You have several options if you want to use online training methods for your employees. Online training makes more sense than leading classroom training or other employee training methods when you have a small business and you’re working with limited resources. These methods allow you to effectively train your workforce without investing in expensive training techniques that your cash flow might not be able to bear.

Intranet

If your business has an intranet, online training materials can be stored in network resources. These materials may be as simple as documents that go over certain aspects of training or as complex as a complete knowledge base that needs to be examined to receive all of the available training. Documents are typically added over time as you build the training and knowledge needed to perform specific tasks.

Project Management Software

Collaborative and project management software programs provide an easy platform for your employees to use for online training. Collaborative software has discussion forums and other features built-in that allow for interaction among everyone being trained. The documents can be edited to suit the needs of the training class, and it’s easy to set everyone up with a login since these software systems are designed to have an entire business or team logging in. A few examples of project management software programs used for this purpose include RationalPlan, Basecamp, and Microsoft Project 2010.

Guided Courses

If you need to train your employees on an in-depth subject, creating a guided course gives them an experience that’s close to traditional training classes. You can create the guided course with software or a special website dedicated to this training. Your employees move at their own pace through the guided course and are prompted with tests, quizzes, and readings that reinforce their understanding of the material. You can create these Web pages using an HTML editor such as Dreamweaver, through a hosted Web page created by a template such as the Google Sites service, or with a service geared specifically toward guided course-making.

Considerations

Online training is a good choice in many training situations. However, some practices require hands-on training that you can’t replicate through the computer. Be aware of these exceptions during online training. Your employees need to know the information thoroughly. Don’t be afraid to combine online and hands-on training.