Tag Archives: Online Learning

Corporate Learning and Development, e-Learning

Is MOOC The Future of Online Learning?

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Massive Open Online Courses may sound too good to be accurate, but you better start believing them as they are here to stay. MOtick with us to know why. 

The standard pedagogy of education may have been the usual norm for centuries now, but we feel MOOCs are our future. And, why not? After all, they break the traditional classroom learning barriers. Each of us is enrolling into different universities and programs, all from the comfort of our homes.  

With the lockdown that came into play last year and continues to do so this year, every class has shifted online. This form of learning on the internet caught on with lightning speed. A gazillion firms joined the bandwagon of e-learning with gusto.  

Yes, we are also considering the challenges that come with it. But, we certainly think that they are too good to be dismissed as just another fad. Here is why we think so. 

Self-paced beyond imagination  

According to a few studies, it has been found that people have different styles of learning. Some may understand a concept within a few seconds, while some may take months or even years to understand the very topic.  

Thus, MOOCs are a boon for all of us. We can pick up new concepts at different paces. A self-paced course allows us to learn and study at our leisurely rate.  

By authoring microlearning, you can encourage students to learn things at their own pace. Wondering how to do that? Opt for Quodeck’s system of template authoring.  

The process is simple: you ensure that your content is micro-learning compliant and follows the instructional design principles. Once that is done, here are the steps you need to follow. 

Optimal utilization of resources 

MOOCs help you make the best use of resources. If you are wondering how, then we are here to tell you. Imagine some renowned Nobel Laureate who decides to administer a training course at UCLA.  

At the max, they can only teach 100-300 students in a class and 1000 young minds in their lifetime. Now, you tell us if that is genuinely an optimum use of such precious resources? Of course not! 

But with MOOC platforms, the same Nobel Laureate can teach a large number of students in a short span, all with the help of the internet. 

Commendable scalability  

In the conventional classroom set-up, you will have to move to a more extensive classroom if you want to increase the number of students. You may also have to revamp the academy’s infrastructure in all likelihood. 

But, with online classrooms, scaling up the size of the course batch is a cakewalk. All that is required is a few clicks on your mouse.  

No systematic barriers  

Are all of us privileged enough or financially well-endowed to move out of our own countries to pursue a course abroad? The answer is NO. We cannot fly to Europe or the USA on our whims and fancies at any given time we desire.  

Also, we are too busy to pursue our academic interests that will fit seamlessly into our work schedule. But, online courses can remove and mitigate systemic barriers of any kind. Therefore, it is easy to conclude that education is universally available. 

Facilitate constant learning  

MOOCs are up to date and in line with the present job market, where any skill becomes outdated in less than a decade. Do any of you remember all that was taught in your college? Gone are the days when whatever we learned stuck with us throughout our careers.  

With technological changes taking place at a rapid pace, we have to learn constantly. And, believe us or not but MOOCs will adequately serve and address it.  

Conclusion 

Opinions regarding MOOCs being the future of online learning may be highly polarizing, but we are confident that they will stay. It is indeed a significant leap for education. I hope you liked our blog and if there is anything we missed, please let us know in the comments below.  

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Analytics, Assessments, Authoring tool, e-Learning, eLearning Develpment Best Practices, Game-based learning, Game-based Learning Infographics, Gamification, Micro-learning, Online Learning, QuoDeck

5 Reasons Why You Should Implement E-Learning

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In our previous blog, we discussed how onboarding training can boost efficiency and productivity in your organization. As new learning methods have grown in popularity, more and more businesses are realizing the advantages of e-learning. Although online learning can be costly to implement, it pays off every time an employee completes their courses. Virtual learning is not only less expensive than traditional learning, it’s efficient, and reduces instruction time significantly.

Here are 5 reasons that will help you understand how switching from traditional learning to e-learning can benefit your organization.

  1. Improved retention and consistency in learning

In traditional learning, you usually have an educator who has his teaching tools, methods, and approaches. Employees may find it hard to adjust to new learning methods while simultaneously absorbing the information educators share.

One of the advantages of e-learning is that it can provide important information in ways employees can understand easily, which results in improved retention. Content is simplified using podcasts and interactive modules. Employees can access their learning when their energy and focus are at their peak for retention. This nature makes it easier to retain the new concepts and, of course, to implement them in their work.

  1.  Providing new learning methods

Not everyone learns in the same way. Some people prefer to retain knowledge through videos, while others prefer written notes, and still, others require realistic opportunities for practice before they truly grasp a new skill. One of the most significant advantages of e-learning for employee training and development is the availability of a wide range of content formats. These new learning methods are engaging for everyone when it includes videos, notes, infographics, games, and other types of content. 

An increased engagement is a sure sign that employees want to finish their course. Apart from this E-learning enables you to update the material whenever necessary. This means the online learning courses can be adapted along the way as it is relatively simple to make changes to online material, particularly textual changes, online courses are always up to date, and employees are not provided with information that is no longer relevant to them.

  1. Gamification and interactivity

Some new skills require more than video notes. Active employee participation is required in learning new skills. The ultimate interactivity and practice can be provided through a powerful learning management system (LMS) that supports gamification, quizzes, branching scenarios, and surveys. Interactive e-learning courses enable employees to practice new skills in a secure place, so they are set up for success in real life. Furthermore, by using a variety of assessments such as quizzes and case studies, you can engage learners as they progress through the training.

  1. Collaboration and community building

Learning can be solitary, but social exercise shouldn’t be so because employees learn much more by interacting with their colleagues than by reading a book. New learning methods lead to discussions and discussions lead to innovation.

Online learning benefits the community and leads to collaboration. Including activities such as forums for discussion and live tutorials can be immensely beneficial. Commitment to other employees encourages collaboration and creates a team culture that showcases its benefits beyond the educational environment.

  1. Immediate feedback and acknowledgment

Another advantage of e-learning in the workplace is that employees have access to immediate feedback. Immediate results from online assessments assist employees in determining how well they are doing and which sections of learning material they may need to review before moving on. Furthermore, gamification features in courses such as leaderboards, badges, and certificates give employees a sense of recognition and achievement, which motivates them to learn. Timely and automated feedback is beneficial not only to employees but also to their managers and the business. This is due to the fact that it eliminates the need for manual feedback and grading.

Conclusion

Learning is an ongoing process and as time changes we all have to adapt to the new virtual learning. Online learning programs apply to every industry, business, and employee worldwide. These learning methods are convenient, easy to access, easy on the budget, and measure results while keeping a digital record for everything. E-learning is cost-effective, improves employee performance, reduces staff turnover, and boosts productivity.

Corporate Learning and Development, Corporate Learning Best Practices, eLearning Develpment Best Practices, Induction programme, Micro-learning, QuoDeck

How to build an Induction Program

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A new job comes with all new experience, roles, challenges, and environment. A new employee is full of excitement, and nervousness, while joining even if the employee has worked at other places. It is essential for the employee to get acquainted with the new workplace. 

The first impression has a long term effect on the employee. Therefore, the first few days are very important for the employee, as well as the employer. The employee needs to be felt as a part of the organization, and should not feel left out. A good Induction program bridges this gap by working two-way, and is essential for the employee as well as the employer.

Induction is a process which aims to familiarise new employees with the organisation and their job. A well planned induction program will include information about the organisation, safety rules, general conditions of employment and the duties in the section or department in which they are employed. The induction program also introduces the new employees to the culture and values of the organization for which they are working. The process helps to welcome new employees to the company as well as give refresher training to employees within the organisation so that they are aware of all the policies, regulations, dresscode of the organization.

Many things need to be considered while making a good Induction Program, as it is necessary that the induction process is successful and brings expected result. 

The program should cover basic information such as orientation in the building, health and safety information and employment terms and conditions.

The details regarding the period of the process should be clear. This includes the tasks to be given in the first week, third week, then the next month and so on.

As soon as an employee accepts an offer with the organization, the employer should connect over a phone call, involve the employee in social activities and ensure that all relevant administrative and IT arrangements are in place.

The employer can link the induction program to the organisation’s objectives and strategy. This may include social meetings wherein the employee is helped or assisted by other employees.

Planning a mini induction during the first 3 days with an immediate supervisor is also an alternative.  A more comprehensive induction training session may follow during the first 3 weeks and then a review meeting after 3 months to check everything is going according to what is planned.

The employer must ensure that all the details are stated clearly. This includes the aims and objectives of the organization, the roles and responsibilities. The employee must not feel that he is given a work which is out of his knowledge or is different.

With all the rules and regulations, the employer must take care that the employee feels as a part of the organization. This improves retention.

To build a successful induction program the employers must take feedback from the employees after a certain period. This helps to keep a check if things are on track and employees too feel valued.

Effective inductions are timely, organized and engaging, and give a good first impression of a company. The induction process doesn’t end after a certain period. It’s the responsibility as an employer to make sure that the employees   grow into their roles. Successful employee induction is a continuous process! 

Reference-

 HYPERLINK “https://belindasinduction.weebly.com/” https://belindasinduction.weebly.com/

Game-based Learning Infographics, Learning Management System, Online Learning, QuoDeck, Remote Working, Social Learning Trends

Remote Working Tips & Tricks

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Everyone hates being confined, restricted and staying put. But during this pandemic, across the world, we’ve all been bound to our homes, working for and from them. All the buzz on the social networks and news channels has been about the pandemic and how, as humanity, we are coping with these strange and uncertain times. It does seem like life will be divided into clear pre and post pandemic eras.

For the working world, there was a time when “WFH” was reserved for when we had unavoidable personal errands to run for part of the day – a doctor’s appointment, PTAs, vets appointments – or when we were working on something we needed to pay more attention to, for example a crucial project, an important presentation. So, WFH in pre-pandemic times was either a luxury or an aid for better concentration.

Now that we are forced to WFH, the concept no longer charms. We miss our buddies from work, the food we had to reheat before eating, and we definitely miss our office desks. And while everyone is wondering when this will be over, and when we go back to work, here are a few simple tips and tricks to make WFH more bearable.  

“What gets measured gets managed”

Define your daily tasks and ensure you stay true to this list. Yes, a simple to-do list goes a long way. If you measure what you will complete in a day, you will be able to manage your day better. If you already do this, take it to the next level, by dividing your day into zones/slots and granularly divide your tasks into them. Check out tools like To-do list or Google Keep to help you manage your tasks easily.

“Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four-hour days.”

Although WFH gives you the benefit of flexible hours, it may help to stick to a defined work timing to help your body clock cope with this change. Stay disciplined throughout the day by consciously thinking of yourself being at work. Start the day early so you can wind down in the evening and relax with your family or do household chores. Don’t delay the start of your day thinking that you can make up for it later in the evening or at night.  Remember that your body is not used to so much inactivity, and so adequate sleep and relaxation will be needed to keep your immune system healthy.

“Distracted from distraction by distraction”

Let’s check Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and even Linked every 15 minutes! Unless you work in marketing or handle your organization’s social media account, put a pause on the entertainment folder of your phone during the workday. One episode on Netflix does not hurt, but it does not help either.

“Don’t get bent out of shape”

Now that you are WFH, respect your office space. At work, you have a desk and a chair that keeps you comfortable. The office space is usually designed to keep you in ‘Good Form’, ‘Good Function’, and ‘Good Health’. Try to create office-like ergonomics at home, till the lockdown lasts. This will help in reducing all those aches and pains that result from sitting in bad postures through the day. Avoid sitting on your bed with your legs outstretched or on your living room furniture with your laptop on your lap. Elevate your laptop to just below eye level to help your eyes and your shoulders.

“Invest in Quality Technology”

Yes, setting up your home office or workspace may require a small investment. Much like starting a new business, you may have to purchase the right hardware or software, such as a desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone system to do your job every day.

A high-performance router will save you many a frustrated moment. Since working from home often requires more than chat messages, you need a router that will keep up. A router from several years ago might be prone to common network issues.

“Communicate with your co-workers, buddies, and Boss!”

Well, you’re all in the same boat, so no one knows what you’re going through more than them. Over communicate with your teams if you are a manager and speak to your Boss at least 2-3 times in a day. Sound them off on work status, discuss issues that you are facing, and inquire what they’re up to at home. Be approachable to all.

Besides the ones we’ve mentioned above, there are many tips and tricks that can help your WFH be more effective. Read as many articles as you want, but you will need to find your own equilibrium of what works for you.

Corporate Learning Best Practices, e-Learning, eLearning Develpment Best Practices, Game-based learning, L&D professionals, Mobile Learning, QuoDeck

How To Enhance The Impact Of Your Mobile Learning Strategy In 2019

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With the maturing of mobile learning, the focus shifts on how to maximize its potential. In this article, I showcase approaches that will help you enhance the impact of your mobile learning strategy in 2019.

Mobile Learning Strategy: Enhance Its Impact In 2019

Mobile learning is the training that is available to learners on their mobile devices. It can be consumed on the go, and it gives them the flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere, and at their own pace.

Access to learning assets is not limited to smartphones. Instead, it features “multi-device” support providing additional flexibility to the learners to move seamlessly across devices during their learning journey (between smartphones, tablets, or laptops and desktops).

Over the last 2-3 years, mobile learning has transitioned from its first avatar—the mobile-friendly format—to the mobile-first format. The initial format of mobile learning was an adaptive or a mobile-friendly format that supported all devices but wasn’t fully optimized for smartphones. But the more recent format of mobile learning is the completely responsive or mobile-first format that is fully optimized for usage on smartphones. Not only does it feature interactions that align better to the way we use smartphones but also the designs adapt fully to the viewable area of each device.

It also aligns well to the changing learner expectations and demographics. Today, mobile learning is the preferred mode of training for learners and this cuts across learner profiles (not just Millennials) and resonates well with the multi-generational workforce.

What Are The Key Benefits Of Adopting The Mobile Learning Strategy?

The mobile learning strategy offers several benefits to learners and L&D teams as it:

  1. Aligns to the way learners want to learn (on the go, anytime, and anywhere)
  2. Empowers learners by giving them control on the pace they want to learn
  3. Facilitates a “pull” of learning vs “push” and this resonates better with the learners
  4. Offers a higher engagement quotient
  5. Can be used across learning needs (formal, informal, or social learning)
  6. Can be used to support Instructor-Led Training
  7. Can address the entire spectrum of corporate training needs (ranging from induction and onboarding, soft skills training, product training, sales training to compliance)
  8. Features better completion rates
  9. Can be used for knowledge acquisition, its application, as well as meeting specific learning needs (through instant learning aids or job aids)
  10. Can be used to retain an ongoing connection with learners

What Is The Value That The Adoption Of Mobile Learning Strategy Offers?

The biggest strength of mobile learning is that it aligns very well with the way learners want to consume learning. For instance, you can craft your mobile learning strategy to include learner-centric formats that sync up with their lifestyle. These could include:

  1. Podcasts that they can listen to during their commute to the office
  2. Microlearning nuggets for learning that can be easily consumed during waiting periods (and avoid carving out specific time slots for training). You can also offer microlearning nuggets as refresher nuggets to keep the “forgetting curve” at bay
  3. Microlearning videos for quick time learning
  4. Interactive videos for the application of learning
  5. Just-In-Time learning aids or job aids to address specific challenges or provide tips, ready reckoners, or learning summaries
  6. Quizzes
  7. Practice exercises
  8. Personalized curated content
  9. Furthermore, you can add dollops of fun through gamified elements or make learning more immersive by using nuggets featuring Virtual Reality (VR)
  10. Mobile apps for learning

How Can You Enhance The Impact Of Your Mobile Learning Strategy Further In 2019?

You can enhance the impact of your mobile learning strategy by providing:

  1. A judicious mix of learning and reinforcements to ensure that the “forgetting curve” does not set in
  2. Adequate room to practice, hone skills, and gain proficiency or mastery
  3. Detailed feedback and remediation or recommendations to further enhance the learning
  4. Nudges to review, challenges, and hooks to come back for more
  5. A channel for informal and social or collaborative learning
  6. An avenue to contribute User-Generated Content (UGC)

Here is a ready reckoner of the strategies that you can use to enhance the impact of your mobile learning strategy.

1. You can use microlearning and video-based learning:

  • To create buzz or awareness prior to the formal training
  • For formal training
  • For Performance Support
  • For informal learning
  • For inclusive learning (provide room for User-Generated Content)
  • For social learning

2. Invest in some of the learning strategies that will deliver high-impact experiences:

  • Interactive video-based learning
  • AR/VR
  • Gamification
  • Scenario-based learning
  • Story-based learning
  • Guided exploration

3. Retain the connection with learners by pushing nuggets that:

  • Reinforce
  • Refresh prior knowledge
  • Provide room for practice and mastery
  • Encourage learning beyond the specified outcomes

As you have probably seen, if you want to enhance the impact of your mobile learning strategy, you need to adopt a multi-pronged approach (that cuts across learner profiles and across various types of training needs). I hope this article gives you the required insights on how you can use my pointers and step up your mobile learning strategy.

By Asha Pandey, Chief Learning Strategist at EI Design

Artificial Intelligence, e-Learning, Game-based learning, Informal Learning Tips, Machine Learning, Mobile Learning, Online Learning, Press, Professors, QuoDeck, Teachers

How Machine Learning and AI are Making Online Learning More Beneficial

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Online learning (aka E-Learning) is now considered to be an integral part of the education sector. In simple words, online learning refers to the type of learning where the learning process is mediated by the internet i.e. the learners use the internet to learn.

Online learning is gaining tremendous popularity. It is also said to increase the knowledge retention rates from 25-60% in comparison to face-to-face training. Online learning owes much of its popularity and efficiency to machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI).

Gone are the days of one size fits all. ML and AI have made learning to become personalized and adaptive.

Every student has different educational backgrounds and thinking abilities. It is imperative to provide case studies and examples to them that they can best relate to, meaning that the course needs to be customized as per each student for better learning.

Such a high-level of customization can be achieved with a Learning Management System (LMS) that has machine learning capabilities.

Leveraging Big Data

AI provides insights based on the enormous amount of data it has collected and analyzed, which facilitates the creation of customized learning programs, faster than before. Access to these insights and data allows online learning platforms to develop a better understanding of learner behaviors and to predict needs by recommending and positioning content based on past behavior. Adaptive learning that is personalized to the individual is a powerful way to engage today’s workforce.

Personalized and Adaptive Learning

Apart from personalization, AI and ML also facilitate better optimization of course content and delivery. An online course on any cloud-based LMS is not a one-time activity. The course content gets revised based on the feedback that you are getting from the students. The feedback can be in the form of qualitative surveys or comments left by the students and the quantitative data like quiz results, ratings, and other course metrics that the LMS provides the learners.

Gamification

Another big factor is gamification, which makes simple activities from documentation to interaction with customers easier. Companies like BYJU’s, Collegify, and QuoDeck are doing excellent in that front.

QuoDeck’s DIY LMS is one such product which is built on mobile and game-based SaaS platform and brings cutting-edge technology at affordable costs for SMEs, start-ups and educational institutes. Presently, the platform can be deployed within an organization whose employee strength varies from 30-1000 with different work environments.

QuoDeck uses a multivariate model including clickstream data, time spent on the system, distribution of course usage, devices used amongst many other variables to uncover patterns, correlations and other insights. Read the 2019 HR Trends in the Workplace by Kamalika Bhattacharya, Co-founder, QuoDeck Technologies.

AI and ML have been exclusively used to improve resource allocation of QuoDeck’s partners, customize learning for employees and to significantly improve their courses efficiency. In the future, the company hopes to leverage AI and Ml tools to provide a pre-designed course based on the learners’ profiles before they begin their e-Learning journey.

Collegify also came up with interesting features that help the students stay engaged on the platform while taking self-paced SAT/ACT test prep courses.

Students can choose avatars, part of a “gamified” work-and-reward approach that speaks to the target age-range and encourages consistent progress. This includes the gradual unlocking of content, in line with our pedagogy of balancing performance with difficulty and avoiding inundating students.

Content is carefully categorized and separated into incremental difficulty levels, which is then driven by AI to respond to and anticipate trends in each student’s learning and performance patterns in real time. This adaptiveness not only ensures students spend their time productively, it ensures teachers, counselors, mentors, and parents also fully understand how best to support applicants both on and off the platform. 

Similarly, Byjus leverages data, ML and AI to offer personalized lessons. The focus is on making learning visual and contextual, rather than just theoretical. This helps students realize what to learn when to learn, how to learn and how much to learn. Its flexible learning style can be adopted according to the student’s learning capabilities. Now, no more mugging up, all you have to do is turn on your phones or tablets and repeat the content till you get a grasp over it.

At present, online learning, in some form or the other, is used by anyone who has access to the web. Among the numerous advantages of online learning, some of the top benefits are mentioned below.

Top Benefits of Online Learning

Easily Available Information

With online learning, information is easily available and at a lower cost. Additional costs like physical space for classrooms, equipment, etc. are reduced. Any learner from any corner of the world can have access to the global contents from anywhere and at any time. This is extremely helpful for the individuals preparing for competitive exams as they can have access to numerous study materials at the comfort of their own homes and for free.

Engagement and Better Memory Retention

The traditional education system is mostly teacher-centric and limited to only writing boards. With technology, this has changed a lot. Now, teaching is no longer only limited to writing boards. The online lessons include various animations and other visual effects to increase the engagement of the students. With better engagement, students not only understand in-depth concepts better but also retain the topics for longer.

Personalized Learning

Adaptive technology has made personalized learning possible. At present, most online learning platforms use big data and cloud computing to understand the unique learning style of the students and allow them to learn at their own pace and style.

Flexible Learning

Using online learning tools, learners can learn from the comfort of their own place, style, and time. Any individual from any corner of the world can now learn according to their own convenience. This is extremely helpful for the students as they can now download any resource, be it NCERT books, or sample papers and refer to them whenever they want.

Costing

E-learning alleviates the need for students and instructors to be located in a central place for learning to take place. This saves money that could be spent on traveling, accommodation and other uses that school-based learners cannot escape from. The time that would be spent commuting to class could be used for other duties too.

These were a few benefits of online learning. These advantages prove that online learning surely has the potential to revolutionize the education sector and can surely make learning more effective, engaging, and student-friendly.

By Tanmoy Ray, Counselor at Stoodnt.com

This article was first published on Stoodnt.com