Leveraging Custom E-learning Content Delivery through Personalized Mobile Devices

Corporate learners from all over the world are increasingly engaging with mobile platforms to collaborate with peers, access custom online learning content, and personalize their training experiences. Always-accessible smartphones and tablets provide learners with a new ecosystem of knowledge, expertise, and skills. Most of the learning and development professionals leverage the opportunity to use mobile devices as learning tools to train the workforce-anytime and anywhere. 

As mobile learning reaches beyond the four walls of the classroom, learners gain the flexibility to access training courses at their own pace of time and convenience. There are ample advantages of mobile-based custom learning for enterprises, both big and small, especially to boost learner engagement and improve knowledge retention. As per a research study by Gallup, 71% of millennials say they interact more with mobile learning than L&D activities imparted through a desktop or formal methods. [Source: https://news.gallup.com/poll/181289/majority-employees-not-engaged-despite-gains-2014.aspx]. Outlined below are some of the essentials for delivering successful mobile-based custom e-learning solutions:

• Leveraging mobile-empowered training content Training content that aligns with diverse business goals through a mobile initiative drives organizational success. It is important that the training curriculum supports activities including active forms of learning (creating and collating data) and passive forms of integration (reading information and watching videos). The mobile-enabled courses in the form of interactive videos, text, audio, or any other modality, are delivered as per the individual learning styles and preferences.

• Preparing trainers effectivelyThe effectiveness of mobile learning is also dependent on the quality of the trainers involved. Technological innovations help to empower learners’ performances by changing the ways training is delivered to them. This kind of development is quite challenging as learners not only acquire new skills but also unlearn about unconscious beliefs related to learning and development. As a result, the overall training strategy becomes more reliable for educators in obtaining relevant knowledge and expertise.

• Supporting self-paced learningIn today’s scenario, there are two significant aspects of successful corporate training. One, to deliver personalized education as per the pertinent needs of all and two, learning beyond an enterprise setting, including the external workforce. Therefore, custom mobile learning apps are designed to deliver easy to access and quick to digest content in the form of mini-games, quizzes, videos, infographics, and more. As a result, learners can access information at the point of need, thereby ensuring better learner collaboration, more engagement, and optimal workplace performance.

Going mobile is an effective way to impart learning, specifically to globally dispersed audiences. So, delivery of custom e-learning content through mobile devices is not just for learning on the go but being able to undergo training anytime and anywhere- at the office, at the factory floor, or home.

Chatbots in E-learning: An Evolving Trend to Boost Your Onboarding Experience

With increasing scope of innovative technologies such as Virtual Reality, simulations, Augmented Reality (AR), chatbots and more, workforce training is all set for incredible growth. Modern enterprises are talking a lot about chatbot functionality within the Learning Management System (LMS) space, thereby generating huge interests. By enabling the new hires to communicate via interactive bots, organizations have improved their overall level of collaboration, retention and efficiency.

You might think of a platform which is easier to access for different tasks such as assigning training, running a video or submitting an assessment. You might also look for a conversational interface where relevant content can be searched at the point of need. Then, LMS chatbots serve as an ideal solution. There has been a lot of hype about chatbots supported by e-learning platforms to deliver effective onboarding training solutions. But, with evolving learning needs, the deployment of smart bots to impart a personalized onboarding experience has improved. As per the research, chatbots could save businesses $8 billion annually by 2022, from $20 million employers expected to save by 2017. [Source: http://fortune.com/2017/05/10/chatbots-business-billions-savings/].

Automating Onboarding Process Using Chatbots

When an employee joins the organization, the same type of training is delivered during multiple induction programs. Chatbots can make this process more interactive by effectively pulling a set of answers from a structured set of data, structuring that data and providing an accurate answer. From hiring to orientation, there are a plethora of ways how chatbots help to deliver an engaging workplace training experience:

• Chatbots make the new hiring process more flexible as learners can simply ask queries based on their job roles, department, potential responsibilities and more.

• During orientation, bots are used to provide documentation through a set of predefined questions, instead of filling forms manually. Consequently, it helps to track how employees adapt in the new environment and perform.

• Chatbots ask short questions at short intervals, instead of giving feedback to individuals. This helps the managers to accumulate employee data and take necessary decisions on strategies and regulations.

Undoubtedly, chatbots at the workplace are meant to improve the overall learning uptake by delivering more impactful user experience. LMS chatbots help the majority of employees to apply what they have learned and ensured intuitive conversation delivery. Today, there are a plethora of methods bots can be used to improve the efficiency of employees as well the business on a whole. From hiring to onboarding, chatbots aid to streamline e-learning approaches, thereby allowing the enterprises to focus more on fostering strong communication with their employees.

Embracing the Need to Blend Games with Effective Mobile Learning Solutions

The traditional training approach was confined to a dedicated computer system within a classroom setting. Technological advancements have resulted in the evolution of mobile learning solutions that allow learners to access information-anytime and anywhere. Today, e-learning developers focus on ways- learners can be best engaged. So, they prefer incorporating games with online courses to create impactful learning opportunities for all.

Learning games are also provided across personalized mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets for a highly impactful learning experience. In today’s digital scenario, mobile learning and game-based approach go hand-in-hand, thereby creating fun-filled experiences for all:

• Gaming environment is fun

An interactive gaming environment is the biggest factor to decide whether training delivery will be effective or not. If the overall environment is engaging and presents ample challenges to the learners, then learning games prove to be effective across multiple mobile devices. As games have become appropriate for the mobile platform, they are designed considering the mobile device screen size and other specific capabilities such as touch screens, etc. Several e-learning developers are not enthusiastic about mobile learning games being touch-screen enabled, as they want the games to be accessible across laptops and desktops as well. This apprehension is now fading as most learners are choosing mobile learning games designed as per their pertinent learning needs. 

• Learn & Play- anytime & anywhere 

Another significant benefit of mobile learning is it enables learning at the point of need. This benefit is further enhanced by embedding games with e-learning as people prefer playing games, thereby making use of non-productive times such as travelling, waiting between jobs, etc. Undoubtedly, mobile learning provides an immense way of learning through interactive games – even when there is no or limited access to the Internet.

• Collaborate through games

E-learning games prove to be a powerful tool to boost learner collaboration and knowledge retention. Through games, learners can connect easily by participating in quizzes, posting scores on a leaderboard and sharing tips on a discussion board. Collaborative tools such as comments section can prove to be effective for discussions and effective learning. The game-based approach motivates learners to access more courses, thereby boosting their overall collaboration and retention levels. 

Delivery of interactive games via mobile learning make a perfect blend, not just for entertainment but for learning also. Smartphones and tablets play an increasingly important role in improving communication between diversified audiences. With the emergence of game-based approach and mobile learning solutions, the overall experience of corporate training has become more impactful than ever. 

Extended LMS for Workforce Training: The Next Big Thing in Today’s Marketplace

To stay ahead of the curve, organizations need to go beyond their confines and shift their business networks to grow more. As extended employees mostly work outside an organization, it becomes crucial to impart training to them as per their convenience of time and location, while on the go. The new-age Extended LMS for Enterprise is deployed by organizations from varied industry verticals to ensure a personalized training delivery. Extended enterprise learning is meant to effectively reach the customers, channel partners, dealers, contractors and others. 

Benefits of an Extended Enterprise LMS 

Implementation of an extended learning platform ensures higher level of competency across the modern workforce, resulting in increased workplace productivity. It also helps to optimize training support and improve the quality of customer service by effectively training the salesforce. Let us discuss significant ways that ensure delivery of an effective e-learning experience through extended LMSs:

• Extended LMS can be integrated with Dealer Management Systems (DMS), Sales Performance Systems and others to train extended dealer network and sales representatives without any implementation glitches. For instance, the extended platform fetches data from the DMS statistics based on sales triggers the LMS to notify the learners on which e-courses to access, on what topics, how to improve their knowledge and perform better.

• Today’s tech-savvy workforce is familiar with the use of smartphones and tablets. The robust extended learning platforms are available as mobile learning apps to access training courses at the point of need. In addition, as the modern learner is adept to using personalized mobile devices, training is aligned as per their pertinent needs.

• Training courses based on different topics can be easily delivered via an extended LMS as per the diversified job roles. As a result, it helps to deliver a uniform learning experience, making an apt use of knowledge transfer and applying it to real-life situations.
  
• When extended personnel do not have enough time to undergo a training session, the extended LMS helps to send automated messages to the learners’ mobile phones, once the user registers on the system. A text message is sent every time training is assigned so that learners can access the relevant e-courses as per their own convenience of time and place.

• Extended enterprise learning boosts the overall participation and satisfaction level of the contingent workforce who collaborate better and engage more. They are able to appraise themselves on latest product range as well as schemes for their respective clients, thereby improving the workspace productivity and sales proficiency.

The successful utilization of an extended enterprise LMS aids the businesses to attain greater stability and optimum growth. Through a strong channel for extended workforce training, organizations can easily share their vision and boost their reputation across the global market.

Infographics, Videos, Scenarios and More: Microlearning is Here to Stay

The technological and social changes trigger the need to adopt innovative e-learning strategies to improve the overall learning experience. Not only education, but even the corporate sector is looking for transformations, requiring different ways to change the way people learn and work today.

Image source: https://cdn.elearningindustry.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/the-benefits-of-microlearning-win-win-for-employees-and-organizations.jpg

Microlearning is an effective training approach which involves delivery of content as short bursts of information which are easy to access and quick to digest. As micro content does not require long attention spans, it can be effectively used to deliver learning at the point of need. If you want the workforce to access training courses on their personalized smartphones or tablets, then microlearning can be a great aid.

The increasing scope of mobile learning as a significant part learning strategy has increased the usage of microlearning. Let us discuss few instances where different types of micro content can be used to reinforce the overall learning experience:

Branching Scenarios 

When it comes to imparting training in the Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) at the workplace, it is essential for the employees to understand the basic industry norms through e-learning. Therefore, training is provided to reinforce the need to manage risks of hazards at the workplace. Micro content is the form of interactive scenarios are used to explain different hazardous situations and how to address them in the real-life. Consider a scenario, where workplace floors must be left clean, usable and free from destructions. So, employees are trained on how to clean the floors timely so that people can roam around in a safe manner.

Short Infographics

Short and interactive infographics in e-learning fit perfect to summarize information. For instance, sales employees can take a quick recap on how to effectively sell new products and build customer relationships. This visual approach helps the learners to gain better product knowledge, thereby helping them to seek maximum customer satisfaction and boost overall business sales.

Engaging Videos 

The new-age customer does not want to spend a lot of time learning about new products. They want to engage more, undergo training in a short span and then move on. Therefore, marketing teams prefer creating short duration videos to deliver the message in the most effective and consumable way. For instance, marketing teams create 4-5 minutes duration videos to highlight the features and benefits of different products. These video nuggets can be delivered multiple times and seamlessly fit into hectic working schedules.

The modern learner wants to pull information at their own pace, rather than being pushed from the other end. So, microlearning is one such training approach which helps the learners to access relevant information across their personalized mobile device and as per their convenience. As the attention span of learners is decreasing, they prefer watching a short video rather than attending a lengthy training session. Different types of micro content such as videos, infographics, scenarios, podcasts, mini games and more are useful in almost every business. Micro content plays a vital role in providing engaging workforce training experience, without compromising with time and budgets.

Effectiveness of Simulations for Optimum Patient Care & Healthcare Workforce Training

In today’s modern world, learning in the healthcare sector has come a long way from a traditional instructor-led approach towards e-learning. There has been a vast scope of simulations for healthcare workforce training with introduction to better medicines and changing medical procedures. It is essential to provide training which is engaging enough for the doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals. An innovation of simulation-based learning has enhanced the adoption of clinical skills through effective practice instead of apprentice style of training at the workplace.

Using Simulations to Meet Diverse Healthcare Training Requirements

The role of simulations in the industry has increased to a certain level with improved patient safety and technological innovations. Different healthcare companies leverage the benefits of personalized learning to offer ample opportunities for their workforce to learn and perform better. Various challenges faced by this industry while training the surgeons and other professionals include:

• A traditional classroom approach is not interactive enough to align with individual training needs, involving huge investments in training time and infrastructural costs.

• Skeletal of human anatomy is used in the classrooms to train the surgeons, thereby leading to lack the use of visual aids and practical know-how.

• There is less accuracy in technical details as critical medical surgeries follow life-saving procedures.

So, the healthcare sector uses simulations to train the surgeons and clinicians effectively, thereby mitigating the overall risk to the patients’ lives. Therefore, highly effective mobile-enabled training content is delivered to enhance the overall learning uptake.  Simulations help to replace the actual scenario and replicate the significant aspects of the real world into an immersive environment. Few innovative e-learning solutions that help to meet diverse healthcare training needs are outlined here:

• Healthcare professionals do not have enough time to attend a live classroom session. Therefore, learners undergo training across their personalized mobile devices to seek information at their fingertips. As a result, this helps to boost their engagement level, knowledge retention and overall learning efficiency.

• Interactive videos are embedded with e-courses to provide better understanding of critical medical procedures within a simulated environment. Delivery of short content bytes allows the learners to retain for long and perform better.

In addition to this, for patients and caregivers, who are at the other end of the spectrum in the healthcare industry, e-learning has a lot to offer. With increasing concerns on patient care and effective workforce training, simulations have proved an essential tool to reinforce learning at the workplace.

Utilizing Mobile Learning Apps in Retail Sector: Is Your Workforce Trained & Efficient?

Today, mobile applications are everywhere and in every sector. Also, millennials are using more smartphones and tablets which have become a significant part of their lives. If you want to stay connected and updated in this tech-savvy world, it is crucial to adopt the latest mobile trends. The retail industry is one of the prominent sectors which involves complex processes to manage products and services. With increasing mobile learning app development, retail industry is changing the whole scenario of training its sales personnel. It has become possible to effectively manage and communicate with customers spread across diverse demographics, thereby affecting the bottom line.

Retail industry has emerged as one of the dynamically improving sectors in the global marketplace. According to Forbes, 2018 has proved to be the year of innovation and integration, providing a better customer service experience. [Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/walterloeb/2017/12/29/retail-trends-for-2018/#6864da374eca]. When it comes to training at the workplace, retail organizations face different challenges such as huge employee turnover, seasonal employees, globally dispersed audiences, changing customer expectation and much more. Some of the incredible benefits of mobile learning apps for retail workforce training are discussed as follows:

Better marketing strategy

Undoubtedly, product marketing has become an easier task for the retail employees with the deployment of personalized mobile learning apps. The seamless integration of different mobile apps with social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, etc. provide flexible ways of marketing new products and improving the brand presence on a global scale.

Optimal customer engagement 

The major issue with the retail sector is to build customer engagement and loyalty. Therefore, companies design game-based mobile apps to cater to the customized learning needs of sales employees. Rewards and badges included in the training program, motivates the workforce to access more courses, retain knowledge for long and perform better.

Effective onboarding program

An engaging employee onboarding program helps to boost the overall workplace productivity. Several retail companies are leveraging mobile apps to train new hires about the company’s policies, industry-specific compliances and more. Mobile-based induction programs can be created to boost the overall accessibility of training courses for the employees – who can utilize their time learning even on the go.

A robust mobile learning app helps the retail industry train their modern workforce in a well-structured way. The ever-changing training needs in this sector are associated with compliance training, sales training, managing custom training programs, onboarding and others. So, no matter which domain it is- general merchandise, food, apparels, convenience and more, every retail company focuses on meeting customer demands by adopting an effective mobile-driven learning approach.