Personalization Of eLearning Process

Personalization Of eLearning Process
Summary: Every single learning process should be adapted to the target group. To make it happen we used to perform analysis before we start to design it. Thinking about the eLearning process we can be, however, much more accurate in delivering training intervention. We can not only analyze the needs of the target group and design the process corresponding to the findings, but we can also personalize it to meet the needs of every single learner. Let’s take a look at the personalization of eLearning process and how to do it.

The 2 Approaches To Personalization Of eLearning  

Personalization of eLearning process could be done using two approaches:

  1. We can adapt it to individual needs by creating some logic which will automatically change the learning path.
  2. We can rely on people giving them a chance to manually change the learning path.

Adaptive Learning – Let Computer To Decide For People 

The technique of adaptive learning assumes that at the very beginning of an eLearning module we place a pre-test which assess the level of competencies taught within this module. After concluding such a test every learner gets either a personalized learning track, which consists of only these parts of the eLearning course that are corresponding with competency gaps, or personalized recommendations regarding how to “consume” this module (which parts of it could be skipped and which should be taken with special attention). Such an approach lets not only to create an eLearning course truly corresponding with one’s learning needs, but also to optimize the time needed to build one’s competence. It influences an ROI in positive way by cutting down the costs of consumption of an eLearning offer (I wrote about it earlier in The Hidden Cost of Learning Consumption).

Freedom In eLearning Course – Let People To Decide For Themselves

I have seen many eLearning processes in which learners were forced to take the course screen by screen. In such an approach many people use to treat this process in a pure mechanical way just clicking the “Next” button. Using such a course by competent or half-competent learners is a pure waste of time…

If we want to optimize an eLearning process we should assume that learners are reasonable people and give them freedom to choose which part of the course they want to take. We should pass to them responsibility for their professional development. Of course, such a responsibility should be controlled with appropriate testing or quizzing functionality giving information about gaining new competencies not only to the learning process administrator, but also to learners. Such a feedback for learners should be not only informative, but also supportive and motivational.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes people ask me whether eLearning is better than traditional ways of building competencies. Well - sometimes it is, and sometimes not. However, one of the unquestionable benefits of eLearning is the possibility of delivering individualized learning intervention which you can’t deliver during typical workshop as you have to keep many participants on the same learning path in the same time. Using these two approaches in the eLearning world you can create a truly personalized learning solution.