Insurance agent training seems to be wildly inconsistent across different distribution groups. Some rely on a regional or district manager, some have a corporate trainer fly around the country, others fly their agents to the home office. Some are starting to use Webinars. And, many use some combination of those methods. I really don’t see how any of them could be as effective, from an agent education and cost efficiency standpoint, as moving to a Web-based training program. Think about it: if a person can go online and earn an accredited master’s degree or PhD, shouldn’t we be able to teach agents about products, administrative processes, and selling?
Problems with traditional training that Web-based training can solve:
1. Retention – We all know the results of trying to train agents by having them sit through two or three days of eight-hour training sessions. Making training available on-demand via the Web allows agents to learn in digestible quantities, at their own pace. It also allows them to go back and review any training at any time.
2. Different learning styles – Moving training to the Web provides an opportunity to address different types of learners and maximize the effectiveness of training for all agents.
3. Accuracy/Consistency – Web based training ensures that all agents are receiving accurate information each and every time. Legal should love this!
4. Accountability – Carriers or marketing firms can set up an online testing program to make sure that agents have completed the online training and are familiar with the necessary products and procedures before going in the field.
Different types of media to help different types of learners:
As an elementary school teacher, my wife is always building her lessons to meet the needs of different types of learners. Perhaps the most widely used and accepted categorizations of learning styles is the VARK model, which provides four types of learning preferences that people fall into:
1. Visual
2. Aural
3. Read/Write
4. Kinesthetic
Education 101 tells you the more of these preferences accounted for in your curriculum, the more successful you are in educating a broader audience. With the use of video, text, presentations, interactive flash, podcasts, etc, Web-based training properly addresses different types of learners.
Costs
While there is an initial cost to develop and produce a Web-based training program, it ultimately saves money over the long haul versus having students and/or trainers travelling to a location, renting a venue, providing meals, etc.
This is part 2 of a 3-part series on Agent Resource Centers. To read the first installment, click here.
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