A varied online employee training program helps businesses build a strong workforce. Approaching the material in different ways addresses different learning styles. It also helps reinforce the information learned and turns instruction into actionable knowledge.
Roleplaying is a powerful tool in education. The term doesn’t just refer to kids playing games. It’s a method of learning that pushes the learner to apply their knowledge in a realistic situation.
Learning management systems have developed ways to facilitate roleplaying in employee training. It is easier than ever to deliver this kind of content in an impactful way.
What is Roleplay in a Training Environment?
The basic definition of roleplaying is to act out or perform actions as a character. The most common examples are found in games like Dungeons and Dragons. However, it’s also a tool that can be used in different non-recreational settings.
For example, roleplaying is often used in psychotherapy. It’s a therapeutic technique that can help teach or demonstrate a behavior. The therapist can present stimulus cues that are found in real-life situations. This shows patients how to react or cope when these conditions are present.
Roleplaying has a similar benefit in employee training. Using the same method, instructors can create scenarios that trainees are likely to encounter on the job. The trainee can navigate these scenarios in a controlled environment to learn how to handle what may be stressful, complex, or challenging situations.
Practicing the proper action or response helps trainees develop stronger skill sets. It reinforces what they know and helps them develop new skills.
The Benefits of Roleplay in Employee Training
Roleplay in employee training creates experiences that lead to a happier, more capable workforce. Figuring out how to get more out of your learning management system starts with understanding the benefits of different training methods. Why should you consider adding roleplay to your training program?
- Builds Confidence with New Skills
Learning a new skill is one thing but putting it into practice while on the job is another. Roleplaying provides a helpful go-between. It lets employees learn a skill and practice it in a real-life situation without any risk. Learners can improve and make mistakes so that they are more confident when it’s time to use what they learned while on the job.
- Gain Insight into Strengths and Weaknesses
Someone can say they know something, but that doesn’t guarantee they really do. Roleplaying forces learners to employ what they know. It provides valuable insight into their strengths and weaknesses. It can be eye-opening for the learner and help instructors create personalized training content.
Both benefit in the end, with instructors being more effective and learners closing knowledge gaps and honing their skill sets.
- Gives Perspectives that Encourage Empathy
It’s not always easy to see things from another person’s perspective. Roleplaying can be used to help employees experience the customer side of interactions. This gives them an understanding of the challenges customers face. Understanding leads to greater empathy so that they can provide a better experience for anyone who works with your business.
- Strengthens Problem Solving Skills
Problem solving is a valuable skill that requires practice to improve. Roleplaying puts learners in scenarios that push them to use creative thinking and problem solving. They can find solutions or use innovation to create better outcomes in training that translate well on the job.
- Realistic Practice that Reduces Real-Life Mistakes
Mistakes can cost a company thousands of dollars. Errors are going to happen, but there are things that can be done to reduce them. Roleplaying is a good way to start. It helps workers get better at what they do through realistic practice. The result is a more capable employee who is less likely to make a costly mistake.
- Helps Form Bonds Among Teammates
When training classes use roleplaying in live sessions, it creates opportunities to bond. By learning together through acting out scenarios, they will become more comfortable with the people working alongside them.
Using Roleplay for In-Person Training
If you use a hybrid training model, then you may be able to host roleplay training in person. These scenarios should begin with a clearly outlined issue that the training will address. Introduce the issue and spark a conversation about how to deal with it.
Basic roleplaying can be as simple as setting up two people as characters and asking them to interact. For example, one trainee could roleplay a customer and the other could be the employee helping them.
Roleplaying can also be used to teach proper responses and reactions in almost any other situation. It could involve internal interactions between two employees or communication between employees and business partners. It can also be used to demonstrate the proper response in an emergency.
Roleplay is an effective training method when teaching topics like:
- Emergency response
- Sales techniques
- Effective communication
- Problem solving skills
- Conflict resolution
- Workplace conduct
- Listening skills
- Customer service
When asking “What is the true value of eLearning in employee training?” you need to know what your LMS can do for you. If you plan to use in-person roleplay training, make sure your system supports hybrid training. Many platforms include features that let users add credit for in-person activities.
How Your LMS Can Facilitate Roleplay eLearning
Roleplaying can be used in online employee training, even if your learners never meet in person.
- Roleplay Training Videos
Training videos are a practical resource for eLearning. You can incorporate roleplaying into this medium. Produce videos that involve interactions. Learners can watch the interactions to learn how to handle each situation.
Videos can also be made with a character addressing the viewer. The video could pause (or be paused) to give the user a chance to respond. This gives them the chance to practice skills while looking at a real person as they would in a real-life situation.
This is a great resource to use with an LMS that supports interactive videos.
- Roleplay eLearning Games
Many LMS platforms include built-in eLearning games. Roleplaying can be worked into these activities. A game could be developed with characters and multiple-choice responses. The user chooses responses to see the outcome of their choices.
- Live Class Roleplay
Online employee training can still utilize an in-person class environment without being in the same physical space. Live classes can be hosted using cameras so that trainees can see each other. This allows instructors to create a setting that’s like in-person classes with the same face-to-face benefit during roleplay activities.
The way you train your employees has a powerful impact on their success in their job roles. Make sure you use an LMS that includes the tools they need to excel.
