Years ago the e-learning industry and the learning management systems were rather different from today. But where is this whole online learning thing going? What should we expect from tomorrow’s LMS? While I don’t have a magic ball and I can’t know for sure how the future will look like with respect to learning management systems, I think I can make some predictions. Two, to be more precise.
Generally people are prone to respond well to those who appear to like and, most importantly, understand them. For e-learning designers this means they need to know who they are designing it for and what makes that particular target audience (or audiences) tick. Using personas (or learner profiles) is a good way to make sure that the end user is always minded, right from the blueprinting stage of a course.
Even though it can lead to positive learning outcomes thanks to its learner-centered vibe, just-in-time learning support or its enabling of reusable learning objects, microlearning is not the perfect solution for every training challenge. It simply can’t be. Not with all the diversity that comes with the organic process of learning in the myriad of organizations. In fact sometimes is better to avoid it altogether.
A better understanding of mechanisms that lead to memory formation and ultimately learning means that training programs can be a lot more effective but also that authoring tools and course design have to be permanently tested and improved. Some of the most recent research that produced interesting results has been dwelling into the intricate ways our mind encodes metaphors.
Just because something is small it doesn’t mean it should be overlooked. A drop of learning wrapped in a small training package can have a huge positive impact on employee productivity. Microlearning can really turn out to be that drop that makes the training potion magic and give trainees the heal of knowledge. So let’s focus on 10 positive aspects of microlearning that might convince you to add it to your training potion!
It is indeed challenging to create and deliver training programs in today’s digital world. It’s not an easy task to keep up with all the technological advancements in the training industry, decide on the best new tech to include in instruction, all while maintaining the learner’s needs — both basic and job specific — at the core of the decision-making process. However, as challenging as this may be, it’s worth the effort.
Like most business professionals, L&D specialists face the constant challenge to stay on top of the rapid developments in their field. Employing the latest technology is a must and video has lately become the favorite medium for getting information. There are many great apps, tips and videos out there that can bring out the director in anybody, but before yelling “lights, camera, action!”, here are three things to be checked off the list.
Whether you’re new to e-learning or a seasoned veteran in the industry, there’s one thing you should never forget: online training is always changing. In order to get a step ahead of the competition, check out our very subjective list of people who know the ins and outs of e-learning for businesses. Following one or more of them — and what they have to say — might help your company thrive this year.
One of the biggest challenges faced by businesses these days is getting and retaining talented people. Employees stick with a certain organization if they are motivated to do so and recent studies about what drives people and what makes them effective show that essentially there are three very important aspects that lead to better performance and personal satisfaction: autonomy, mastery and purpose.
The key to a successful training program is making sure it is just what the company, the employees and the industry needs. That’s why L&D professionals need to conduct a training needs assessment, align learning with company objectives and also keep an eye on the future, all before starting to design an e-learning module. Making an effort to do all this will surely prove a lot more beneficial to all involved.
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