Author: Darshan Shah

The-Advantages-of-Online-Courses-for-Employee-Development
Darshan Shah January 18, 2023 No Comments

10 Advantages of Online Courses for Employee Development

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]According to research by Deloitte, organizations believe that virtual learning has emerged as the preferred method of learning and narrowed down the space between learning and work. Thus, virtual delivery should be given top priority in every organization owing to the advantages of online courses. In this fast-paced world, with new inventions and developments surfacing consistently, online learning helps your employees stay at the top of their game.  The professional development of your employees through online learning – in the form of courses, webinars, workshops, etc. – renders a huge positive impact on your company. This is just the beginning of the benefits for your company.  Next, let’s look at ten more advantages of online learning or online courses for employee development and their positive ripple effects on your business. 1. Online Courses are Easy to Scale When your company consists of more than 100 employees, online courses make it much easier for your Learning and Development (L&D) team to train them for the implementation of more effective working strategies.  In addition, training recruits physically can consume a lot of time when you hire recruits. This is also where the scalability feature of online courses comes to the rescue of your L&D team.  A Brandon Hall Group study corroborates this by revealing that online training courses consume about 40-60% less employee time than physical training. 2. Increases the Loyalty of Employees When you provide your employees with access to accredited online courses that help them improve professionally and impact their personal life, it imbues in them a feeling of loyalty for your company.  You make them feel your company is dedicated to their growth and values them individually. Companies that use online learning courses can boost about 18% in employee engagement. 3. Online Courses Allow for Flexibility With the Work-From-Home culture here to stay, access to online learning courses at any time can make things very convenient for your employees.  Online courses can help your employees manage office work and their personal affairs and, at the same time, work on enhancing their skills.  You can also easily track their progress with the help of a learning management system – but if you don’t have one – here are five reasons why your company needs it in 2023. 4. Online Courses Provide a Safe-learning Space Everyone wants to develop skills by learning new things, but competition can sometimes get in the way. Only some employees can flourish in a competitive environment.  Here, online courses can help by providing a safe, competition-free environment for your employees to learn new things at a pace that suits them. An IBM study has found that online courses help employees learn five times more material in a short amount of time. 5. Helps to Beat the Forgetting Curve According to research, people must remember about 75% of learning material in hours. But with online learning courses, your employees can revisit them repeatedly until they have thoroughly understood the concept.  Further, the Research Institute of America states that online courses have boosted retention rates by about 25 to 60%. 6. Provides Immediate Feedback Some learning management systems (LMSs) curate online courses that provide immediate feedback to your employees after they have completed the course. This lets your employees know where they are lacking and need to improve so that they can easily apply the knowledge they have gained. Since there are so many LMS out there – here’s how you can choose the best LMS provider for your organization. 7. Reduces the Harmful Impact on the Environment When learning courses are taught online, your employees don’t need to travel physically to the workplace.  A Britain Open University study found that online learning courses use up less than 90% of energy and produce about 85% fewer CO2 emissions per person than traditional (not online) courses. Thus, online courses are good for the environment. 8. Helps Take Care of Direct Business Needs According to Deloitte, organizations realize the value of a personalized learning design approach.  For instance, say an employee in your organization is excellent at selling products but needs to possess the appropriate knowledge about the products.  In this scenario, through a personalized online learning course, they can gain the much-needed theoretical knowledge about the products so that their sales don’t suffer at any time. 9. Available in a Variety of Formats One of the top advantages of online learning courses for employee development is that they are available in different formats – short videos ranging from 4-5 minutes, a combination of videos and PowerPoint presentations, instructor-led online courses, etc.  All these types of learning are very effective in increasing the productivity of your employees at the workplace. Click here to learn in detail about the five types of online learning that increase employees’ productivity. 10. Online Courses Save Costs and Boost Sales Online learning courses for employee development don’t require using any printed material, unlike traditional learning courses. So, they help save the expense that traditional courses would have otherwise consumed.  According to an IBM study, every dollar invested in online courses or training leads to a $30 increase in productivity. In addition, online training has contributed to around 22% faster rollouts for products and processes and, in turn, increased sales.  Conclusion The advantages of online courses for employee development are endless – they help save costs, boost productivity and revenue, create a stronger and more loyal workforce, etc. But, to avail of them, how do you curate and provide access to online courses to a large workforce of employees?  This is where Hurix Digital comes into play. Hurix provides e-learning content solutions to enterprises. With our customized online teaching platform, state-of-the-art technology, and software infrastructure, we provide enterprises with tailored corporate learning solutions. To know more about the e-learning services provided by Hurix or get in touch with us, click here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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LMS
Darshan Shah December 27, 2022 No Comments

Does Your Learning Management System (LMS) Have These 7 Features?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Realizing the practical benefits of e-learning, many organizations today choose to invest in a robust Learning Management System (LMS) with latest LMS features. It has resulted in an exponential growth of learning management platforms, with nearly a 7X increase in the LMS market in less than a decade. All these platforms come with a wide variety of differentiated features. But though each feature has its own benefits, the abundance of the same can make it complicated for organizations to identify the ones relevant to their workforce. Hence, if you’re considering installing a new LMS or upgrading the existing one, selecting the right LMS service with features that match your business goals and workforce requirement is crucial. But whatever your need, here are the seven most critical LMS features to provide an excellent learning experience for your team. Does your system have all of them? Personalized Learning Path One of the biggest benefits of e-learning, as opposed to classroom training, is being able to customize your learning path to meet your interest and pace. The feature is a must-have for all LMS, whether used for corporate training or educating university students. A learner should be able to find a self-paced course based on their learning history and area of work. For instance, if you’re in a finance role, the LMS should be able to offer more finance-related training to you, which you can complete in your own timeline. Also, learners should be able to pick the module they want to study instead of sitting through the entire course. Such personalization will make the learning process more exciting and result in better learning outcomes. Compliance and Certification Tracking For many business organizations, the main reason for adopting a Learning Management System is to comply with laws across industry sectors. These laws require employers to train their employees to a specific industry standard and keep track of their training completion. Such businesses must look for an LMS feature that can deliver, capture, and record training completion certificates of thousands of employees in a centralized database. It will enable the organization to produce proof of compliance in an audit easily. The feature will not only help organizations prevent violation fines but also save massive administration costs associated with keeping a physical record of each training. Apart from meeting compliance requirements, tracking training completion will also enable management to measure employee improvements and gauge the result of the training efforts. Comprehensive Assessment and Reporting Tools While assessment tools are a must-have for educational institutions, it is beneficial for professionals, too, to track their learning performance. An LMS that supports a wide range of assessment tools such as quizzes, MCQs, or exam engines will help trainers gauge learners’ understanding, engagement, and retention and provide immediate feedback. Similarly, every organization would like a reporting tool that provides valuable analytics on the learner’s progress, course popularity, engagement rate, completion rate, etc. These important KPIs will help you monitor employee training at the individual and company level and make necessary changes or take actions s required. Mobile Compatibility Trainers today do not stick to a particular device but instead prefer the flexibility of learning through gadgets, including smartphones, tablets, or desktops. So you must ensure that the LMS platform you choose will also offer learners the best user experience on these devices. With mobile capabilities such as downloadable apps, learners can participate in the training from anywhere, even on the go. The feature is especially beneficial if your organization requires learning outside work or between calls and visits. Simplified User Interface A user-friendly interface is one of the most basic requirements of a good LMS, but most buyers neglect this feature while considering which platform to buy. You must ensure that the LMS you choose matches your team’s ability, skill level, and competency. So always keep the end-user experience in mind whenever you choose an LMS platform, and always request a demo before making the purchase. Not able to decide on a platform? This guide on how to choose the best LMS platform for your business will help you make the right pick. An easy-to-navigate interface will result in an excellent user experience and higher user engagement. Or else it will become challenging for the administrator to get the learners interested. Multiple Software Integration Another essential feature you should not miss is your LMS’s ability to integrate seamlessly with third-party software. Since a single LMS may not have all functionalities built-in, these integrations will help expand the utility of your system. For instance, if you require instructor-led training, your LMS should be able to integrate with video conferencing tools. Similarly, if you plan to have paid subscriptions or paid one-on-one sessions, you should look for LMS that can integrate with secure e-payment gateways. The kind of integration required will vary from organization to organization. However, you can take cues from the current tools you use and your future business plan to avoid missing out on the important ones. Comprehensive Support Services The level of support you require will depend on the complexity of the system and the end-user experience with the system. If your team is using an LMS for the first time, it is safe to assume that you will need considerable onboarding support to deploy the system effectively. In such cases, it is best to partner with a supplier that can provide direct support and assistance whenever your team faces any difficulty. It is always wise to have an agreement beforehand regarding the medium of support, operating hours, and turnaround time for problem resolution. Final Words These are some of the most critical features of any LMS. You can increase or decrease them as per your organization’s needs and goals. It is always beneficial to prepare a checklist of all the essential features before you begin your search. This way, you’ll be far more likely to extract the maximum utility of your LMS and get a high return on your investment. At Hurix, we help organizations from across industries to achieve

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LMS
Darshan Shah December 27, 2022 No Comments

5 Reasons Why Institutions Need an LMS in 2023

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As we move forward from the pandemic in 2022, we can safely say that our reliability on offline methods for attaining education and knowledge has become a thing of the past. Today, organizations of all kinds, be it schools, universities, or corporations, seek an alternative virtual learning method to ensure continued access to education and training for their students or employees. And nothing fits this bill better than a Learning Management System (LMS). Today we’ll explore what a Learning Management System is and discuss 5 reasons why you should deploy it in your organization in 2023. What is a Learning Management System? If you’ve ever taken online workplace training, you’re probably already familiar with a Learning Management System. An LMS is a software solution that handles all aspects of online learning, from housing content to delivering and tracking completion. It comes in many shapes and sizes to meet the needs of all organizations, from big multinationals to small educational institutions. You can use LMSs to provide any training, whether a virtual art class for school students or a professional development course for corporate employees. They have many features that simplify the learning process for trainees, trainers, and administrators alike. Students can take assignments and quizzes, trainers can track their progress, and administrators can analyze course metrics –  all through a single platform. 5 Reasons Why Every Institution Needs a Learning Management System Here are a few ways in which having an LMS helps institutions improve their effectiveness and efficiency. 1. An LMS Enables Better Adaption to Virtual Workplaces Post-pandemic, virtual workplaces and hybrid working have become the new norm. With more and more employees seeking the flexibility to work from home, it becomes all the more important for organizations to upskill their workforce. With a remote and hybrid workforce, it makes sense for organizations to opt for online training modules that employees can access from anywhere. A viable option to make this experience seamless is a Learning Management System. With an LMS, not only can employees learn from the comfort of their homes but also track their progress through performance reports. Not to mention the enormous amount of time saved that would otherwise be wasted traveling to and from training venues. Moreover, in-person training would probably require employees to take leave from work during a busy period. But with an LMS, they can utilize the quiet period to complete their training without affecting their work. If you’re looking for effective ways to improve the skills of your employees, you can refer to these 5 best LMS platforms that simplify upskilling. 2. An LMS Improves Learning Experience Offline training can be inconsistent, and the learning outcome depends mainly on the quality of the trainer, venue, and material. An LMS can help institutions avoid these issues by offering a standardized approach to learning. An LMS provides all requisite material in a direct and organized manner so learners can choose a module they want to focus on. They can avoid sitting through an entire training but simply skip to the part that is relevant to them, thereby ensuring a more productive experience. Many think online learning is boring, but nothing is further from the truth. You can spice up the learning process with multimedia, quizzes, polls, and gamification. In fact, studies have shown that game-based learning accelerates the learning pace and motivates pupils to keep learning. Find out more about how gamed-based learning solutions can raise productivity and drive business growth here. 3. An LMS Provides Unlimited Access to Learning Materials LMS users have unlimited learning material that they can read at their own pace. The advantage is even more significant in cloud-based LMSs with no cap on storage. Once the content is uploaded to the system, learners can access it from anywhere and on any device, even on the go. This supplemental reading allows them to enhance their knowledge and skills without waiting for another in-person training session. The result can be seen in improved student grades or better employee performance. Moving forward, LMSs can go a long way in creating a workforce that is technically and theoretically sound and up-to-date. 4. An LMS Reduces Learning and Development Costs Providing training through an LMS is significantly cheaper than delivering it in person. Consider the money spent on training site rentals, travel costs of trainers and employees, printing e-learning materials, and overhead expenses on food and drinks. You can do away with all these if you carry out training sessions through LMS and considerably reduce your learning and development costs. With a one-time expense on an LMS purchase, you can reap the benefits throughout. A study by Cryptex showed that 41.7% of companies saved huge training costs by implementing an LMS. 5. An LMS Results in Better Administration An LMS does a great job of bringing all stakeholders to a common platform for an immersive learning experience. Trainers, learners, and administrators can all interact through the platform and discuss the KPIs generated by the software. The centralized platform makes it easier to disseminate information to a large group of stakeholders. Further, you can change or update training material with just a click. Has a new compliance requirement been put in place? Just upload a new training course on the platform for everyone’s perusal. The flexibility makes it easier to adjust the existing curriculum to adapt to changing situations. Final Thoughts An LMS is an interactive, flexible and affordable way to provide online education and training opportunities that benefit students and trainers alike. However, to reap the maximum benefits, you need to find an LMS service provider that matches your company’s learning and development goals. At Hurix, we help institutions across industries achieve their learning goals with our customizable e-learning content solutions that meet all your needs. Our learning solutions are equipped with the latest technology and software infrastructure for a holistic user experience. Get in touch with us to learn how we can help empower your institution with our custom learning management

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Learning and Development
Darshan Shah December 27, 2022 No Comments

Top 5 Reasons to Consider Learning and Development for Your Workforce

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It is truly said that employees are the organization’s greatest assets. So by investing in employee learning and development (L&D), you carve the path for the growth and success of your organization. Employee training today should no longer be limited to C-suite executives. With the rapidly evolving technology bringing newer workforce challenges every day, an organization-wide skill development program is the need of the hour for every business to stay ahead in the game. Table of contents 5 reasons to consider learning and development for your workforce Retain talent Fill skill gaps in the organization Develop and nurture future leaders Foster innovation Boost your brand Over 40% of Fortune 500 companies use e-learning to train their employees. But what do they gain by investing in employee learning and development, and why should you follow suit? Read on to find out! 5 Reasons to Consider Learning & Development for Your Workforce L&D Helps You Retain Talent Employee satisfaction today relies not only on compensation and monetary benefits but also on growth opportunities available at their workplace. In fact, learning and development have been touted as one of the top benefits current employees seek from their employers, beating health and wellness benefits and other in-office perks. A study states that 39% of U.S. employees consider the potential for growth as a contributor to employee satisfaction. Similarly, another LinkedIn study found that 94% of employees would stay longer in companies willing to invest in their professional development. Providing employees with need-based training opportunities also helps them develop a positive attitude toward learning. This translates into higher employee engagement, lower absenteeism, better productivity, and more loyalty toward the organization. So try and discuss with your employees what their career goals are. Then help them carve their goal path by offering training and skill development in the company. Here are some tips on how to use L&D as an Employee Retention Strategy. L&D Helps You Fill Skill Gaps in the Organization With the accelerating technological innovations, the skills needed to stay competitive in the workplace are evolving rapidly. The in-demand skills are changing every year, making it critical for employees to upgrade their skill sets every now and then. According to Gartner, the skill required for a job is increasing by 10% each year, while 30% of skills needed 3 years ago will soon become relevant. What’s more, the World Economic Forum predicts that nearly half of the core skill sets will likely change by 2022 alone. The learning and development opportunities you provide in the organization can help fill the skill gap. It will make your employees more resilient and prepared to face future challenges. An empowered employee will engage more with the organization and drive greater business impact. If you’re looking for ways to simplify upskilling in your organization, here are the five best LMS platforms you can refer to. L&D Helps Develop and Nurture Future Leaders When you help your employees learn and grow, you develop a potential future leader. These talented skill forces can fill internal promotion positions and successfully take on the role of leaders when the time arrives. Such internal promotions result in massive cost savings for the organization that would otherwise have been wasted in interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and training new employees. According to Gallup research, replacing an employee can cost you 1.5 to 2 times their current salary by conservative estimates. This figure can quickly add up for employees in higher positions. Besides costing you, losing employees can also break down team morale and hamper customer relationships. All this can be avoided by upskilling your employees and providing them with growth opportunities. Plus, your current employees are familiar with your company’s culture, vision and operation. So you won’t lose productivity when you hire from within. Have a look at the top 5 workforce learning and development trends to get started with employee training in your organization. L&D Foster Innovation                Training and development initiatives help employees develop their creativity and problem-solving skills and stimulate inventiveness. This is why companies that value innovation invest heavily in the training and development of their employees. Deloitte Research points out that organizations with strong learning cultures are 92% more likely to develop novel processes and products and be 17% more profitable than their peers. Similarly, a findcourse.com L&D report reveals that high-revenue growth companies are three times more likely to report an increase in their L&D budget. Along with enhancing the capacities of innovative thinkers, L&D can help others tap their untapped potential. It creates a safe space for everyone to pitch their ideas and learn through exploration. Your employees feel empowered enough to take on new roles and challenges, ultimately improving your bottom line. Here are some L&D strategies to build a learning and growth culture in the organization. L&D Will Boost Your Brand We’ve seen how L&D can boost the productivity and morale of existing employees. But it is equally helpful in recruiting new talent as well. Showcasing that you invest in your employee’s growth will bolster your brand and attract top talent. Your current employees can play a significant role in boosting your brand image through employee advocacy. They can add their certificates and credentials to their social media profiles and spread positive word of mouth about your organization. The improved organizational credibility can also help you win new clients and boost your image in the industry. Also read,  7 interactive eLearning solutions for employee training Final Words Inculcating a culture of learning and development is paramount to the success of any organization, no matter the size of the company or the industry it belongs. However, offering just any learning program is not good enough. You’ll need to find strategic L&D programs that connect with the organization’s objective, goals, and employee’s functional role in the workplace. Hence, investing in quality e-learning and training solution is the need of the hour. Though it may seem expensive initially, its benefits will outweigh the cost. At Hurix, we help institutions across industries achieve learning and development goals with our intuitive and visually engaging

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Retain Employees
Darshan Shah December 27, 2022 No Comments

5 Things That Will Make Your Employees Stay in 2023

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Since the pandemic, businesses have witnessed a new trend of increasing numbers of employees resigning and changing jobs. Given employee departures, it has become a key concern to retain employees.  Increased employee turnover can be inconvenient and costly with frequent changes. According to Gartner, companies that had a 20% employee turnover rate before the pandemic may now witness a turnover rate of up to 24% in upcoming years.  Employers are looking for ways to incentivize and engage employees and encourage them to stay. Reducing the employee turnover rate and retaining talent is a key priority for 2023.  Why Is Retaining Employees Important? Retaining employees is an integral part of business performance. When employees leave, the company often loses important work experience and contextual understanding that the employee has developed in the course of their role. It also leads to changes in the workplace and further adjustments when new employees replace the former ones. If the position remains unfilled, the remainder of the team may have to cover up until a replacement is found. This can put further pressure on the team, affecting the other employees and the performance of work. Additionally, finding and replacing an employee involves extra administrative costs and time.  The process of recruiting and onboarding new employees and the time it takes for them to adjust to the workplace is another factor that can affect the regular continuance of work. In cases where a role requires training and technical know-how, this can be time-consuming and costly.  5 Things That Will Make Your Employees Stay Here are five things your business can do to help make your employees stay in 2023.  A Better Hiring Process  The hiring process plays an important role in finding the right employees for your business. If you hire candidates who align with the business vision and values, they are more likely to adjust and stay on.  Additionally, hiring candidates who have the requisite skill set helps ensure that they can perform well in their roles and are more likely to continue at the company.   Another benefit of an improved hiring process is that it helps avoid mismatches between the candidate and the workplace. According to a McKinsey report, 48% of workers are quitting their current job to move to an entirely new industry. Given this trend, it is increasingly important to ensure that employees’ professional interests align with the workplace and the work involved.  Onboarding and Training A good onboarding process can help employees get a clear understanding of the expectations and norms at the workplace. It can also help them adjust better and integrate with the organization.  As a part of the onboarding process, it’s a great idea to train employees to work on systems in place so that they are familiar with the technology and processes involved. This sets the basis for their role in the organization.  Incentives to Retain and Attract Talent  Incentives are a great way to encourage employees to continue at the workplace. They are also a factor that potential employees or applicants consider and can help your business attract new talent.  Incentives can take various forms, ranging from competitive pay to benefits or perks. Pay and perks play an important role in motivating employees and enable employers to show appreciation for work. Incentives also help attract talent and reduce the cases of talent leaving the company. Some of the perks that employers are considering in 2023 include the following: Increased flexibility and paid leave, particularly for parental leave Increased investment in physical and mental well-being (like ergonomic office furniture and well-being apps) Reimbursement for technology expenses  Remote Work and Flexible Work Hours During the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work became the norm across different industries. Many employees who had been working from home during the pandemic were reluctant to switch back to the earlier work setup. Flexible and remote work conditions became a priority. These are now key benefits that workplaces are offering existing and new employees to enable more convenient work options. Remote work and flexible work hours can also promote employee productivity. By offering more convenient work options, you reduce the chances of burnout and employee departures.  As an employer, you can facilitate remote work in various ways to enable your employees to work from anywhere. Many employers are assisting employees with the remote work process by ensuring they have the right devices and encouraging virtual work where possible, along with virtual collaboration.  Engagement and Collaboration  Engaging employees helps involve them and boosts workplace morale. Recreational activities and team outings are a fun way to liven up work. Encouraging collaboration between employees helps develop better work connections and promotes participation.  Strengthening employee relations and interactivity helps your business retain employees in the long run. Additionally, it helps foster a better work environment. Some ways to do it include group activities, team projects, and facilitated interactions.  With remote work, your business can facilitate engagement and collaboration through various digital interactive tools. These include video chats, meetings, conferences, and other communication channels. Another way to do this is through interactive training tools. These create an immersive learning environment for employees and make training a participative process. These digital tools can help involve and integrate employees better, leading to better employee retention.  By improving the training process, you ensure that employees can absorb and integrate learning material and skills, enabling them to manage work better.  Summing Up Given the trend of employees resigning and switching jobs, retaining employees in 2023 may be a key consideration for your business. Implementing ways to retain employees not only helps your business avoid additional time and costs. It also offers a way to incorporate engaging solutions and incentives at your workplace. Hurix offers an array of digital tools that provide interactive solutions for your organization or business. With collaborative tools, training technology, learning management systems, and more, these solutions will enhance what your business has to offer.  Contact us on marketing@hurix.com to find out how we can help improve the workplace setup and retain employees for the long haul.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Flexibility in Higher Education
Darshan Shah December 20, 2022 No Comments

8 Reasons Why Flexibility is the Future of Higher Education 

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It is no secret that the traditional system of higher education is no longer working out in the post-pandemic era. It is not accessible to everyone, especially those living with physical and mental disabilities, working professionals, busy young parents, and people who are unable to find the time to attend classes on time. This is why the world is today becoming more inclined towards online higher education and e-learning modules. According to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), almost 12 million undergraduate students in the United States were enrolled in at least one distance education course in late 2020 (1). Around 7 million undergraduate students exclusively chose distance education courses.  Digital higher education that offers ease of accessibility and flexibility is much in demand throughout the world.  Flexibility in Higher Education: Why is it Needed?  Until a few decades ago, the typical college student was a young male from a privileged background who could afford to attend college full-time and devote several hours to his education. But now, times have changed, and so have the demographics of students who desire to acquire higher education. Students of higher education in the modern era comprises people across gender, ethnicities, and age groups. Many students today are 25 years old or older. Several have full-time jobs, while numerous are married with small children. In the changing scenario, an efficient education system needs to allow for flexibility in the way people access higher education.  What is Flexibility in Higher Education? In a flexible higher education system, students can decide what, when, how, and where they learn. The students can customize their learning experience based on their needs and convenience. Digital learning and online education are forms of flexible learning. Digital education is often accessed at home via the internet. Flexible learning can also be delivered in a classroom setting with the option of attending the sessions online. A flexible higher education system makes it possible for people with full-time jobs and/or children to continue their academic journey and avail of new opportunities.  Why Flexibility is the Future of Higher Education? Technological advancements have made digital education modules and online courses extremely popular on an international level. The traditional system of education is no longer considered the benchmark as the ways education is delivered continue to evolve. While classroom teaching might not become obsolete soon, there is no doubt that hybrid ways of teaching and online education are here to stay. Here is why flexibility in higher education is the future.  1. Convenient Platform Flexible digital learning platforms are convenient for a wide range of students, including older people, working professionals, and parents with small children. Online education modules are often designed in such a way that they are accessible to anyone, irrespective of how hectic their schedule might be. Anyone who can access the internet can partake in online education.   2. Flexible Learning Environment Most digital courses are not time-bound. One need not attend the live classes as recordings are made available to watch later. People with jobs can do their course on the weekends or in the evenings after returning from their jobs. Young parents can plan their study time according to their children’s schedules.  3. Meaningful Interactions with Others Thanks to technology, students of higher education not only have access to their own professors and coursemates but also have the option of connecting with industry experts and alumni members. Online courses often entail group discussions on Zoom, PowerPoint presentations, and other interactive methods of interaction.  4. An Array of Learning Programs and Courses When it comes to digital higher education, there are no limits to the variety of learning programs and courses one can access. Since there are no physical barriers to online education, one can explore a wide range of courses in the area of their interest and choose what to study. Students living in one country can easily enroll in a program offered by a college in a different country.  5. Study without Compromising Your Lifestyle  Are you a travel enthusiast? Do you go for long walks daily? Do you volunteer at a children’s shelter on the weekends? Each person has a rich life encompassing numerous activities, hobbies, and interests. One does not have to compromise with their lifestyle just to earn a higher degree. By choosing flexible higher education options, students can easily fit in their study time in their leisure hours.  6. More Economical Than Traditional Degrees  Acquiring a quality higher education is a basic right that should be available to everyone. Traditional college courses are often expensive, and not everyone is in a position to afford a full-time college degree. However, with online digital education, one can access a range of courses in the fields of their interest. Besides full-time online courses, one can also opt for part-time courses at very nominal rates.  7. Access a Plethora of Resources  Those who enroll in digital courses get access to a plethora of resources. Students often get lifetime access to course materials, the option to join dedicated Facebook and Telegram groups, and 24*7 online access to college libraries. They also get online or telephonic support regarding queries, questions, and advice. Some universities also give their remote students the option of joining their students’ union community.  8. Learn Essential Life Skills Successfully completing online learning programs takes much self-discipline. Students opting for digital courses simultaneously learn essential life skills like time management and personal responsibility. Online education offers the scope for more nuanced learning that is not possible in traditional classroom environments.  How Hurix Can Help You Implement Flexibility in Higher Education For over two decades, Hurix Digital has been providing customized e-learning solutions and higher education solutions to corporates and educational institutions. At Hurix, we recognize the significance of being flexible in our approach to higher education so that education solutions are available to as many people as possible. Are you looking to upgrade your educational models to cater to the changing needs of the modern student? Get in

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K-12 education
Darshan Shah December 20, 2022 No Comments

5 EdTech Methods Your Competitors Use for K-12 Education

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]K-12 education is where students gain the most knowledge and skills that help them become capable of handling complicated problems later on.  Therefore, it’s a must to make sure that K-12 learners don’t miss out on the wonderful opportunities they have awaiting in the future due to a lack of efficient learning.  Not all learners learn in the same way; some students learn better when they are taught using diagrams, maps, and charts, while others prefer to listen to the information again and again to memorize.  Keeping that in mind, the experts introduced new EdTech methods to ensure that all students learn effectively without having to make compromises. It’s time to bid goodbye to the old-school ways of K-12 education with these five highly impactful EdTech methods used by your competitors in the education sector. 1. Collaborative Learning Several studies have shown over the last couple of years that students learn best with active participation in the classroom. Collaboration has been pretty common in educational institutions, but things have improved a lot more after the inclusion of technology in classrooms.  Students can now collaborate on projects and other important tasks assigned in classes online and make the most of their day outside the classroom, and as they work together and brainstorm ideas, their collaborative skills increase.  Collaborative skill is one of the most important soft-skills students must learn to improve their understanding and grow as a person.  That’s not all; this new EdTech method also fills the gap between learners and teachers – a great thing about the collaborative learning method is that teachers and students get more time to communicate with each other outside classes online and clear out any misconceptions.  2. Social Media in Learning There have been lots of debates about the good and bad sides of social media. Even though it is widely believed that social media impacts negatively on K-12 students, the inclusion of the same in learning by experts tells a different story.  It’s not possible to keep K-12 learners away from social media platforms for too long – instead, the experts decided to make the most of this trend in education, and the results are amazing so far.  Many institutions use social media platforms as a tool for communication to allow students to interact and participate actively. Sharing study materials, eBooks, images, and video content among peers is now even easier.  This move has helped the learners stay dedicated to learning and attaining knowledge, and even the ones who lagged noticed improvement with regular engagement on social media.  3. Interactivity in Classroom Introducing the latest technology inside the classroom has proven to be highly effective for teaching and attaining knowledge. Apart from textbooks, there are times when students are required to read other books to work on projects and for various reasons.  If the books are provided by the library of the educational institution, chances are, not all students get copies of the same book. Using eBooks, educational institutions can easily make the course content accessible for all students because there will never be a shortage of eBook copies, unlike physical books.  Most importantly, eBook has a whole lot of excellent features to offer – the embedded video and audio content and inclusion of AR make learning from eBooks an amazing experience for all kinds of learners. eBooks are also way more affordable than physical books, and storing them is never an issue.  That’s not all; the inclusion of eBooks in the classroom also makes the learners more eager to participate actively in classes. eBooks are highly interactive, which allows the learners to continuously test themselves as they move forward with learning new topics.  Therefore, it’s safe to say that interactivity in the classroom is the future of learning as it’s one of the most effective ways to keep K-12 students focused on their goals. 4. Immersive Learning Using AR and VR Even though the education sector always looked out for opportunities to improve the learning experience of the students, the impact of the global pandemic back in 2020 on the education sector cannot be denied. In the initial stage, the education sector faced a lot of difficulties, but gradually, educational institutions bounced back and put a whole lot of effort into restoring normalcy in education. Thanks to the introduction of VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) in the education system – the learning experience was no longer the same for students.  The introduction of AR and VR made learners attain knowledge on complicated topics in the comfort of their homes using nothing but their electronic devices. This advanced technology allowed them to see enhanced versions of objects and images to gain in-depth knowledge of the topics in their courses.  AR (Augmented Reality) helps learners view enhanced versions of objects and images, while VR (Virtual Reality) gives them a false perception of reality.  Needless to say, the combination of these two has taken online learning to greater heights. This EdTech method makes students learn the most complex subjects easily.  5. Gamification As previously discussed, there are different kinds of learners and there exist learning methods for each kind.  In the last few years, the introduction of gamification in learning has made a massive impact on learners. Not all subjects are interesting enough for students to pay attention to, but that doesn’t mean that the students are going to avoid those subjects and not live up to their full potential.  To tackle all those complicated and ‘not-to-interesting’ subjects effortlessly, many competitors are now utilizing the gamification method in classrooms.  A student learns the best by participating in classes actively, and gamification is the best way to ensure that. With exciting rewards, gamification makes learning and retaining knowledge a fun process for learners.  Gamification makes the majority of learners identify the areas they need to work on easily and strive to perform better with regular practice. This method has been proven highly effective for fostering morale and encouragement among students. It’s safe to

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Prepare K12 students for higher education
Darshan Shah December 20, 2022 No Comments

How to Prepare K-12 Students for Higher Education?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Did you know that around 60% of high school graduates aren’t really equipped for college-level work? Additionally, surveys have shown that students in grades 3-5 in the K-8 setting underperform compared to students enrolled in stand-alone elementary schools. What this means is that K-12 education isn’t primed for academic success. This ultimately affects the type of higher education students get once they graduate from K-12. In this article, we explore a few ways that teachers, parents, and caregivers can help students ready themselves for higher education after K-12. 11 Ways to Prepare K-12 Students for Higher Education   1. Encourage extracurricular hobbies Inculcating hobbies and interests beyond academics can help students become more aware of the world and learn new skills that can come of use in college. For example, a hobby like stamp collecting can inculcate skills like research, attention to detail, an eye for design, awareness about world history/geography/culture, etc. Or, you could give them access to a virtual science lab or science-based video games where they can hone their observation, experimentation, and analysis skills. 2. Give them opportunities to organize family events Allowing students in K-12 to help organize family events can allow them to put their existing skills to use while discovering latent ones. Planning, organization, patience, critical thinking, etc., are some of the skills that are needed to organize events. These are skills transferrable to college and jobs too. 3. Introduce them to community work Community and social work can allow K-12 kids to gain important people skills. They’ll also become more empathetic to diversity, which is necessary for today’s global college environment. Plus, it’s a great way to boost the student’s admission resume. 4. Let them travel solo Just as with community work, travel can help students become more aware of the world they live in. Travel can help them become truly global citizens, ready for higher education abroad, should they wish to pursue that. 5. Enroll them in skill development courses These days, you have incredible interactive e-learning programs on diverse topics aimed at getting K-12 students ready for higher education. These programs range from foreign languages to stock market trading to UX design to artificial intelligence. They are designed according to state-of-the-art standards and have rigorous assessments that test both soft and technical skills. Consult your child’s school if they offer such programs to students. 6. Help them Prepare Career Roadmap The first thing schools can do to get their K-12 learners ready for higher education is to check what higher education institutions expect from applicants. What skills and experiences must applicants have? What factors might set an applicant apart from the rest during the admission process? How can applicants thrive in the competitive collegiate setting? Schools must sit down with each student, find out what they might want to study after school, and help them plan their choice of classes and extracurricular activities accordingly. They must provide students with the facilities and amenities they need to become higher-education-ready. 7. Create a curriculum that focuses on the future Post-K-12 higher education focuses on the real-world implementation of academics. This is why schools should focus on creating K-12 curriculum which supports holistic education and skill development. This curriculum should not only help students get into the college of their choice, but it must help them learn skills that they can use at work in the future. It’s important for schools to keep in touch with developments across various industries and update their curriculum to reflect these changes. 8. Partner with neighborhood businesses to offer summer internships In addition to changing curricula based on industry needs, schools should also partner with local businesses to create opportunities for summer internships. That way, what K-12 students learn in the classroom can be applied in a job setting, giving them real-world experience. This can prove invaluable for higher education applications by helping students stand out amidst their peers. 9. Make classroom interactions more active and engaging Having an interactive and engaging classroom environment can help students learn better and also retain information for a longer period of time. For this to happen, first off, teachers must be provided training on how to deliver engaging sessions. This can be easily done by opting for e-learning programs geared towards teacher upskilling and development. Second, students should be given classroom activities to enliven their learning. Taking advantage of technology can help here. For example, students can be asked to download lesson-specific e-learning programs that offer entertaining and interesting assessments they can do in class. Instead of talk-based lectures, they can be shown slides, videos, infographics, etc., on a projector screen in the classroom. Schools can even take students on virtual field trips to the places they are discussing – quite literally bringing their lessons to life. Such versatile ways of training teachers and teaching students can be achieved by implementing robust content distribution platforms in schools. 10. Encourage participation in local, national, and international events Every city, state, and country offers a variety of activities aimed at K-12 age groups. From spelling bees to mathletes to track and field, there are plenty of events that students can pursue when in school. Not only do these events give students global awareness and opportunities to develop unique skills, but they can also boost their college resumes post-K-12. 11. Offer extracurricular courses and programs Finally, schools should offer enriching courses and programs that are designed to help supplement the school curriculum. This could be a beginner’s course in cryptocurrency for students interested in taking up finance or computer science in college. Or, it could be a workshop in news writing or public speaking for students interested in journalism and media. The sky is the limit. What Next? The great news is that it’s very easy for schools to offer relevant programs to their students these days. All you need to do is choose the right content distribution system that can allow you to share content customized to different learner groups. That’s where

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Digital Learning Tools
Darshan Shah December 15, 2022 No Comments

Best Ways to Maximize Your Time with Digital Learning Tools

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]82% of Gen Zers feel social media is a distraction for them instead of supporting them in their studies. Moreover, the pressure has increased, and the demands of your course can become too much to handle on your own. This is where digital learning tools are doing wonders for students. Don’t worry if you are struggling to keep up with the pace of your studies or are finding it tough to keep up with your deadlines. You can use digital learning tools to organize your tasks and manage your time efficiently. Let’s see the tools you can use to make the best use of your most important resource – time. Table of contents: Identify your needs Tools to organize your task Productivity Avoid distractions Identify Your Needs Before getting into digital learning tools, the first step is to identify the areas where you are constantly struggling. Perhaps you do not prioritize your tasks and fall behind on your deadlines. Or you struggle to keep track of everything happening in your school. Some students prefer learning through videos. Some students work well in teams. A few are better at individual tasks. Other students tend to leave everything at the last minute and end up doing a shoddy job due to the lack of time. Your needs may be unique, but you can find the perfect solution only when you know your struggle areas. Further, teachers can use the best Edtech solutions to cater to all these different needs of students. Select Relevant Tools to Organise Your Tasks Digital learning tools allow you to prioritize your tasks and send reminders and notifications to ensure you never miss any deadline. Here are a few apps you can use for this purpose: MyStudyLife – This is one of the free digital learning tools that allow students to organize their tasks and keep track of classes and assignments to submit. Apart from this, students can plan their study sessions and plan revisions on this app. It is available for iOS and Android phones and is also downloadable on Windows and Mac if you want to use it on your laptop. With this app, you will never miss any homework deadlines or forget to revise a lesson before an exam. Trello – Here’s an app that is equally beneficial for students as well as professionals. It is particularly useful when you work on a project with other students. It allows you to make boards for your projects and divide them into simple tasks. You can delegate these tasks on the boards for group assignments. Moreover, you can mark the tasks that you are yet to do, have completed, or are working on right now. It is useful in tracking the progress of a project and speeding up if you are falling behind. Remember the Milk – Many students feel overwhelmed with the sheer number of tasks they need to do. There are tests to study for, assignments to submit, and doubts to clear. Remember the Milk is an app that remembers all your tasks for you. It integrates with other apps like your calendar and emails and makes sure you never forget anything. Quizlet – This app helps you prepare for your exam. It allows you to create your own flashcards or use the existing ones made by other students like you. Flashcards are best for revision and let you know the areas you need to work on. The app will also identify the parts that you need to revise again. There’s a fun feature that allows you to race against the clock. MyHomeWork – Here’s a planner app that sets up a calendar to track upcoming assignments, exams, projects, events, and homework. The best part is you can receive reminders for your assignments that are due, so you do not forget them. You can also sync with other devices for uniform information. Productivity One of the areas where most students struggle is productivity. At times, you don’t realize that you are getting distracted by other thoughts. Pomodoro Timer is an app that can help you with this and also help you in the long term. It is based on Pomodoro, a time management technique that has been around for decades. The app features a web-based timer that will let you know the lengths of time you work and the breaks you take. It allows you to customize your work and break periods to manage your work the way you like it. You can also create labels to categorize your work, so you know how much time you are spending on each task. Avoid Distractions One of the many things that can get in your way is social media distractions. It is possible to lose track of time when you browse through these platforms or surf other websites. Before you know it, you end up spending hours and hours on them. By the time you realize it, you have lost significant time. Here are some tools that can help you stay focused on your studies and limit the time you spend on other websites: StayFocusd – If you tend to lose track of time on social media or other similar websites, you can use the StayFocusd extension for Google Chrome. It restricts the time you spend on these websites. Once you have used up your quota for them, these websites will be blocked for the rest of the day. It is a sure shot way to ensure you stay focused on your studies. AntiSocial – Here’s an app that lets you know if you are addicted to your phone. It gives you data about your smartphone usage and compares it to other people’s. Other than that, you can also use the app to block an app once you have exhausted your daily quota. It will also send reminders if you have used it for a certain time. Also read, how to create personalized learning path for learners. Conclusion Digital learning tools are a student’s best friend in this

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LMS Service Provider
Darshan Shah December 15, 2022 No Comments

How to Choose the BEST LMS Service for Your Organization?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A finding by Degreed shows that when employees don’t know something on-the-job, 55% ask their colleagues for the answer. But such peer learning doesn’t always have positive results. Apart from an absence of knowledge/skill, misinformation can affect the performance of your employees – this is where LMS service comes into play. Comprehensive training and upskilling can be the best way to ensure your staff has the sharpest skillsets in the market. This is where Learning Management Systems (LMS) can help. Today, almost 83% of organizations use LMS services. As your competitors start to partner with LMS service providers and bring on-board world-class L&D solutions to empower their employees, it becomes imperative for you to do the same. With the right competitive advantage offered through LMS services, your company can thrive against any competition. In this article, we offer key tips to help you choose the best LMS services for your organization. What is an LMS Service? An LMS, or Learning Management System, refers to software designed to manage an organization’s start-to-finish learning and development needs. It is estimated that the LMS services industry will be valued at $23.21 billion by 2023 and $40.95 billion by 2029. When selecting an LMS service, companies often make a couple of mistakes, which can impact the development of their talent. These mistakes typically include: Only considering the company’s short-term L&D needs. Not having the technological prowess to manage and use the chosen LMS. Selecting the LMS with the wrong set of features or insufficient features. Not providing sufficient learning flexibility, personalization, and engagement. Making the LMS only laptop/desktop compatible and ignoring mobile compatibility. Not investing in L&D analytics and reporting. Not upgrading the LMS as the company grows and L&D requirements change. Knowing how to circumvent these issues can help your organization select an LMS service that perfectly fits your company’s changing needs. Factors to Consider when Choosing an LMS Service Based on these commonly made mistakes, companies should consider the following factors when investing in their LMS: The Specific Needs of Every Type of Employee Each type of employee – front-line, middle management, C-level, people-facing, technology-oriented, etc. – will have unique L&D requirements. You need to consider if the LMS service you pick is flexible and scalable to suit the distinct needs of each user group. Essentially, the LMS service should cater to employees’ different technical and soft-skill levels at different points in their careers at the company.  Your LMS should cater to both individual and group learning sessions as needed. The LMS service should also support in-office, remote, and hybrid learning environments. The Personalization Requirements of the Content Speaking of personalization, every learner has a unique learning style. While some are visual, others are auditory. While some learn better through detailed text, others respond very well to games and quizzes. The LMS service chosen must have the features needed to customize the learning experience. You should be able to create and share different types of content based on the audience and goal of training. If you have employees working across different time zones or within unconventional team structures, the LMS must be able to support their learning needs. Consider the differences in training requirements for teams and individual contributors as well. The LMS service must allow the creation of personalized learning paths that support employees at the learning stage and career path they are in. The Access Needs of Different Teams and Employees L&D has gone beyond the conventional boundaries of boardrooms. Today, more employees take up corporate training and skills development either from their homes or when on the move. Teams such as sales, event management, or security will find mobile training ideal when on the field. In fact, research shows that when companies make training accessible on mobile devices, it increases productivity by 40%. McKinsey calls this “mEducation” – an L&D solution available to learners anywhere, anytime, through 2G/3G/4G/5G. Your LMS service should not only support mobile learning but also have options for content download for offline viewing. This can help your employees access their lessons and skill-development tasks wherever they are. In the age of the digital nomad, such an LMS service can help organizations gain a tremendous competitive advantage.  3 Options Available for Companies Looking for LMS Services There are three things a company can do when considering investing in an LMS service: Create Your Own Corporate LMS Instead of choosing an LMS service, you could build one from scratch. Building a bespoke LMS service for your organization can give you the highest degree of customization possible. Your LMS service can be anything you need. However, building an LMS can take a lot of time, money, and effort – which many organizations may not have. Additionally, companies must have a high degree of technological savviness to manage such a custom-built LMS service. If your organization is not tech-centered, the LMS can quickly become a legacy system that ceases to benefit your firm. From software integration issues to data security concerns to scalability problems, there may be many costly issues to contend with. Purchase an Off-the-Rack LMS Service Another option that companies have is to purchase an off-the-rack LMS. Such a service can be great if you’re on a tight budget or need simple features for your L&D programs. This type of mass-produced LMS can be implemented very quickly, with the least technical training, and can be perfect if you need a short-term LMS service. On the other hand, an off-the-shelf LMS service can offer the least degree of personalization. The LMS may possess only a handful of features and may put a wrench in your corporate training and upskilling plans. So, despite saving a few thousand dollars at first, you may spend more than your budget later trying to upgrade the LMS service you do have. Other issues with off-the-rack LMS are infrequent updates and security patches. Plus, the service may not be as scalable as you need, making it necessary to find another LMS service later. Choose a

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