Active Learning For DEI Training: Why Is It Better?

What Is DEI Training?

DEI training is an important requirement of every company now. But how should a company go about providing such training? The company can use Virtual Reality (VR) for this purpose. Lectures could also be used for such training, but they have been shown not to have an effect for a long time. This is not beneficial for a company that has spent so much on such Learning and Development programs.

Drawbacks Of Passive Learning For DEI Training

Lectures involve the learners just sitting and listening. They do nothing to eliminate the potentially deep-rooted prejudices of learners. DEI training needs the participants to think about their behavior. Lectures are not always effective when training all generations, especially Gen Z.

Active Learning For DEI Training Is More Useful

Active learning forces the learners to think about their behavior, and their approach toward their work, have a discussion with colleagues, and then use the newly gained knowledge to handle problems. Therefore, in active learning events such as small discussion groups, employees have to get feedback about their thinking from each other. All kinds of misconceptions that exist about someone can be resolved in such discussions. This can help in rectifying employees’ behavior. But in lectures, this kind of interaction between employees does not happen.

Active learning, which also involves immersive learning, captures the attention of all kinds of learners, irrespective of their age. It has a higher ROI than passive learning. It causes employees to alter their behavior and provide good performance. The employees refrain from their discriminatory behavior, which causes other employees to resign from the company.

The employees feel pleased and satisfied to be working in a company that has a harmonious environment. The company can also have individual learning paths for the employees so that they receive the maximum benefit from the DEI training program.

When immersive learning methods, including Virtual Reality, are used, the learners see a practical implication of their changed behavior towards colleagues. Immersive training methods include simulations in which learners are shown actual circumstances where discrimination is involved and what are its aftereffects. Apart from being interesting, this also leads to better storage of the information in the memory so that learners experience a behavioral change. For DEI training to have a better impact, the participants must talk to each other about experiences where they faced discrimination. This facility is not available in lectures where participants don’t talk to each other.

Essential Features Of Active Learning For DEI Training

Knowledge Checks Are Present

Active learning is much better than passive learning because it makes the learners think and do assessments or knowledge checks, which helps in better retention of information. There are many examples of such learning, such as role-playing between learners, 3D or 2D simulations, flipped classrooms, and eLearning. Lectures can be interactive also when students are given tests to assess their knowledge in the form of quizzes and talks with other learners. Case studies are also a way of receiving DEI training because they offer real-world solutions to real-world problems.

Creating Empathy

All active learning methods are effective for DEI training because they are effective in creating empathy for people who have been at the receiving end of any kind of discrimination. This happens because learners listen to anecdotes from people and read case studies and understand what they have been going through. Even role plays and simulations consist of storytelling and hence are relevant for DEI training. DEI topics involve a lot of emotions and hence they need a safe space for discussion. Small group discussions provide this kind of safe space where the participants can talk without being scared.

Removing Hidden Biases

Sometimes, the participants are not aware of their hidden biases, and DEI training aims to make them aware of such prejudices that they may hold against colleagues. Most of the perpetrators of such discrimination have notions that can only be eliminated through discussions. DEI training makes the participants more aware of the cultures of their colleagues. They also impart skills to the trainees on how to treat people from various backgrounds, like how to greet them and other different gestures. However, the biggest benefit of DEI training is that the learners understand how to treat other people with respect, listen to them, and be fair. They understand how to include other employees in everything, including work.

Conclusion

DEI training also helps in formulating policies so that managers can resolve conflicts that may arise due to discrimination. If any existing policy is discriminatory, it can be removed or altered. The company’s attrition rate is reduced because all employees get rights to resources and access to opportunities arising within the company.

If a company does not provide DEI training, there can be harsh consequences. When a compliance audit is conducted, heavy fines are imposed when the company can’t show any evidence of DEI training. Such training also helps leaders, who can manage diverse teams effectively without any discrimination.

Creativ Technologies

We provide niche elearning solutions to corporate clients. Our company also provides LMS administration services. We are experts in Blended Learning, Mobile Learning and Web Based Training