7. Track and improve your content
Welcome feedback from your teams on whether your training platform and JIT content are proving to be valuable and efficient. Use analytics to track content performance (views, likes, shares) and compare it with employee feedback and performance (like knowledge retention or assessment scores). It is easier to swap out short JIT content, so update and improve it frequently for optimal impact.
The Future is ‘Just in Time’
Attention spans have gotten shorter and on-demand content has changed the way we do just about everything. It makes sense that workplace training should adapt to the new opportunities to improve engagement and learner motivation.
Supportive technology is an essential component of just in time learning. Content organization, accessibility, smart integrations, social sharing, and mobile accessibility can all be effectively managed with an LMS like Continu.
Are you ready to formalize your just in time training strategy? Explore our features that make it easier than ever to put learners first.
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