Would you like to make e-learnings for your employees more interactive and practical? Then opt for project-based learning and motivate your employees for sustainable learning. We will explain how to implement it:
Digital learning is becoming increasingly popular in companies. Perhaps you are already using online courses for further education in your company? Then you know one of the biggest challenges for HR developers: making learning content not only informative but also practical. A strong practical reference and a high level of interactivity are the keys to motivated employees and sustainable e-learning.
We now present a method that is practical and action-oriented – perfect for motivating and sustainably training your employees:
What is "Project-Based Learning"?
Project-based learning is a very practice-oriented learning method where learners are supposed to learn independently and in action-oriented ways in realistic situations. The focus is on purposeful action and a structured project process. Project-based learning is primarily used in traditional face-to-face classes. However, it is also excellent for digital learning concepts such as e-learning or online courses in companies.
In project-based learning, the promotion of self-organization of your employees is the focus:
Employees expand their knowledge by developing new skills through problem identification and solving in acute situations.
Employees must conduct research themselves and gather the necessary information. This also encourages them to exchange ideas with other learners and share their insights with the group.
It's not just about solving the problem; the path to the solution is crucial for the learning experience.
Actively participating and experiencing the learning process is incredibly important in project-based learning. Pure information presentation, as seen in many traditional trainings, is explicitly avoided.
You can divide project-based learning into four phases: the initiation phase, the planning phase, the implementation phase, and the closing phase. The following illustration provides an overview of what is important in each phase:
Phase model of project-based learning according to Elisabeth Kaliva // Own representation
Summary of characteristics of project-based learning:
The base is always a question or problem from a real context.
Each course focuses on the learning objectives and skills of your employees, and promotes these through independent solutions.
Your employees must always have the opportunity to make decisions themselves and develop their own strategies.
At the end of the course, employees should be able to present their results in the course and discuss the path to the solution.
Project-based learning transfers responsibility to the learning employees themselves, making the role of the course leader more passive. If you employ external trainers in your company, you should introduce them to the concept and convey this likely unfamiliar role to them.
The course leader should primarily remain in the background and only interrupt the learning process in emergencies. If your employees actively seek support, it must also be provided; after all, you or the trainer still have a leading role as course leaders. Ideally, you try to integrate yourself into the group of learning employees to observe the learning process without influencing it.
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As mentioned, the high responsibility of learners and a rather passive role of the trainer is often initially unfamiliar – for responsible parties, trainers, and employees. To ensure project-based learning succeeds in e-learning, here are four practical tips for you:
4 Tips for Successful Project-Based Learning in E-Learning
1. Conduct a test run
To ensure that your "learning project" in e-learning is truly successful, you should definitely work through your course yourself at least once. This way, you can check whether all important elements and tasks are understandable and feasible, and whether your primary learning goal is actually achieved. When planning, keep the four phases of project-based learning mentioned above in mind and schedule them accordingly.
2. Promote direct feedback
Encourage your employees to share their opinions and insights directly. The form depends on your LMS: for instance, at blink.it, employees can upload their own videos or use the comment function under the learning units. Direct feedback helps you and your employees improve processes and content.
3. Give learners more responsibility
An important factor of project-based learning is the independence of the learning employees, as the path to the solution is also crucial. Therefore, if you provide your employees with the necessary foundational knowledge and all required resources, they can learn independently and acquire new knowledge. Thus, transfer the necessary responsibility for their learning process to them and step back from the role of the course leader.
4. Integrate interactive scenarios and simulations
Create specific scenarios tailored to the learning objectives of your employees. Through your interactive e-learning exercises, your employees can directly apply their acquired knowledge, thereby retaining it longer. To incorporate active exercises into your e-learning, the blended learning method is also suitable. This way, you can optimally divide theory and practice into online and face-to-face phases.
Conclusion: In project-based learning, the path to the solution and the process of learning are always central. With projects, you motivate your employees to actively participate, apply their knowledge practically, and find their own solutions. This not only increases motivation but also the long-term learning effect: what is practically applied stays in memory!
With these comprehensive tips, you can now plan your own e-learning in the spirit of project-based learning. Are you still at the beginning and want to design your own e-learnings? Then use our free e-learning checklist and go through the individual planning points step by step. Once you have ticked everything off, your perfect e-learning will be ready.
