Technology at Hand for Improving Online Learning TECHNOLOGY AS AN ENABLER Technology ushers in fundamental structural changes that can be integral to achieving significant improvements in learnability. Used to support both teaching and learning, technology infuses learning with new digital learning tools and software; expands course offerings and learning experiences; supports learning 24/7; builds practical skills and know-how; increases participant engagement and motivation; and accelerates learning. New digital learning tools and software Accelerates learning
Increases participant engagement and motivation
Expands course offerings and learning experiences Technology as an enabler for learning
Builds practical skills and know-how
Supports learning 24/7
SEISMIC SHIFT IN DEMOGRAPHICS Human learning is evolving just as other technologies are evolving. The work force is now seeing the integration of technologically savvy Generation Y or Millennials, who by 2025, will make up 75% of the global workforce. Millennials are the first generation to grow up entirely with technology and are truly comfortable using it and being around it. For them, technology is not an extra - it is an integral part of their live, almost like an extension of themselves. Gone are the days when students would go to a physical classroom with a human instructor and sit through 8-hour long classes. Today’s GenNext workforce who are used to YouTube videos and Googled answers need instant learning solutions to solve problems at hand. The key difference is similar to attending a 3 year Plumbing Diploma course to become a plumber versus just learning online how to change a faucet when it needs to be changed.
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TECHNOLOGICALLY SAVVY GENERATION Y OR MILLENNIALS WILL MAKE UP 75% OF THE GLOBAL WORKFORCE BY 2025.
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Technology at Hand for Improving Online Learning INCREASED FOCUS ON ONLINE LEARNING All the these factors have led to an increased focus on online learning as well as research on methods to improve student engagement while consuming these.
$51.5 Billion (2016)
As organizations realize it is not the stellar performers but the “power of us” which is going to win the battle for business tomorrow, there is an impetus to use collaboration tools to supplement online training, leading to more social learning. Organizations have realized that more than 70% of the knowledge within the organization lies in individual’s brains rather than their documentation manuals and training resources. It is, therefore, critical for them to tap and leverage this expertise to enhance productivity. ENGAGING WITH THE ONLINE LEARNER When learning moves away from offline classroom sessions to online platforms, one critical area to consider is how engaged the learner is with the learning. This is especially critical as the learner may have no human interaction at all during the training.
Growth Rate:
7.9% (2012-2016) GLOBAL ELEARNING MARKET
TECHNIQUES TO KEEP THE ONLINE LEARNER ENGAGED INCLUDE: Quick polls
There is no doubt that there is a sensory overload and our world is full of distractions. In trying to deal with the information overload, humans are trying to become experts in multi-tasking. However they are forgetting the basic design principle of the brain – that it can focus only on one task at a time. Multi-tasking impairs learning and it is important to gain, keep and sustain learners’ attention. Over the years, instructors have designed many techniques to keep the learner engaged and attentive during live instructorled sessions. These include quick polls, engaging learners in chat during the session, giving assignments to be completed during the session by breaking them out into groups. Well-designed virtual learning environments offer unprecedented opportunities for us to learn by doing, under real-world, real-time conditions. CONTENT IS KING: MEASURING THE IMPACT However one of the primary factor in self-paced trainings is the relevance of the content to the audience. This can be done including short checks using online surveys in the beginning of the training to assess the level of knowledge as well as the interest of the participants in the topic. The data gathered can then be used to customize the modules to be offered to the individual and topics to be covered and this has shown up to 60% improvement in learner engagement especially in very dull topics like compliance trainings which are typically self-paced. These assessments can also be used at the end of the training or at a later time to measure the impact of the session on the audiences by comparing it with the initial results.
Live chats
Group work and activities
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PERIODIC CHECKS TO ASSESS LEARNER INTEREST & ENGAGEMENT; FOLLOWED BY ASSESSMENTS TO MEASURE IMPROVEMENT.
Brought to you in joint collaboration by Imarticus Learning and Hewlett Packard Enterprise
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Technology at Hand for Improving Online Learning UPTAKE IN TRAINING BY MOBILE WORK FORCE THROUGH MICRO-LEARNING:
40%
Shorter attention spans also mean learning is compressed into bite-sized nuggets of shorter duration for easier consumption. That way we avoid individuals spending long hours in front of their systems to complete 1-2 hour long modules. The individuals can also consume these modules during idle cycles like waiting for a client appointment or being stuck in a long traffic snarl. This has shown more than 40% increase in uptake of trainings especially by mobile work force like sales representatives and service personnel. INSTANT GRATIFICATION Millennials are also very obsessed with instant gratification. Translating that into online learning means we intersperse lectures with learning checks or quizzes which can then help the learners gain points and help us drive better internalization of content. The badges learners earn through these interventions can be used to create leader-boards which would promote healthy competition among individuals. This has been quiet useful in programs like graduate onboarding involving college hires.
DRIVE HEALTHY COMPETITION THROUGH BADGES & LEADERBOARDS
SOCIAL LEARNING Numerous studies and surveys have proven the importance of application of learning and feedback from networks in improving the impact of learning. This is all the more important for online learning where there is limited human interactions. Both these involve tapping your peer or professional network as the instructor himself may not be available personally when students explore and apply their learning.
SOCIAL LEARNING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA: FACEBOOK: 1.6 Billion users YOUTUBE: 1 Billion users LINKEDIN: 429 Million users PINTEREST: 110 Million users 2016 Data
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MICRO-LEARNING Another way to increase the engagement is by breaking large topics into micro-modules which can then be accessed through mobile devices and can be consumed even off premises.
The proliferation of online collaboration tools and social media platforms like Yammer have provided an impetus to promote social learning. In today’s large enterprises, information and expertise is very silo-ed. Today’s millennial population looks at peer reviews and recommendations more than anything else while trying to identify learning solution that meet their needs, just like Pinterest helps one find the right things recommended by peers. Historical data analysis have shown less than 30% return rate for post event learning feedback surveys.
MILLENNIALS LOOKS AT PEER REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE WHILE TRYING TO IDENTIFY LEARNING SOLUTIONS.
Brought to you in joint collaboration by Imarticus Learning and Hewlett Packard Enterprise
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Technology at Hand for Improving Online Learning Many corporates have their internal social media channels which provide secure sharing platforms. Once we create an ecosystem connecting the learning platform to such social media channels, it is quiet easy for individuals to rate the learning content they have used and provide feedback real time rather than wait for responding to post event surveys. The courses with higher user ratings and positive feedbacks have seen over 60% increase in uptake over other courses. Additionally, publication of top-consumed or popular content has enhanced user experience in identifying appropriate content when a diverse set of learning resources are available. Instructors or facilitators set up online learning groups where students can not only post their feedback but also post any queries they may have while applying learnings in their day to day work. The feedback from subject matter experts through such channels is leveraged to improve the content of the training and also foster online mentoring for new comers in that area. We have seen almost 20-30% increase in traffic in such online learning groups, post every training intervention. The instructors as well as learning content designers can monitor these discussions to gain insights as to how to improve their content and delivery to enhance end user experience.
UPTAKE IN COURSES WITH HIGHER USER RATINGS AND POSITIVE FEEDBACKS
60%
UPTAKE IN TRAFFIC FOR COURSES WITH ONLINE LEARNING GROUPS
20-30%
Fast
IN CONCLUSION Learners today want their learning to be fun, fast, and flexible. Make the most of their “tech native” sensibilities and hold their undivided attention, so that they can achieve their learning goals and reap the real world benefits. The various technological advancements we have at our disposal can be effectively used to increase the learner engagement for online learning as well as promote social learning leading to increased collaboration within large enterprises. Knowing your available options and analyzing suitable solutions for a learning need will help in delivering cost-effective, goal-oriented and skillenhancing learning solutions.
Fun Flexible
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LEARNERS TODAY WANT THEIR LEARNING TO BE FUN, FAST, AND FLEXIBLE. MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR “TECH NATIVE” SENSIBILITIES .
Brought to you in joint collaboration by Imarticus Learning and Hewlett Packard Enterprise
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