Tag: Blog

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Videos As Learning Solutions: Why They Are So Popular

The other day, I was narrating a story to my kids and they promptly demanded to watch the same story on YouTube! Last week I was explaining my mom the recipe to cook white sauce pasta and she asked me to share the recipe video instead 🙂 That’s the popularity of videos as learning solutions we all are witnessing today.

I am sure it’s been a long time since you opened a user guide or a troubleshooting guide, right? And it must have been even longer since you shared a book with someone. But… if I ask you to recall, when was the last time you shared a video, your answer will probably be “Today”, right?

We all love watching videos! With superfast internet connectivity and easy availability of a reservoir of videos, each one of us prefer watching a video over reading textual information. Most of us are almost addicted to watching TED talks and the how-to type of videos. Those who are fond of cooking, enjoy watching recipes than referring to notes or recipe books. Khan academy videos are popular amongst the high-school students as well as professors. The entire population across globe is going crazy for video-based content.

So, what exactly do we mean by using videos as learning solutions? Isn’t that what we have always been doing? Why this sudden rise in the popularity for videos? Why Learning and Development teams prefer videos over eLearning modules these days? Let’s find the answers.

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5 Reasons That Explain Videos’ Popularity

Can you believe that a video equals to 1.8 million words? And that’s exactly what appeals to today’s learners. The present generation, that includes Millennials, Gen X, and Gen Y, is smart, self-motivated, multi tasker, wants to learn anytime, anywhere, and needs quick and effective learning. A video successfully:

1. Stimulates curiosity about the topic.
2. Motivates learner population to enroll for the trainings.
3. Encourages word of mouth publicity.
4. Grabs learners’ attention.
5. Influences the end users.

Videos are not only used for formal learning purposes but also for promotional activities, such as communication segments or as teasers. Quite a few organizations have kiosks or portals where they run these videos.

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Videos As Learning Solutions

Training videos and eLearning modules are often used interchangeably. The objective of both is the same – to teach or to deliver new piece of content to the target learners. However, there is subtle difference in the way those are delivered.

Training video is usually a one-way delivery of the content whereas the eLearning modules are interactive and self-paced. eLearning module comes with scored assessment and can be tracked using a Learning Management System (LMS). Videos can be easily accessed from any device and from anywhere without having any dependency on the Learning Management System.

With the growing popularity of the microlearning approach among Learning and Development professionals, videos are being used as a part of a standalone eLearning solution. Conversely, we can embed videos within eLearning module to enhance the learners’ engagement level.

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6 Types Of Videos That Can Be Used As Learning Solutions

Let’s explore the variety of videos that can be used as learning solutions.

1. Professionally Shot Video Footages.

These create a great impact as they showcase a real-life scenario through real characters and dialogs.

2. Leadership Videos.

These can be used to deliver a message from senior leadership to communicate an important change or to set the context of the training. Videos that demonstrate expected behaviors also are good option as compared to describing it using words. Such videos can be professional recordings or shot using smart phone.

3. Simulation Videos.

They can either be for a product or for a software application. These videos demonstrate the procedure/process along with the written steps, which makes it an impactful training delivery.

4. Photo-Collage And Illustration-Based Videos.

They are useful to describe a concept or to present facts using statistical data. These videos engage the learner with a display of striking photos and creative illustrations.

5. Interactive Videos.

These offer an immersive learning experience by giving the learners an opportunity to actively participate in the learning process. We can pose thought-provoking questions in between the narrative to encourage reflection. Using tab and click interactivities provides flexibility and opportunity for learners to explore information at their own pace or to create their own learning path in the story.

6. Whiteboard Animation Videos.

They effectively hold learner’s attention by slowly unfolding a story through hand drawn illustrations. They also give classroom effect to the training.

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Video Development Tools

There are numerous video creation tools available in the market. Depending on the purpose, design strategies, and delivery medium we can choose the best one! Adobe Flash, AfterEffects, VideoScribe are a few popular video development tools. Using rapid authoring tools such as Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, Adapt Framework, we can embed and package videos as an eLearning module which can be deployed on any Learning Management System.

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Summary

The key to create successful learning solution is to use the charms of videos judiciously and effectively. So, what type of videos have you created so far? Which one worked best as learning solution?

Do share your thoughts and experiences. Looking forward to read your comments

Common Questions About Learning Apps

Take a quick look at various apps that you have on your smartphone. What do you love the most about each of them? Quick and easy access? Personalized experience? Last minute help? Friendly interface? Well, I just like all of these things about my apps. I have my chosen list of shopping apps that lift my mood with instant shopping tours! My banking app gives me a clear picture of my investments and spends. How about bringing the same ease and comfort to our learning experiences? Great idea, right? Let’s try to figure out answers to the most common questions related to learning apps.

1. How Learning Apps Differ From Other Mobile Apps?

The mobile apps that we use are intended to accomplish specific tasks. These tasks are usually transactional, and apps add a layer of virtual ease for users. Most mobile apps are standalone applications complete in themselves. Learning apps, on the contrary, are meant for targeted education, focused behavioral change, and enhancement of skills. Learning apps are developed specifically for all such training purposes and tie-in closely with well-defined learning objectives. A learning app, most likely, is one of the components within a structured learning program. You will typically subscribe to a learning app yourself or be asked by your employer to be a part of learning programs by installing a learning app.

2. What Is It That Learning Apps Do Differently From eLearning?

Catching up on the latest trends, the training methods of organizations have transformed. Learning and Development (L&D) teams have broadened their choices of learning mediums. Traditional ILTs, WBTs, and videos are slowly taking a back seat. Learning apps are very much in demand as they appeal better to the new generation. Today, mobile learning and microlearning are the buzz words. Lengthy classroom sessions and hour-long WBTs no more suit the needs of modern learners. The training has to be pushed in digestible, shorter chunks to suit the needs of millennial audience who also want information to be on their fingertips. With their reduced attention span, today’s learners:

•  Want to learn quickly,
•  Just don’t want to acquire a reservoir of knowledge but are more interested in acquiring skills for immediate needs,
•  Like to challenge themselves,
•  Don’t want to be restricted to their laptops and/or their desks for the learning to happen, and
•  Are on their toes all the time and prefer training that they can take offline.

Traditional eLearning lacks features that will address these needs of modern learners, whereas learning apps adapt to all most of these.

A learning app allows you to learn on the go, anytime, anywhere! It provides:

•  Just-in-time learning.
•  Personalized experience.
•  Higher engagement level.
•  Real-time connectivity.
•  Notifications.
•  Quick evaluation.

Also, it acts as a refresher when required!

As per the 70:20:10 model, the eLearning facilitates only 10% of overall learning. Apart from the 10% formal learning, the remaining 20%, and 70% can be achieved only through self-motivated learning efforts. Learning apps do have that capability to address the need for that experiential and social learning. Embedding features such as collaborative learning activities, chatbots, dashboards, levels of challenges do provide such opportunities for learners.

3. Do We Need mLearning Or A Learning App?

The training requirement needs to be analyzed closely for the actual performance or knowledge gaps, critical success factors, business and learner needs. After such analysis, you may realize that sometimes the training content just needs to be transformed into a mobile compatible eLearning format and that serves the purpose of providing a digestible learning nugget. At times learners just need a just-in-time job-aid, and a mobile-compatible infographic or an i-PDF serves the purpose. In case your learners need a quick refresher, a well-formulated adaptive and responsive quiz will be of immense help. In short, a learning app is not always the best solution. However, it is one of the most influential solutions to address the experiential learning experience.

4. Why Should Learning And development Invest In An App As A Part Of Learning Strategy?

As a part of training needs analysis, L&D teams perform a detailed study of learners and their training aspirations. Depending on the learners’ level of prior knowledge, the performance gaps, and the point of learning within the learning framework, learning apps can be of help either to reinforce, or to refresh, or to assist them on the job. For example, new hire onboarding training or Sales training demand face-to-face connection which is required for learners to be able to interact with the trainer. In such cases, learning apps can be used to follow up on the assigned learning activities or to provide training boosters to help learners resolve on-the-job challenges. Training such as compliance training can be made fun through gamified activities or story-based videos delivered through a learning app.

In short, learning apps can act as stand-alone learning solutions or a supplementary component within a learning framework. L&D teams can leverage them as per their requirement.

5. What Is The Right Content For Learning Apps?

Do all types of training content fit into the learning app structure? Can we develop apps for all learning needs? The answer is ‘No!’. A thorough training needs analysis is the only way to find an answer to this question. However, let’s consider an example to understand the possibilities:

Business Case

A client wants to launch a blended learning program that includes a mobile app. The objective of this blended program is to groom managerial skills and to nurture a multicultural and growing team which is distributed around the globe. They require a learning platform to provide customized development guidance to their Senior Managers enabling them to build the desired managerial skills. As the target audience comprises senior managers, the learning solution has to be self-driven, completely self-governed, and something that could be implemented without disrupting the daily work of the busy managers.

Learning App Solution

The above requirement and challenges demand a learning app that:

•  Drives the development process for each manager based on development areas identified through mentoring discussions,
•  Asks diagnostic questions to recommend competencies that require more focus,
•  Classifies resources and tasks per learning styles to cater to all types of learners,
•  Shows intuitive user prompts and timely app notifications to engage users, promote intrinsic motivation, and provide enhanced user experience,
•  Schedules resources and sets milestones to track development plans,
•  Makes journal entries to note experiences and takeaways,
•  Accesses the dashboard to track overall learning development at any point.

To Conclude

So, with the popularity of learning apps, will eLearning and ILT be obsolete? Will learners stop using LMS training and vanish from the classrooms? The answer is ‘No’! All these forms of training will still be there within a learning framework. Sometimes they might be given a modern makeover and, at times, learning apps will supplement these training forms.

Do share your experiences with learning apps!

Interactive PDFs: Can We Use Them As An eLearning Solution?

With an addition of ‘i’ factor to our favorite document format, iPDFs are gaining popularity as a quick and handy eLearning solution these days. A few years back, PDFs were used more for documentation purposes. However, with interactive PDFs in picture, eLearning industry is witnessing a remarkable increase in demand for this innovative learning solution. How and why should you use an interactive PDF as an eLearning solution? Which type of interactions are possible? When do you create an interactive PDF? Where do you deploy it? Which eLearning requirement is suitable for iPDFs? Let’s explore answers to these questions.

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What Is An Interactive PDF?

Interactive PDFs are a power-packed version that have evolved from the Portable Document Format. Earlier versions of PDFs only allowed you to bookmark pages and jump to a particular section in the document using a table of contents. However, interactive PDFs provide a basic level of interactivities that allow Instructional Designers to chunk content in a meaningful way and provide learning guidance to learners.

iPDFs are adaptive in nature and hence are mobile and iPad friendly. You can use them as just-in-time learning or circulate them as communication segments. In fact, interactive PDFs are quite in demand these days instead of basic level 1 WBT (Web-Based Training). They score above basic WBTs as they are a great medium to:

•  Create awareness about content and provide basic information about it.
•  Provide sufficient interactivity for a better learning experience than traditional PDFs.
•  Provide ease of access from a portal or in email, thus minimizing the pain of uploading and maintaining WBTs.

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Interactions Within Interactive PDFs

You can create all types of click and learn interactivities within an iPDF. Here is a list of interactive elements that can be build:

•  Click and reveal.
•  Pop-ups.
•  Tabs.
•  Tooltips.
•  Type-in textboxes.
•  Dropdowns.
•  Animations.

It is all up to your creativity and ability to use these optimally and in a variety of ways.

Embedding video clips or GIFs to your interactive PDF, adds a sense of movement and an element of spice. Ability to insert knowledge check questions with generic feedback adds to the learning appeal of interactive PDFs.

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Instructional Design And Interactive PDFs

Developers can use a combination of various Instructional Design theories and models to chunk and present the content in an instructional and engaging way.

A good study of the audience and the exact requirement, helps Instructional Designers to design an interactive PDF that matches its objectives. Just like in Web-Based-Training, one can devise various strategies to catch the learners’ attention, establish relevance, build confidence, and provide learning satisfaction to the learners.

Similarly, you can experiment with possible content design layouts.

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Are Basic WBTs And iPDFs Just The Same?

The most prominent difference between a page-turner WBT and interactive PDF is the freedom from dependency on a Learning Management System or SharePoint. Of course, if you have a SharePoint portal, you can use it to share interactive PDFs. However, an iPDF can also be easily circulated over mail.

On the flip side, you cannot achieve VO-syncing and special animation effects, which provide an enhanced learning experience to address a variety of learning needs.

Tracking learner progress and assessment score also does not fit within the scope of interactive PDFs; however, you can always host a separate assessment module on the Learning Management System, depending on your requirement.

The strength of an interactive PDF lies in chunking content effectively and presenting it using the right interactivities and graphics.

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When To Use Interactive PDFs As A Learning Solution?

There are a number of reasons why one would want to create an iPDF as a eLearning solution. Here are a few instances:

•  When your objective is to create awareness and not to build skills and competency.
•  When you don’t want any LMS-dependency and have not requirement for scored assessment.
•  When you looking for a refresher training and not a detailed one.
•  When you want to share crisp information with senior leadership who are busy round the clock.
•  When you have a highly motivated group of learners who are interested in learning the new thing.
•  When you need a quick communication slice within a short timeframe.

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Summary

Successful deployment of iPDFs on various available platforms demands accurate settings and thorough testing. Moreover, it is also important that the content is presented keeping in mind the exact learning needs. With all these requirements addressed and tested appropriately, interactive PDFs can prove to be quick, handy, and engaging medium to share information and facilitate learning.