Training Industry Magazine - January/February 2021 - 19

through reading, hearing, watching,
smelling or touching.
Before we get to the last step of the ABC
approach, let's revisit Jane's onboarding
experience. If the L&D group had
conducted an assessment and identified
that most learners had minimal exposure
to a virtual environment, would the team
have considered other ways to deliver
learning content? Instead, they may
have considered a blended approach
giving participants the opportunity to
participate in training that includes a
blend of both instructor-led and selfdirected virtual learning, coupled with
experiential learning.

COMMUNICATION IS
ESSENTIAL TO INCREASING
LEARNER AWARENESS OF
SENSORY OVERLOAD.

COMMUNICATE
Now more than ever, we are aware
of how sensory overload impacts
our ability to comprehend, apply and
retain key information. However, we
often do not help employees identify
symptoms of sensory overload or give
them space to express their struggles.
Communication is essential to increasing
learner awareness of sensory overload.
Providing open communication will
encourage learners to stay alert for
signs, as they are in the best position to
address sensory overload within their
own environment.
It's
also
important
to
provide
recommendations on how to identify
sensory overload and reduce virtual
exhaustion. You should also be
consistent in your communication
efforts, but vary the methods you employ;

communication does not always need
to happen through email. Ask learners
their communication preferences and
consider a variety of formats, including
text, personal calls, daily huddles,
and diagrams and visuals to ensure
processes are fully understood.
As with Jane, in her highly charged period
of change, good communication can
help reduce the impacts of isolation and
reliance on a screen. Communicating
the results of the assessment and
understanding the training options
available can help Jane understand
her own sensory issues and participate
in training events that support her own
ability to focus, comprehend and retain
pivotal information.
The L&D industry is replete with problem
solvers. We love to evolve and branch
out in our attempts to provide innovative
and effective learning experiences.
When it comes to sensory overload, we
have the ability to support our learners
and reduce negative impacts on
performance. Now you may be asking
yourself, " What can I start doing today to
better support my learners? " To that, we
recommend the following:
» Assess your learners through a
survey. Understand sensitivity to
these changes and identify learners
at a higher risk of being affected by
the transition.

» Be creative with your learning
solutions. What non-virtual, yet selfpaced, learning elements can you blend
into your solution? What experiential
learning opportunities exist?
» Communicate the risk of sensory
overload, and share best practices.
Even after you roll out a learning
program, check in with your learners
often. Review the best practices
described in this article and share
those with your learners, so they can
become more self-aware.
Virtual learning is here to stay. Let's
provide better learning experiences
by designing our solutions to reduce
virtual exhaustion and social isolation.
Now is the time to be evolutionary and
innovative in how we assess learner
needs and create effective blended
learning opportunities that, supported
by open communication, will minimize
sensory overload and provide effective,
timely and safe conditions for learning.
Shelly Jones is a content manager and
learning designer at Ardent, where she
consults with clients to conceptualize,
develop and implement interactive
and engaging solutions. Dr. Anna
McCalpin partners with Ardent's clients
to understand their unique needs and to
develop customized learning solutions
to overcome organizational challenges.
Email Shelly and Anna.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCE
SENSORY OVERLOAD GUIDE
A GUIDE TO AID YOUR ORGANIZATION IN DETERMINING NEXT
STEPS FOR SHAPING POTENTIAL L&D STRATEGY CHANGES
WHILE AVOIDING SENSORY OVERLOAD.

T R A I N I N G I N DUSTR Y MAGAZ INE - VIRTUAL LEARNING I W WW. T RAI NINGINDU S T RY . C OM/ MAGAZ I NE

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Training Industry Magazine - January/February 2021

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