Since the Covid-19 pandemic occurred, organizations have had to reassess their approach to learning technology and have had to recreate new technology ecosystems to meet the needs of a dynamically shifting workforce. The pressure to have modern technologies has become extremely prevalent for organizations to accomplish an agile learning strategy. In our most recent webinar with the Brandon Hall Group, three of our eLearning experts: John Blackmon CTO for ELB Learning , Stephen Baer, Chief Creative Officer for The Game Agency, and Geoff Cureless, SVP, Sales - Learning Solutions for ELB Learning, took the time to explore the Learning Ecosystem and provide insight into the top technologies that will make a difference and enhance the Next-Generation Learning Technology Ecosystem.
The Challenges of Building a Learning Ecosystem Today
A learning environment needs more than a well-qualified LMS and a set of authoring tools. Organizations must understand the up-to-date technology trends that will create breakthrough training and the technologies that make the most sense for their learners and business. Learning and development teams need to gain a better understanding of the available tools and technologies, the roles they play, and how they work together to successfully execute a successful learning strategy. The technology landscape is highly complex, and many companies are ill-prepared to navigate through it with insurance that they are deploying proper solutions.
Our webinar with the Brandon Hall Group touches on the fact that machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) will continue to have a prominent role within the learning technology ecosystem. According to the Brandon Hall Group survey, only 26% of organizations consider machine learning and artificial intelligence to be “critically important” to their learning strategies. By utilizing machine learning and artificial intelligence tools, learners can be assured that they are receiving the most effective, relevant, and up-to-date learning experiences.
Five high-level strategies are needed to build the next-generation learning technology ecosystem:
- Evaluate the effectiveness of current technologies. It’s critical for L&D teams to perform a skills gap and learning needs analysis and assess the effectiveness of their tools and technologies. Evaluate the data reported, gauge the digital capabilities of your learning audience, and compare reports to what your learning platforms could deliver.
- Scan the current learning technology landscape for new and emerging technologies. Look at your assessment of the current tools and technologies, and find the gaps. Find what’s missing and explore the market for available tools that can fill or replace what’s failing. For example, a simulation tool can replace in-person training due to remote work.
- Identify key integration opportunities. For learning strategies to be truly effective, modern technology must collaboratively work with other solutions and platforms to create a seamless experience. These technologies also need to complement other business areas beyond the learning ecosystem such as HR, finance, operations, and more. Learning will always be essential to all areas of business, and employees in any field should be able to access learning at any time. Accessible learning will not only provide learning opportunities for employees working in other systems but also extract data that L&D teams can leverage.
- Based on current effectiveness, functionality, and integrations, it may be time to make a switch. Making a change in your technology can be an overwhelming project, but the consequences an organization might face if they don't make a change could be costly. It is crucial for companies to find providers with the technology, support, and roadmap that aligns with your organization’s needs, which means finding the right technologies that will better your organization now and in the future.
- Build an understanding of how Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) work, and how they can be leveraged for learning technology. Technology will never stop advancing, and machine learning and artificial intelligence will always play a large role in learning technologies. Gaining the basic understanding of how ML and AI provide learner recommendations, guided simulations, content development, and more, will then help you choose the right technologies. ML and AI can help guide you to the technologies that will optimize and automate many tasks, providing a modern and engaging approach to creating learning experiences.
Check out our most recent webinar, Building the Next-Generation Learning Technology Ecosystem, with the Brandon Hall Group to get a better understanding of the learning technology ecosystem and what technologies you should be using to create seamless and enjoyable learning experiences.
Schedule a free consultation with our learning strategy experts to start building your next-generation learning technology ecosystem.