We’ve been reading how COVID-19 has transformed our workplaces, compelling HR and L&D teams to devise strategies to support remote learning.
Employee onboarding programs have always been a part of most L&D strategies to welcome newbies – especially in global organizations. A solid onboarding program for new employees would typically include welcoming the person; introducing them to a mentor; orienting them to the company’s culture, policies, and most importantly, imparting a feeling of being a part of a bigger family. While building an onboarding program, companies generally include a digital component, an ILT or a face-to-face component, and /or job shadowing to help the newbie study the hierarchy, processes, best practices, and manage expectations.
So, what has changed? Well, remote/virtual onboarding is becoming universal.
We have unknowingly implemented the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework that improves and optimizes learning using scientific insights.
We have taken a page out of the UDL framework to structure instruction to meet engagement, representation, and expression using goals, methods, materials, and assessments.
The COVID-related disruption has compelled organizations to rethink their traditional onboarding design and deployment strategies. Now they have to navigate through the challenges of harnessing existing technological and non-technological tools to continue onboarding differently.
Organizations are adopting a Universal Design for Onboarding (UDoN) that integrates e-learning assets, virtual instructor-led training (vILT), video calls, phone calls, and regular touchpoint meetings with each other for a holistic and well-executed experience. It meets the need for face-to-face interactions and weaves in social collaboration tools to help remote learners manage their isolation and gain support.
Universal Design for Onboarding can tackle learners, technology, and learning approach in the COVID-related disruptive world by ensuring the following:
Changes for Newbies = Engagement and Representation
Changes in Unlocking and Deploying Technology within onboarding software for small business
Changes in the Learning Approach = Expression
In the times of social distancing, L&D teams have to ensure that there are designing onboarding programs for newbies that make them feel valued, appreciated, and understood. Learning leaders across the world have to ensure employee safety and business continuity while creating expert employee onboarding programs.
So then, UDoN for everyone?
– By Rukmini Chaudhary, Director – Instructional Design at MPS Interactive Systems
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