Analytics In E-Learning - Getting Smarter About Your Workforce

Across the world, organizations are making big investments to leverage analytics tools and technologies to provide customized digital experiences and improved learner engagement. Today, the country is widely adopting data analytics approach across marketing, sales, security, healthcare, aviation and other sectors. Organizations are working in collaboration with industry leaders to impart innovative learning solutions and bridge the skills gaps. The exponential rise of data requires service providers to understand the need of big data and how it can be incorporated with Learning Management Software (LMS).

Data Analytics: Few Use Cases

The highly advanced analytics strategy is the game-changer, with increasing number of data generated by internal systems, blended with data coming from external sources. For example, in the insurance sector, combining the unstructured data such as user reviews and ratings gathered from social media help insurers to understand customer sentiments in an analytical way. These outcomes help to mitigate risks and accordingly set different premium models. Let us discuss a few benefits of implementing data analytics for workplace learning:

• Analytics helps leveraging valuable data, thereby improving information flow across the entire organization.
• Even if there is a lack of direct interaction, it is possible to create a perfect profile using data aggregated from different sources.
• Data aggregation is another form of recognizing the significance of ample sources of information. For instance, analytics can be implemented to share data with others, thereby enhancing operational efficiency.

Although big data is getting popular, technological advances are still going to take place in the coming time. Investing in employee training is one big way of increasing success of analytics in e-learning. As technology evolves in varied industries, it is important that companies invest in this area.

Why Your Company Needs Data Analytics?

For an employee, it is important to develop analytical skills and understand their varied learning behavioral patterns. Big data offers learning analytics which can inform about different aspects of employee training which include understanding employees, developing successful training programs and building collaboration among peers. In addition, if educators are given an opportunity to know how their employees are seeking information, they are able to deliver more engaging and customized training content. Course modules are tailored to individual needs of learners, providing an effective learning experience. Data analytics is one of the latest trends going down the pipeline and will have a bigger impact with the use of robust LMS.

Integration Of Augmented Reality In Modern Learning Spaces

From touchscreen encounters to real-world experiences, Virtual and Augmented Reality (AR) reflect a new trend of learning, engaging and collaborating across the enterprise. Virtual Reality (VR) is a computer-aided technology that uses realistic images, audios and animations to replicate a real-life environment. Availability of online courses in multiple formats via Learning Management Systems (LMSs) has become one of the most efficient methods to deliver continuous learning. The applications of an AR system are ample. As a collaborative tool, it enables real time communication among learners spread across diverse locations. As a training tool, it is used to direct learners with a series of steps to complete a task.

Scope of Augmented Reality in Different Industries

Awareness of AR has reached a crescendo, resulting in innovative learning solutions to support an increasing number of opportunities across industries. Augmented Reality has improved the interaction between learners and educators, resulting in better collaboration and marketing capabilities.

Figure- Adopting AR: What are Enterprises  Doing

Today, organizations looking to adopt AR have improved their learning technologies to leave a powerful impact on the enterprise market. The ever-evolving conditions of the digital world have increased the potential of online course delivery, saving costs and increasing effectiveness of workforce training. Let us discuss few industry verticals where AR is embedded with e-learning:

► Healthcare

From mental health ailments to 3D simulations, AR is expected to have a wide range of applications. For instance, virtual organ models are used in advance by doctors to prepare for complex surgeries. Today, AR solutions when blended with data analytics and artificial intelligence can change the way care is delivered.

► Entertainment

There are some organizations that organize live events, games and other forms of video entertainment to generate highest revenues through augmented reality. For players of video games, AR headsets add a digital value by providing seamless opportunities for interactive content.

► Retail

For retail companies, AR is used as an efficient tool to get the most out of information disseminated through social media and interactive mobile apps. Customer buying pattern can be analyzed to create virtual tours tailored to the learning needs of individuals.

► Manufacturing

Digitization has completely transformed the manufacturing industry. Sensors are installed on factory floors to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs. AR helps building strong collaboration and engagement among learners, thereby streamlining the entire training process.

In conclusion, Augmented Reality is an advanced technology used to provide learners with the right type of content at the right time. An amalgam of personalized AR gadgets with robust e-learning applications can help taking learning to the next level.

How Does Video-based Mobile Learning Improves Learner Engagement

In today’s era of visual information, where most of us retain more knowledge through visual content, images and videos are gaining immense popularity in e-learning courses to keep learners engaged. Undoubtedly, video-based learning helps conveying messages faster, more efficiently, motivate learners and make it easy to retain information for long. The incorporation of videos in learning is not new. With the ability to impart both synchronous as well as asynchronous learning aligned to diversified needs, videos have the ability to engage the auditory as well as the visual senses of learners.

Organizations focus on empowering modern learners by allowing their employees to adopt the latest tools and technologies to boost workplace productivity. Videos are processed 60,000 times faster than normal textual information and is more appealing for learners. Let us discuss few tips that are used by organizations to engage maximum learners:

·         Storytelling

Story-based content delivery aids learners effectively visualize the real-life application of a particular topic and provides related context. Story leaves a greater impact when blended with video-based learning. Every story has a rise and fall, and same goes with learning at workplace. For instance, adding a climactic scene at the end of story will engage learners till the end and positively improves retention.

·         Continuous training improvement

Video-based content helps educators save their time investing in delivery training repetitively. The time saved can be utilized to improve the quality and efficiency of training program by organizing flipped classroom, customized learning paths, instant feedbacks and more.

·         Ask questions

It may sound rhetorical, but questions provide learners a great opportunity to think on what is being asked. Onscreen questions enable learners to recall whatsoever they learned till then, increasing their chances to remain engaged till the end.

·         Keep it short & precise

Content is transformed as short clips while delivering video-based learning for betterlearner interaction. Short duration videos impart accurate information which is aligned to customized needs of organizational workforce.

As text and graphics make courses boring, interactive videos are used to explain better by example and enhance the overall learning experience. So, it is important to ensure that videos are used in the right manner with a thoughtful planning and right amount of engagement so that video production is done in a professional way. In today’s revolutionary world where the use of multimedia presentations for learning is increasing, video content delivery is becoming an apt training method at workplace.

Significance Of Coworking Spaces For Workforce Learning

Coworking spaces have become quite popular among the organizational workforce to boost collaboration and business productivity. As a result, it helps in encouraging learners and driving demand for coworking spaces.

Flexible work environment, global connectivity and robust infrastructure are the major factors that help organizations remain ahead of the curve. Development of online learning courses in coworking spaces is one of the growing business models of today’s age. It provides an effective work environment where employees with from different backgrounds work in the same space to improve interaction level between learners and educators.

Emerging Need of Coworking Spaces

In the last few years, there has been an exponential rise in the scope of using coworking spaces to enable employees access e-learning courses in the same space. Companies from different industry verticals are using these spaces to enhance learning outcomes and increase flexibility. Consequently, it helps encouraging employees to learn more, thereby leading to enhanced workplace performance. For instance, a company that emphasize both on consumer demand and marketing uses a common space to work as well as study employee behavior.

Today, enterprises are adopting varied kinds of coworking spaces to cater to the customized needs of every learner. Sometimes, they motivate their offsite workforce to join these spaces and leverage the benefits reported by an independent workforce. Enhanced collaboration, employee satisfaction and better productivity are some of the benefits of coworking spaces.

Why to Embrace Coworking Spaces in an Organization? 

Whether small firms or large organizations, coworking approach has been followed by all to reap the maximum benefits from online training programs. Their strategies follow different scenarios as listed here:

• Placing different learners in common spaces help deriving communal benefits reported by independent co-workers. It is beneficial for employees who work in different geographic locations or work while travelling.

• Incorporating coworking spaces with company’s organizational strategies, either by creating an environment onsite or using offsite space. It helps build innovation and adopted by Research & Development team as well as Human Resources.

• Helping organizations to enhance their understanding of employees’ diverse work profiles that flourish in coworking spaces.

Accessibility of online courses in a coworking space offers ample opportunities to gain knowledge from colleagues who often share their ideas and vision. With advancement in technology, it has become easier for workforce to interact with others in coworking spaces virtually from anywhere. Ultimately, coworking allows employees learn at their own pace, acting as a respite from their day-to-day qualms of meeting deadlines and achieving organizational targets.

Impact Of Enterprise LMS In The New Age Of Learning

Workplace learning is facing tremendous changes with ever-changing economy, learners’ preferences and demographics. However, innovations in technology such as mobile learning, simulations, adaptive learning and delivery of dynamic content via online Learning Management System are providing organizations with ample opportunities to handle these challenges. Facilitators are adopting new technologies to successfully transform training needs into solutions that enhance employee engagement, retention and business productivity. 

                     

Today’s new age learners are tech-savvy and therefore look for online courses that completely change the way learning occurs. They expect for a customized learning experience that is perfectly aligned to their individual training needs. Online courses which can be accessed via modern enterprise LMS helps building strong collaboration between learners and trainers, adapting a style which is different from‘one-size-fits-all’approach. 

Delivering an Engaging Learning Experience 

Enterprise LMS enables organizations to deliver learning experiences that ensure success of every learner irrespective of their location, background or learning style. It also helps to extend their reach and offer individual instructions for every learner. Key features of a next-generation LMS include:

► Digital, as today’s modern era is completely digitized and has become the most vital component for learning processes. 

► It develops communication and collaboration between the learner and the educator. 

► It builds an environment which is dynamic, catering to the customized needs of workforce from different industry verticals. 

A shift towards the next-generation LMS transforms into a more engaging, anytime and anywhere learning experience, which results in positive training outcomes. For trainers, an online learning platform helps giving a more personalized attention to learners and boost their success. With the support of LMS features such as flexibility and robustness, organizations support different learners, delivery models and approaches they need to adapt in the future. 

The ever-evolving demands of learners from all over requires organizations to follow an innovative and efficient approach to workplace learning. It means to leverage cutting-edge technology as a crucial key to implement e-learning strategies in a cost-effective manner. Truly, enterprise LMS is one of the most significant tools of digital learning, used to create and deliver online courses and training modules.

Need Of Localizing E-Learning Components For Global Learners

With the increasing number of benefits that online courses impart to organizations, digital learning will not remain only as an efficient content delivery platform for workforce training, but will grow exponentially in the coming few years. With e-learning spread across a wide network of learners and facilitators, it has become essential to design custom courses in multiple languages for better learner understanding. The use of cutting-edge technology enables localization of e-learning content into multiple languages, making it more effective and engaging for learners. 

Exploring the Components to Facilitate Localization 

Organizations adopt varied e-learning strategies to design custom e-courses. There are different e-learning components that are localized to align with varied learning needs. Some of them are discussed as follows:

• Content translation

Training courses include on-screen text which needs to be translated. For instance, text is interpreted into another language such as French, Spanish and German, which needs to be reformatted in the original English language on the screen. Audios and narrations are also incorporated with online courses to enhance learners’ understanding of multilingual courses.

• Mouse cursor movement

Due to the instructional design of online courses, it is important to include cursor movements that point to information that the narrator is describing. This cursor movement is reflected in the localization of e-learning components also.

• Graphics

Graphics incorporated with e-courses should also be translated for better understanding. When text is added in the graphics, it needs to be exported in an external file and translated. Then, the original graphic can be localized.

• Assessments

Quizzes, assessments and feedbacks are some of the valuable components in an e-learning course. These include questions as true/false, fill in the blanks, multiple choice or matching items with pictures. The language used for these components should also be localized per learners’preferences, enabling them access courses and then evaluate their performances.

The ability to access courses via online learning platforms is a highly effective approach to achieve organizational targets. Organizations spend huge amounts of money in designing, developing and testing learning programs to update clients with latest products and services. By creating courses in a single language, it is not possible to fulfil training need of every individual. Therefore, localizing training curricula in multiple languages is crucial for serving the ever-evolving demands of learners from diverse industry domains. In addition, it also improves employee retention level, boosts learners’ interest and motivates them to enroll in different training programs for an engaging learning experience.

Use Of Efficient Enterprise LMS To Build A Successful Business Case

Digital solutions can be treated as a minefield as there are ample decisions to be taken and making mistakes at this level can be costly. However, most of the organizations fulfill their financial targets with enterprise Learning Management System (LMS) and yield fruitful results. Today, e-learning is considered as instructional content imparted with web-based technology. Whether you need to facilitate learning, deliver content to different demographic regions or reduce long-term costs, e-learning can be the perfect approach.

There are several reasons why organizations are investing in online learning solutions. As a training method, it imparts different benefits over traditional learning for the right topics and at the right time. While many organizations report growth in their learning budgets over time, online learning is still a part of larger training budgets. Classroom-led training is also an effective learning approach that will always be part of a training toolkit for enterprises. It might be blended with e-learning or even adopted as a standalone approach for customized courses.

Evaluate E-Learning as an Investment 

While thinking of initial evaluation of business feasibility and development of business case, the first question that arises is, “Why do you want to invest in this particular project?” What problem can be addressed using robust online platform? For instance, many organizations report that with reduced travel budgets, there is a decrease in count of learners in classrooms, which leads to decreased revenues. So, transforming the overall learning experience from classroom training to e-learning was an efficient way to generate business revenues. The financial analysis of e-learning comprises of three main steps as discussed below:

1. Identify E-Learning Costs

Calculating the initial cost investments and other related costs of e-learning can be complicated. There are multiple decisions to be taken that include investment in enterprise LMS, use of rapid authoring tools, implementation of innovative learning technologies that meet tailored needs. It is not easy for companies to start small and then gradually improve their e-learning budgets over time.

2. Quantify E-Learning Benefits 

After analyzing the initial costs involved, the next step is to quantify the advantages of digital learning. Few benefits are hard to quantify, but prove to be significant factors in  investment decisions. Some of these are listed here:

• Performance support
• Increased learning efficiency
• Enhanced consistency in content delivery
• Better scalability
• Better coordination between learner and educator
• More appealing and effective learning styles 

3. Calculate e-learning returns

After quantifying the costs and other benefits, the next step is to calculate returns over e-learning investments. One of the method to calculate returns is Economic Value Added (EVA). It assumes there is an opportunity cost to the money invested and might result in better returns.

A significant initiative has been taken by small companies as well as large enterprises. It is common to handle the evaluation of that decision in multiple phases, followed by in-depth research and evaluation. Every learning need is different, so e-learning is the perfect strategy to deliver a right content and meet the ever-changing needs of your organization.