In the early days of centralized content, the ‘learning’ within an organization was centered around the intranet. While it still functions at some level, it may not be the best option to build a learning infrastructure that is globally accessible.
One of the big changes in the last decade has been the steady move to a mobile dominant environment and that has left several old formats in the deep freeze. The content may be relevant but the distribution and accessibility have to be managed across devices, right from laptops to tablets and mobile.
Flash used to be one of the favorites for animation but it is completely out of the reckoning now. So, upgrades and bringing existing content or repackaging it will help to educate a new generation of employees. Physical material or courses can be converted to a variety of digital formats including audio and video. This can be done for specific topics, for example Big Data – and designed for levels catering to Beginners, Experts or Advanced learners.
Distributing learning content across a network
The difference between printed and digital content is striking. Books can only be distributed across physical locations. They don’t update themselves and access is limited by physical distance. But on a digital elearning solutions platform, search and discovery can be improved by using metadata tags or even individualized recommendations for employees. Today, people are comfortable with learning that comes to them effortlessly, rather than time spent in search of a range of subjects and topics.
With proper planning, digital content can be dynamically served to devices across the entire company. The penetration of smartphones and tablets has led to these being available to people 24 hours a day. Content can be saved for offline usage, so even when the learner is offline when travelling or in areas with patchy network coverage, learning need not be interrupted
Building learning infrastructure requires an understanding of delivery and content structure. In addition to expertise in creating content that appeals to different levels of learners.
Learning infrastructure should also be easy to upgrade and change when there are revisions to be made. Pre-created e-books, audiobooks, journals, videobooks, or entire courses can be made available on all devices accessible to people within the company
As more training moves online post-pandemic, everything from inductions to upgrading knowledge skills has also had to adapt. The solutions that emerged will continue to help companies in the future. And that’s where it will have a great impact.
Integrating payment systems for learning modules
A company with well-known products can extend training content to users outside the company as well. Today, there are training institutes recruiting people and teaching them everything from design to accounting based on software programs.
Companies can build revenue around specific learning modules. This will help freshers or even experienced candidates learn and become familiar with the product features – either to onboard or help people secure employment as well.
This needs payment infrastructure to be built and maintained. Since this is not a core activity, companies may not want to devote resources to it either.
Impelsys can create and maintain paid learning programs and certifications for the company’s products globally. And generating revenue from content creates more value for the company. It’s a virtuous cycle that grows over the years.
Repurpose content into different forms for an enriched learning experience
Base content can be the foundation for extensions. Legacy books can be transformed into multiple formats- eBooks, interactive books, audiobooks, videos, collections.
Learners have their own preferences. Some may not be fans of the written word. Others may prefer to listen when they’re exercising or walking. When the choice is available, there is a definite increase in interest and absorbing concepts.
These transformations are carried out by skilled content developers who understand the structure and the framework that content needs to be delivered in.
Learning has to be accompanied by proper assessments as well to ensure that outcomes are tracked as well. Cohort based learning or gamification by competing and sharing achievements with peers helps drive learning activity and course completion, apart from making it fun. Cohorts can work even when people are in different physical locations.
Managing and maintaining this infrastructure is the problem for most companies. Impelsys offers a white labeling solution for companies to derive the maximum advantage from the content they have created.
Own the content. Secure the perimeter
Creating content is one aspect of the requirement. The other is ensuring that it stays within the complete control of the company and remains gated with proper security protocols.
This is again beyond the purview of most companies who may have the intent but not the systems to monitor how the content is used, served, and accessed.
At the same time, the user experience must be smooth and hassle-free. These two aspects are at odds with each other – and yet, it’s the base on which a company can safeguard its learning advantage.
There’s a clear path to the whole process. Create content specific to the company’s products and capture the value it provides in the market. Bring more people into the fold by instructing them in the mode, device and environment they prefer.
Assess the learning through a series of tests and capture the progress made. Then repeat the cycle at specific intervals or create specialized content based on the roles and responsibilities within.
If an entry level set of modules can generate revenue and create trained resources ready to deliver, they can hit the ground running and generate value for the company internally.
Impelsys can take a look at the content the company may have generated over the years and recommend the next steps as well as a plan for the future.
That’s the way to build learning infrastructure at scale. Today, it can be stored centrally and delivered globally. Along with clear tracking points of progress and assessment with built-in protocols for security.
