Training manuals are essential for teaching new skills to staff. They can be used to improve the onboarding of new employees or to upgrade their knowledge of new systems and products. You can include five elements in your training manual to engage your audience, boost learning, and increase recall.
Objectives
It is best to start a manual by defining the learning objectives. What is the goal of the manual? What is the purpose of your manual? What can readers expect from it?
Include any actions you would like people to perform during or after reading your training manual. It could be passing an oral or written assessment or sharing their learning with other staff.
The Chapters
It is easier to digest a training manual if it has been broken down into sections. A table of contents can help readers quickly find specific topics. Add tab dividers and a custom binder to make navigation easier.
Tell the reader what is coming next at the beginning of each chapter, and include a bulleted summary at the end. This will help to reinforce what has been learned and aid in comprehension.
Colour graphics and images
Break up your text with images, graphics, and color to increase reader engagement. Our brains process visual information 60,000 times faster. Combining graphics with text can improve learning because they complement each other.
Flowcharts and diagrams are excellent for explaining processes step-by-step. Use simple graphics and colored boxes to bring your content to life. Use a lightbulb to ask questions or give useful tips.
Interactive elements
Interactive elements are a great way of making training manuals more interesting. Quizzes and problem-solving exercises motivate learners to understand concepts they may not fully grasp.
Consider creating both a digital and a printed version of the manual. You can also add interactive features like trackers, which reward learners by awarding them progress badges and links to videos or other online resources.
Request for Feedback
Include a space where your employees can provide feedback. Your business’s success depends on the effectiveness of your training materials.
Add a section to the end of your manual or a form that users can complete and return. What questions should you ask? It would help if you asked about the course objectives, structure, content, learning outcomes, and overall experience.
You can enhance the learning experience by including these elements and ensuring your content is easily understood and looks like the part.
Want to elevate the quality of your company’s training manuals and materials? Contact your local Snap Centre today.
