Blog – Page 78 – Hurix Digital

webadmin March 4, 2022 No Comments

Best Practices in Content Ingestion for Publishers

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In a highly complex and evolving business environment, businesses can retain a competitive edge by making data-driven decisions. Content ingestion is a means to collect customer data and use it to meet demand and secure a loyal and dependable customer base. By providing the customers the exact products or services they are looking for, organizations can achieve higher sales. What is Content Ingestion Content ingestion refers to the process of scanning, importing and processing data and information from all your documents. Once all data is collated in a specific database, it can be more efficiently and accurately correlated, analyzed and reported for data-driven actionable insights. Content ingestion can take place in two phases, real-time and batch time. Batch Content Ingestion In this process, data and information is collected and grouped periodically and then transferred to a destination system. Real-time Content Ingestion As the name suggests, real-time content ingestion is a process in which data is continuously processed and the output is instantly generated. Content Ingestion for Publishers As a publisher, with content ingestion, you can collect, correlate and analyze data on your reader preferences, for instance, which article they like to read, what books they browse on the listings pages of your website. Audience targeting is the ability to show ads to a specific audience, based on their history of browsing, rather than to all your website visitors. Content ingestion, therefore, provides for very targeted marketing. Carrying out content ingestion with 100% accuracy becomes important for the success of any project. Best Practices in Content Ingestion for Publishers Profile Your Readers Leverage content ingestion to collect and analyze the profiles of readers at both an aggregate and the micro-level. You can use these insights to identify the common traits your readers exhibit while browsing from one article to another. As a case point, the commonalities may be content that generates the maximum eye-balls or social media buzz, or articles the readers share and comment upon. As a publisher, you can use these content ingestion insights to understand key interest areas, demographics and motivation of users to engage with your content. You can understand like never before what works and what doesn’t with your audience and user experience. Personalize Readers’ Experience In today’s digital era, the customer is the king. The way to your readers’ heart and consequently to the wallet is to provide them a personalized experience. Your content may be similar to that of your competitors, but how you ensure a deep personal connect can set you apart from competition. Use a content ingestion platform that allows you to personalize user experience through tailored content recommendation, depending on your customers’ demographics, historical use and preferences. Grow Your Readership Content ingestion allows publishers to market and promote their content, drive social engagement and increase the overall readership. Leverage smart, data-driven promotion strategy to amplify content on social media, search, display, video and mobile. You can improve your user base, enjoy increased traffic levels, improve campaign scalability, prospect for a more like-minded audience, and support higher levels of demand. Address Tactical Campaign Opportunities Apart from leveraging first party data to personalize end-user experience, you can also use insights around your current data assets to identify new data to feed into your data strategy. Use a content ingestion platform that allows you to use even second-party data, for instance, data of your advertisers to fill gaps and address tactical campaign opportunities. As a best practice in content ingestion, your content ingestion platform should be able to integrate first, second and third party data for more targeted actionable insights. In conclusion Content ingestion service providers allow publishers to import, collect, correlate, analyze and report data from various sources, including second and third-party content. You can use these insights for impactful decision-making and personalizing end-user experience and engagement with the content. One of the crucial aspects of any data ingestion software is the ability to extract data. The other is that it should allow for dataflow visualization. A simple and intuitive drag and drop interface will allow you to simplify and visualize complex data. Next, the content ingestion tool should be scalable to meet your data processing requirements in sync with business expansion. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

webadmin February 28, 2022 No Comments

How to Make Accessible Word Documents

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]According to the World Health Organization, nearly 15% of the global population has some kind of disability. So, if your word documents and educational resources are not accessible, you might unknowingly deny people with disabilities their right to information. Many countries, such as the US and UK, have specific laws governing digital accessibility for word documents and other digital content. MS-Word is 100% assistive technology-friendly, meaning you can use Braille devices or screen readers to read a Word file. Accessible word documents not only gel well with assistive technology, but you can also upload them conveniently on educational platforms. In general, using accessible word documents can make your campaign organically robust and scalable. However, creating accessible word documents is no less an art, a reason why you need to understand the various steps necessary to make your word documents topical yet interesting. There are also various benefits of accessibility for businesses and publishers. 4 Steps To Make Exciting Accessible Word Documents 1. The Heading Style Matters Headings give a word document the right start and set you on course to make it more accessible. By looking at the heading, the reader understands the core value proposition of the following section. A good heading also makes the word document more accessible for visually impaired people. Moreover, Braille users and screen readers can efficiently jump between headings if they are provided. Although you can enlarge the heading font or underline it to make it appear stylish, it hardly serves the real purpose of making your document accessible. Here are the steps you need to take to make the headings functional yet classy: Use Heading Styles – On opening MS-Word’s Home tab, you will see the ‘Styles’ section. Under Heading Styles, you can find various style options. Select the one you like the most to make your Word documents accessible. Edit for Perfection – Word also allows you to customize the heading section. So, if you feel a particular font best suits your purpose, go ahead and edit it to give your article the perfect look. Create a Table of Contents – You can also use the Style option to create a Table of Contents (TOC). Unlike Heading Styles, you can find the TOC in the ‘References’ menu. You can also use the menu options to update the TOC and jump directly to a level in the TOC. Nest the Headings – Headings must follow a sequence. For example, generally, an article starts with a Title (H1), followed by subheadings (H2, H3, H4, and so on). The sequence follows a decreasing order of importance. So, H2 is more important than H3 and so on. 2. Create Lists How many times have you felt bored reading a monotonous article with no section division or bulleted lists? All of us have experienced this to varying degrees. Sticking to the normal might be boring and dysfunctional when your objective is to make your documents more accessible. Hence, it is wise to use lists and bulleted points. Fortunately, MS-Word offers various intuitive features to add lists to your document seamlessly. In fact, if you create a list without using Word’s built-in tools, your aspiration of making accessible documents will remain a distant dream. You can follow the steps below to create a fascinating list in Word: Bulleted List – Open the Home tab in MS-Word and look for the ‘Bullets’ option. A pop-up window will open once you click on it, displaying all the available bulleted (Unordered) list types. You can either choose from the available options or customize the list. Do not forget to save it, though. Numbered List – Numbered (Ordered) lists are of two types – numbered and outline numbering. Numbered lists are the most common type. A numbered list allows you to use numerical figures, roman numerals, or alphabets like a,b,c, etc., to create a list. You might also like to read: A Guide to Creating Accessible PDF Files 3. Take Hyperlinks Seriously While it is perfectly normal to write statements like ‘Click here to visit us’ in normal documents, you must not do so for documents that are meant to be accessible. Since readers may also print accessible word documents, paying proper attention to hyperlinks is crucial to make them meaningful. Hence, instead of writing ‘Click here to visit the XYZ Institute website’ and hyperlinking ‘Click here,’ it is prudent to write ‘Visit the XYZ Institute website,’ and hyperlink ‘XYZ Institute website.’ Below is the easiest way to add hyperlinks in accessible word documents: Right-Click – Select the phrase you want to hyperlink to. Then, right-click it and select Hyperlink. After the pop-up window opens, click on ‘Browse Files’ and choose the file. Alternatively, you may add a website address (URL) in the ‘Address’ box. 4. Use Alt Text for Images Alt Text or Alternative Text is used to help visually impaired people understand the meaning of an image. The Alt Text must be short, crisp, and succinct. It should not contain any unnecessary information, only as much as is needed to convey the primary meaning of the image. Assistive technology usually announces the image first before moving on to reading the Alt Text. You can add Alt Text by clicking the correct option in the Image Properties dialog. However, keep the following points in mind to improve the quality of your accessible word documents: Complicated Graphics – If you have used charts or infographics, Alt Text might not suit them well. In such a case, you must add a full section explaining the images. Decorative Images – If you have added a decorative image that cannot be explained, you may enter an inverted comma in the Alt Text field. The End Note Besides the points mentioned above, you can also add a header row in tables, always left-align text, number the pages in a long document, use colors with textual interpretation, and keep the font size higher than 12. Also, it is wise to use non-serif fonts, such as Helvetica

webadmin February 21, 2022 No Comments

6 Time-tested Video-based Learning Strategies

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The field of learning has witnessed revolutionary changes in the recent past. Students and teachers are moving ahead of the traditional chalk-and-talk method of teaching and learning and embracing video-based learning. In a survey conducted, 74% of learners admitted that they employ video-based learning to make their learning more catchy, attractive, and impactful. Microsoft experimented with video-based learning and found it immensely helpful for reducing their learning delivery costs. This article details six time-tested, impactful video-based learning strategies you can implement to make your learning programs world-class. Why Do You Need Video-Based Learning? Here are the top reasons why video-based learning must occupy a prominent space in your higher education learning plan: 1. Engage Learners A study found that learners remember a paltry 10% of a text while 65% of a video and a whopping 95% of audio-visual content. Hence, video-based learning might be the ultimate solution if you struggle to retain learners’ attention with conventional learning techniques. 2. Is Inclusive You can usually find three types of learners in a class – visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Since videos combine visuals, audio, and physical movement, they satisfy all types of learners. 3. Cost-Efficiency Videos are more cost-efficient than all other modes of learning. For instance, if you have more than one learning facility, you have to hire multiple trainers for conducting learning sessions. However, if you create videos, you can send them to all learning centers, thereby saving money while making your sessions more resourceful. The following sections discuss the six best video-based learning strategies to scale up your institute or organization’s reputation and brand value. 6 Highly Powerful Video-Based Learning Strategies To get the optimal output out of video-based learning, you must promote it as a perk, not an obligation. So, your videos must be catchy, attractive, creative, appropriate, topical, interactive, and readily available. The following are the top video-based learning strategies adopted by institutions and organizations: Promote Bite-Sized Learning Bite-sized learning, also known as microlearning, has dominated the education landscape for quite some time. It helps learners select the units they want to learn and pick them up quickly. Microlearning is the ultimate solution if maximum efficiency with minimum time investment makes you happy. Bite-sized learning is nothing but condensing the information into nuggets. For instance, if you want to teach adjectives, instead of creating one full-scale module, you may divide it into three parts – absolute, comparative, and superlative, and release one unit every day. Since learners will focus on one topic a day, they can understand better and remember more. Creating and delivering bite-sized learning videos will be effective to promote student engagement. Deliver Interactive Learning Experiences Some people believe that video-based learning is a one-way process. Since learners cannot influence the video’s subject, they remain passive observers and not active participants. However, this is a half-truth. Digital content solution providers like HurixDigital empower learners to take charge of their learning. You can create learning sessions with video and other materials like PDF, PPT, audio, etc., to offer an immersive experience to learners. Moreover, modern technologies like Augmented Reality (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), etc., make content designing super smooth. Hence, video-based learning might be a one-way process when you create a video alone. If you merge video with other content types, learners can get a better experience than the usual chalk-and-talk method of learning. Create Relevant and Timely Updated Content Video-based learning opens you up to a new world of possibilities. However, you can realize the full potential of video-based learning if you create relevant content and publish them at preset intervals. Remember, consistency is the key. Many video creators create a stockpile of videos before launching their video-based learning campaigns. When you have a library of quality content, you can release them conveniently according to a schedule. Also, before creating content, you must analyze the latest trends to make the videos as exciting as possible. To make your videos catchy, you can mix images with animations and music and attract the fancy of learners. You might also like to read: 10 Ways to Use Videos in K-12 Education Make it Accessible Before creating video-based learning materials, you must set the technology straight. It is imperative to analyze your learners’ preferences before designing the content. Ask yourself questions like “Does the audience prefer watching the videos on their mobile or laptop?” “What is their age group?” “What is their demography?” etc. After figuring out your audience’s needs and preferences, you can create the best video-based learning materials learners can access from anywhere and at any time they want. Monitor Your Audience’s Consumption Patterns Creating or publishing video-based learning materials makes you smart. But, if you want to become the smartest, you must analyze your audience’s consumption habits and modify your content accordingly. Fortunately, digital content solution providers make this kind of number crunching super easy. You can check the meticulously compiled reports to understand your audience’s preferences and make informed decisions. Numbers speak louder than words. They can give insights into your audience’s content consumption patterns. Hence, analyzing the data must be an integral part of your video-based learning strategy. Take Timely Feedback From Students While data can give you good insights into your audience’s preferences, likes, and dislikes, you can engage with them personally to find what works and what does not. You can also create a logbook to record and retain learners’ feedback and use it to optimize the video-based learning materials. Feedback is extremely important to scale up the content quality of the videos you release. Conclusion Learning is no more a one-size-fits-all activity. Educational institutions and corporate houses continually invest in R&D to make their learning materials more powerful and impactful. Video-based learning can provide you with the right thrust to improve your visibility and acceptability in the market. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Hurix January 28, 2022 No Comments

6 Points to Remember During Custom eLearning Development

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When designed exclusively to address the specific needs of organizational learners, custom eLearning development can have a lasting impact. Besides effectively conveying the learning objectives, custom learning solutions also help maintain a brand’s unique tone and benefit overall performance improvement, thus positively impacting the business’ bottom line. This blog post aims to explore some of the best practices and things you need to keep in mind during custom eLearning content development that can improve the overall success rate of your organization’s L&D programs. Here are the Top 6 Points to Remember During Custom eLearning Development Conduct a Detailed and Proper Training Needs Analysis Work on the Platform Content Choose an Appropriate Learning Strategy Determine Delivery Methods for Your Custom Learning Content The Importance of Assessments Focus on User Experience 1. Conduct a Detailed and Proper Training Needs Analysis The first and foremost thing to keep in mind during custom eLearning development is to understand the learners and their specific needs. It allows you to focus on specific learners’ needs while addressing essential factors such as learner engagement and motivation, and helps accomplish the desired business goals. Some of the objectives that can help you at this stage include: Identifying and defining specific business goals Understanding the learner’s style, profile, and unique preferences Figuring out the nature and scope of the overall eLearning project Aligning the learning objectives to the specific business goal Clearly defining eLearning project deliverables and specifications Determining the actual knowledge/performance gaps (existing level of skills v/s desired skills) Tailoring the eLearning contents per the desired learning outcomes Conducting proper training needs analysis offers more clarity and ensures that you don’t end up teaching unsuitable competencies to the learners. This also helps in creating custom learning programs for online learners. 2. Work on the Platform Content Regardless of how great your custom eLearning development idea is, the chances of it being successful are minimal without unique, valuable, and relevant content. Therefore, it’s essential to contemplate on partners that will create content for your eLearning platform or on the roadmap of how you will produce your content. In addition to this, to be able to design a successful custom eLearning development course, it’s crucial to ensure that every aspect—from learning objectives to instructional strategies—is in alignment with the organization’s business goals. Your eLearning course should also address specific learners’ needs in areas such as the scope of personalization, an intuitive interface, or flexibility to choose a learning path. While fulfilling these criteria is generally tricky with off-the-shelf courses since they are primarily designed as one-size-fits-all eLearning solutions, with custom eLearning, you have the advantage of designing and developing eLearning courses customized to fit your learners’ specific requirements. 3. Choose an Appropriate Learning Strategy Irrespective of how well you have conducted your eLearning needs analysis, if your online training strategy is not designed to adequately capture the learner’s attention, it is hardly of any use. This is why it’s important to adopt an appropriate learning strategy by combining the best principles of instructional and graphic design as it can help learners grasp the content better, retain information for a longer time, and apply the new skills on the go. Your eLearning strategy while designing custom eLearning solutions may include a mix of storytelling, interactive multimedia, case studies, simulations, and gamification techniques to enhance employee engagement. 4. Determine Delivery Methods for Your Custom Learning Content To be able to effectively address the various competency requirements, it’s important to determine the appropriate delivery methods for your content. Here are some of the best methods you can choose from: Video A video can be the best custom eLearning solution when you need to explain a topic in a quick and engaging way without having the learner take the entire course or physically attend a training course. It’s an easy deployment method that allows the learner to reference the material conveniently at their own pace. Learning Portal A learning portal is another excellent custom solution for packaging a range of delivery methods. It allows you to deliver one topic in a video, another via a microlearning module, and yet another through a gamification technique. The advantage of a learning portal is that it allows you to accommodate all your learning offerings in one location with easy access to them through a single interface. ILT If you wish to deliver more complex content requiring detailed instructions by an expert, instructor-led training or ILT is the best option. VILTs are also a great way to deliver content that involves hands-on practice. Web/Computer-based Training In this delivery model, learners follow a web/computer-based program that may contain different media, such as module-based online classes. 5. The Importance of Assessments When it comes to measuring the effectiveness of training success, assessments play an important role. Both pre and post-assessments help you determine the extent to which each of your learners has met their learning objectives. The best way to do this is to have a baseline/pre-assessment of what employees know before instruction and a post-assessment to understand what they know after instruction. You can also look over every single learning objective and develop a robust method of performance assessment by using well-defined learning objectives. The results that you get from the assessments should ideally be used to make thorough comparisons between the learners’ pre-instruction and post-instruction performance. 6. Focus on User Experience When developing custom eLearning content, the focus is generally on presenting the training content in a way that engages the learner in learning activities. However, high-quality, visually appealing, engaging content is of no use unless it is combined with an excellent user experience, especially in today’s digital age. A flawless user experience can not only elevate the overall learning program but also ensure that content conveys as well as accomplishes the objectives of the L&D initiatives. You can do this by making the navigation simple and easy, bringing consistency into the design to reduce the learning curve, ensuring a learner-centered design that emphasizes the importance of audience perception,

webadmin January 27, 2022 No Comments

eLearning Trends for K-12 Education in 2022

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Various eLearning trends for K-12 education have enabled institutions to transcend traditional barriers and enter new territory. We live in an era where education is no longer teacher-led; it is learner-led and learner-focused. In short, we can say that K-12 education has now become of the learner, by the learner, and for the learner. Both teachers and K-12 institutions have been striving to revamp their curriculum to make learning more targeted and learner-friendly. eLearning plays a massive role in transforming K-12 education. The global eLearning market has grown by 900% since its inception. It is expected to touch the magic figure of US$325 billion by 2025. And why not? In a survey, 60% of internet users confessed that they have indulged in eLearning. Furthermore, 50% of students from various educational institutions have admitted that they have learned something from an eLearning platform. However, despite the numbers favoring eLearning, there are also a few challenges. Over-exposure to digital devices makes both teachers and learners tired and bored. To deal with this challenge, top educational institutions track the latest eLearning trends to make the classes more meaningful for both teachers and learners. They are moving beyond shiny, glitzy interfaces and incorporating impactful and sustainable K-12 learning solutions. So, what kind of changes are top K-12 educational institutions making to improve their standards? And what are the top eLearning trends in 2022? You will find the answers to these questions and many more in the following sections: Top eLearning Trends for K-12 education in 2022 1. Augmented Reality for an Immersive Learning Experience It is a known fact that learners retain information better when they experience things in real-time rather than studying it or listening to a lecture. Think about testing new eyewear without actually wearing it or checking how a dressing table would change the set-up of your room without installing it for real. This is the basic premise of Augmented Reality (AR). AR combines 25% of Digital Reality (DR) and 75% of Existing Reality (ER). AR does not offer learners an out-of-world experience; it simply places virtual objects in the existing world and lets learners see what an object looks like. An AR-enabled eLearning platform can position an augmented object on a learner’s digital device and demonstrate critical concepts using 3D visualization. The augmented object can be virtual or captured from the real environment. Augmented Reality allows educationists to bring education out of traditional books, lectures, physical forms, brochures, etc., and offer an immersive experience. It also promotes gamification and makes learning fun, exciting, and effortless. The future clearly belongs to interactive audio-video materials that activate learners’ imagination and stimulate their senses. Research estimates that the number of AR mobile users will touch 2.4 billion by 2023, a massive improvement from 200 million AR mobile users in 2015. Hence, if you want to benefit from growing eLearning trends in 2022, AR must figure prominently in your eLearning strategy. 2. Increased Use of Personalized Learning Modules Thanks to technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Machine Learning (ML), learners explore education in a new way. Education is no longer restricted to a physical classroom and guided by the fancies of the teacher. Presently, the onus of learning is on the learners. Hence, personalized learning modules are one of the top eLearning modes to stay tuned for in the future. Personalized learning is a learning method through which teachers identify each learner’s strengths, weaknesses, skills, and interests and design a learning plan that best suits each learner. In personalized learning, teachers collaborate with the students while setting short and long-term goals. Since students are actively involved in curriculum designing, they become the owner and not just passive recipients of the learning process. However, teachers need to ensure that the curriculum or methodology designed by students does not deviate from the academic standards or the board/university prescribed curriculum. Personalized learning complements the existing curriculum through innovative educational strategies like project-based learning, simulations, etc. Personalized learning comes as a blessing to learners with special needs. Educational content delivery platforms let you understand each student’s unique needs and give special access to specific students. You can monitor their performance through advanced analytics and tweak the content accordingly. The extra focus they thus get enables them to retain information more and improve their competency level. 3. Hybrid Classrooms and Hybrid Learning Will Become the New Norm Hybrid learning is not new. However, it was never as popular as it is now. Hybrid or blended learning combines the principles of eLearning with conventional in-person learning. Although hybrid classrooms are mostly virtual or digital, learners get the feel of attending a real teacher-led classroom. Both the teacher and learners stay present in a hybrid classroom to learn efficiently. Sometimes, hybrid learning also includes asynchronous learning materials like online quizzes/tests or video instructions to complement in-person classes. When implemented properly, hybrid learning can open up newer avenues for learners and educational institutions. Hybrid learning not only reduces the overall cost of training delivery for K-12 institutions but also makes learners more eager to learn. 4. Gamification Holds the Key to the Future 2021 saw a proliferation of platforms that enable gamified learning. Gamification figures prominently in the list of top eLearning trends for 2022. Gamified learning is nothing but mixing the tenets of learning with the fun of gaming. Gamification enables faster learning. As learners solve challenging exercises through fun games, their proficiency improves. The biggest advantage of this method is that the teacher might or might not have to be actively present during learning. The goal here is to encourage learners to take ownership of learning and learn more excitingly. Various educational platforms let you create quizzes and games to increase learners’ retention levels. The more fun they derive from learning activities, the more easily they can master challenging concepts. 5. Interactive Video-Based Lectures Videos have become bigger and better than ever before. A survey found that 69% of students will most

Hurix January 24, 2022 No Comments

How To Use Learning Paths to Create Learning Programs

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For any organization to thrive, it must create a robust learning culture at work. While there are always new and exciting learning programs for employees to develop their skillsets and grow professionally, what is even more important is for employers to know where they are headed with their learning. This is where learning paths come into the picture. Learning paths are a structured and step-by-step plan which serves as a detailed map of employees’ professional development. Apart from giving your employees a clear vision of how to develop the skills they need for their professional and personal growth, learning paths offer several other advantages too. In this blog, we learn more about learning paths, including what they are, what their benefits are, and how to use these learning paths to create effective learning programs. Importance of Engaging Learning Programs Engaging learning programs created using learning paths are relevant today primarily because of their flexibility, accessibility, and effectiveness. With the availability of a wide range of online learning courses these days, setting up engaging learning programs with learning paths provides organizations with an affordable and simple solution to effectively navigate the ever-evolving economic and technological landscape. Some of the other ways engaging learning programs can make a difference in organizational set-ups include: Allow for a wider range of learning activities, especially for virtual teams Ideal for virtual or remote workers seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge Applicable to a wide range of different skills and are accessible to everyone with a working device What are Learning Paths? A learning path is essentially a collection of different courses that are put together to help learners master a particular course, topic, or program. Simply put, a learning path is a selection of different modules or courses linked in a defined structure for learners to progress and master a particular topic. The main aim of designing a learning path is to give learners a clear and well-defined route through a training program. It breaks the overall course content into manageable small chunks, thus allowing learners to easily absorb information and smoothly navigate through each course. Benefits of Learning Paths Some of the key benefits of learning paths include: Shorter sessions Bite-sized learning or microlearning is a popular course structure as it focuses on imparting a lot of information in small, chunk-sized pieces. Building learning paths with small, bite-sized courses helps maintain learners’ attention for a long time while still allowing them to learn a topic or subject in-depth. Better engagement Unlike an individual or single course, a learning path fully engages the learner with different types of multimedia and allows them to immerse themselves in the topic completely. This, in turn, helps them tackle a subject from various angles with the help of multiple courses. For instance, if the objective is to make your employee learn conflict resolution, having a learning path in the form of several video examples, followed by a discussion, and then a quiz would be much more effective compared to a single course. Enhanced long-term productivity Learning paths equip your employees with a range of essential tools and information to help them make their work more streamlined and productive. It also allows you to understand and work out which skills will be important in the long run and provide the necessary training, thus saving a great deal of time, energy, and money for your business. Puts employees in charge of their learning Having to do the same work and being left in the same job position with no clear path and no prospects can make employees feel demotivated. Well-defined learning pathways are a great way to place your employees in control of their personal and professional learning goals. How to Use Learning Paths to Create Learning Programs In this section, we discuss how you can use learning paths to create engaging learning programs. Define a clear learning goal Achieving a learning goal becomes much easier once it has been firmly established. This is why learning paths need to include one clear objective along with a bundle of small, concise steps of how to reach it. Establishing a clear learning goal is an important part of developing successful learning programs using learning paths. However, the objective here should be relevant to your specific business industry. The ideal way is to conduct thorough research on in-demand skills within your specific field to understand what your learning goal could be. Allocate clear deliverables and milestones One of the crucial elements of a successful learning path is designating the right deliverables and setting exact milestones to make them more effective. They should be used in a way that allows learners to know exactly what they are aiming for and how many steps it will require for them to get there. Having clear deliverables, steps, and goals not only helps learners move forward but it also helps them find satisfaction during the process. Identify different ways to motivate your employees In an organizational setup, every individual has a different notion of what motivates them. For some, it could be status, whereas for others, it could very well be prizes and recognition. Therefore, to create an effective learning program using learning paths, it makes sense to find out the ways in which your team is best motivated to help you set up a training system that best appeals to their personalities. Use varied learning styles When it comes to employee learning styles, they can vastly differ from person to person, which is why having one single approach to learning may either discourage some employees from being part of the training or exclude those with different learning styles. Therefore, for a learning program to be effective, it is important to design a learning path that is flexible in its learning approach as it will involve a higher number of interested participants and will also create a much higher chance of success. The best way to use a learning path here is to design one that

Hurix January 19, 2022 No Comments

Principles of Change Management

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Change management and transformation are time-tested strategies to improve an organization’s processes, systems, and service quality. They have been an integral part of world-class businesses since the mid-2000s and are partly driven by the fast-changing business landscape, customer demands, new markets, and innovative technologies. However, change management and transformation are easier said than done. Organizations implementing change often face resistance. They also need to tackle cost overrun seriously. A survey of senior executives found that only 54 percent of all significant change management initiatives become successful. Furthermore, the expenses often shoot through the roof when change management deviates from the original plan, leading to lost opportunities, wasted resources, and reduced employee motivation levels. Hence, understanding the principles of change management is essential. The following sections offer a comprehensive guide to change management and transformation to help you understand the best way to introduce change management in your organization. What is Change Management? Change management is a set of structured processes through which an organization implements changes to transform its internal and external systems. It usually starts with employee training, where employees are sensitized about the impending changes. It’s crucial to gain their confidence while devising a change management plan, as the greatest resistance is usually encountered at the employee level. After employee sensitization, the organization plans for the changes. After the planning stage, it implements the changes and monitors the change management plan to ensure a seamless transition. It is wise to stay agile to minimize resistance and reduce the chances of cost overruns. Change management is a stupendous task and needs proper planning, which is why you need to be aware of the principles of change management. In a big organization, changes can be implemented on multiple independent levels or as a whole. Whatever the purpose, framing a time-tested strategy is crucial for achieving the desired change management objectives. What are the Principles of Change Management? “Principles of change management” refers to the overarching guidelines that manage change, transformation, transition, and disruptions in an organization. Change management is an umbrella term for all types of internal changes, such as changing the software, rearranging project teams, etc., and external changes, such as penetrating into new markets, acclimatizing to industry trends, neutralizing threats, etc. The following are the best practices top organizations rely on to make their organizations future-ready: Recognize, Understand and Respect Change Before implementing a solid change management plan, it’s essential to recognize and understand change so that your employees respect the change management plan. Here are the things you need to answer: Why are you planning to implement a change? What are your primary objectives? How will the change management plan benefit you? Consider aspects like operational, financial, brand value, and other benefits. What will be the effect of the change management plan on your customers? What effect will the plan have on your employees? Will it increase their productivity or burden them with more work? Remember, if your employees feel overburdened, the attrition rate might increase. What will happen if the change management plan fails? According to experts, a change management plan can be deemed highly impactful and successful when nearly everyone in the organization is unhappy with the existing process of doing things. However, it can also be successful if you show your employees that the USP of the plan is really provocative. Create a Change Strategy Plan One of the most important change management principles is to create a strategy that withstands the test of time. It takes a while to frame a proper change management plan. You need to evaluate the impact of the plan on your employees and finances and factor in regulatory approvals if needed. However, creating a plan should be easy if you know the right way. Firstly, you need to decide whether your change management plan should be rigid or flexible. While a rigid change management strategy might suit larger organizations, progressive organizations generally rely on flexible plans. Companies following a flexible plan look at their employees’ performance to modify the plans as needed. Secondly, decide who will support and sponsor the change. At this stage, you evaluate financial implications and finalize the roles and responsibilities of people managing the change. Sometimes, you may need to hire outside resources if you cannot find internal resources. Thirdly, project a clear picture of your organization after executing the change management strategy. Align it with the goals of the principles of change management and let all the stakeholders associate with the goals. Implement Change According to the principles of change management, implementing change comes after understanding change and creating a strategy. At this stage, it’s crucial to instill a sense of ownership and urgency among everyone involved. Moreover, you need to address everyone’s issues carefully since change management often leads to shock and denial. The first step is training. Proper training ensures that everyone is on the same wavelength. Design the key evaluation metrics early since it will give your employees an accurate idea of what they will achieve. Another mandatory step is to appoint one or more change agents who will oversee the implementation and ensure strict adherence to the principles of change management. Communicate Change Effectively Strict adherence to the principles of change management is only possible with proper communication. It can make or break your change management plan. A wise way to achieve the desired impact is by linking the plan to your company’s vision and mission. When employees relate the change with the company’s larger goals, they become active participants rather than passive observers. The ADKAR Change Management Model outlines the top things you must include in your communication strategy: Awareness – Everybody understands why the change is needed Desire – The willingness to participate in the change Knowledge – Everyone knows how the change will happen Ability – Everyone participates collectively to enforce the change Reinforcement – All stakeholders continue staying on track for change. Stay Aligned with the Company Culture All progressive and innovative companies understand

webadmin January 11, 2022 No Comments

How Can Colleges Support Continuing Education

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] How Can Colleges Support Continuing Education Higher education has undergone a paradigm change. Education has transcended the conventional barriers of the classroom and entered the learners’ living room. Students can conveniently switch on a digital device and pick up concepts that matter, uniquely and excitingly. In such an environment, continuing education has become a necessity rather than a luxury. There’s no denying that the pandemic has shrunk the job market, and professionals need higher skills and qualifications than before to succeed. While remote work was slowly gaining traction, it started growing at a breakneck speed after the pandemic. Sadly, students coming out from higher educational institutions are inadequately prepared to handle the changing requirements of the industry. Continuing education can help bridge the gap between formal education and work and make the campus-to-corporate transition super smooth. So, what is continuing education, and what are its benefits? Read on to find a comprehensive review of continuing education and how top organizations are creating a solid roadmap to make their continuing education delivery methods more streamlined and accessible. The Proliferation of Digital Technology Before understanding the benefits of continuing education and strategies to implement it, let’s explore the reasons why digital technology has become so vital for improving the quality of continuing education: 65% of teachers admitted to using digital learning tools in their classrooms. 87% of teachers use digital learning tools more than one day every week. $803 million: The total Venture Capital funds collected by educational technology companies in the U.S. $12.6 billion: The amount education companies will spend on Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) by 2025. 3X – The growth of educational technology in the past decade. 75% of teachers firmly believe that digital learning content will completely wipe out printed textbooks within ten years. 95% of undergraduate learners own digital devices, such as laptops or smartphones. $3 billion: The amount schools spend on digital content for students. The data presented above must have convinced you of the role of digital technology in education. Let’s now move to the core focus of this topic— understanding continuing education and its many benefits. What is Continuing Education? Continuing education refers to one or many courses that develop students’ knowledge in a professional field of study. Continuing education is generally offered by colleges, universities, and sometimes, schools. Although continuing education is typically non-credit-based, some educational institutions offer certificate or diploma courses as well. These courses are usually taken by professionals with a formal high school or university degree or diploma. Employers and higher education institutions do not mind reducing the workload or study load of learners pursuing continuing education courses. What are the Benefits of Continuing Education? Continuing education opens a new era of professionalism for students and companies. Here are the top benefits of continuing education: 1. Higher Money-Making Opportunities Continuing education helps professionals or students to upskill themselves. Data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that educational qualifications are directly related to a professional’s earning potential, meaning the higher the skills, the better the opportunities. While companies are certainly investing more resources into continuing education, students willing to join the corporate bandwagon may also take these courses to enhance their visibility in the job market. If students have already upskilled themselves, companies recognize their value and offer them higher salaries and better perks. Hence, continuing education increases students’ value in the market and convinces employers that they are the best fit for the position. 2. Better Networking Opportunities Continuing education brings students closer to a diverse audience. Even though the courses are primarily online, they can still meet like-minded individuals from all over the world. As learners come together to work on projects while forming groups, they become a team and stay connected for the rest of their lives. Continuing education also makes learners a part of study groups, conferences, and membership societies so that they can explore various facets of the course to sharpen their skills and knowledge. For example, if a student takes up a course on search engine optimization, they might collaborate with a like-minded professional to set up a business. Since connections are an integral part of success, continuing education can help students expand their base and level up their networking skills. 3. Improve Students’ Proactivity Perhaps the most significant benefit of continuing education is that it keeps students happy. Organizations with happy individuals progress faster. Research shows that reading new things can enhance brain capacity and make people more agile. Usually, learners’ ability to remember things reduces as they grow up. Continuing education can not only contain the damage but also make learners’ brains more productive. Learning is a mental exercise that stimulates the nerves inside one’s brain to help them utilize their cognition to the fullest. Some studies have also shown that the higher one’s education, the higher their lifespan. People studying more keep themselves busy with healthy behaviors and are less prone to diseases. Hence, besides improving students’ job prospects, continuing education can also improve their health by making them happier. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] How Can Colleges Support Continuing Education Now that you understand the significance and benefits of continuing education, you must be willing to discover the best ways to implement continuing education in your educational institution. Here are some time-tested tips to enrich your institution by designing an impeccable continuing education plan: Offer Learning Content as per the Latest Industry Standards A wise way to offer the best continuing education courses is by looking at what your competitors are doing. You can browse their course catalogs to find what makes them stand out. Additionally, make sure to improvise the course content based on the audience profile. Modernize the Learning Experience for Students Using the right technology and tools can make an ordinary training program extraordinary. Educational content delivery platforms can give you an edge by simplifying content creation and making delivery seamless to help you enhance the student learning experience. Offer Personalised Learning to Suit

Hurix January 10, 2022 No Comments

How To Deliver Soft Skills Training To Sales Employees

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While the importance of relevant job experience, education and technical training in defining the success of sales employees are huge, mastering less tangible abilities like soft skills is equally important. This is why an increasing number of organizations are investing in employee learning and development initiatives to ensure that they can work together as a team for the benefit of their employees and the organization’s success. A well-trained sales team is more equipped to generate new opportunities, which can lead to enhanced growth and huge returns for the organization. The better trained your sales employees, the better chances of success for the entire organization. In this blog, we explore the need for soft skills training for sales employees and some of the effective ways to deliver the same. What Are Soft Skills? Soft skills primarily focus on who people are, as opposed to what they are trained in. In simpler words, soft skills are interpersonal skills that reflect an individual’s personality and characterize how they interact with peers and other people in the workplace. Typically, soft skills are an individual’s personality skills, people skills, and communication abilities which play a crucial role in the workforce setting for the long-term success of both employees and the organization. Some of the key soft skills that every salesperson needs to have include: Empathy Empathy is one of the key skills that sales employees need to possess. Simply put, empathy is the ability of a person to feel what the other person is feeling. It enables sales employees to better understand and share their customers’ feelings, and once they have a better sense of where their customers or prospects are coming from, they are better positioned to serve them. Active Listening This one might sound simple, but it’s tough in practice. The ability to become an active listener translates to letting the other person speak patiently before offering your own viewpoint. It’s quite impossible to ace other soft skills such as adaptability and collaboration without having the ability to listen. Growth Mindset Another important skill for salespeople, having a growth mindset allows sales staff to believe that they can improve their innate abilities and learn various new skills through practice, hard work, consistency, and time. Adaptability Adaptability in modern workplaces is essentially the ability to be flexible in their approach and take on new challenges. In a rapidly changing business market, employees can’t afford to grow complacent with their existing skillsets and hence being adaptable is a key skill to have. Communication Both written and verbal communication skills are responsible for how co-workers perceive an employee or individual’s capabilities and contributions to the overall organization. The ability of an employee to communicate effectively makes them much more productive in the workplace environment while also making it simpler to build relationships and collaborate across the organization. How To Deliver Soft Skills Training To Sales Employees Here are some of the effective ways you can use to deliver soft skills training to your sales employees: Create Targeted Content That Will Make a Difference Building a powerful soft-skills training program might seem like an uphill task, but if you’re creating targeted, high-quality training solutions catering to the unique needs of your sales employees, then you already have a wealth of resources about your specific industry and expertise to make a difference. Having excellent soft skills makes it easier for your sales team to navigate professional situations better. Therefore, you need to be thoughtful when deciding the types of skills your team needs and accordingly create content to cater to their needs and strengthen their sales abilities. This allows you to support your learners’ professional as well as personal development and empower your team members to think independently, work collaboratively, and resolve conflicts within the organization. Leverage Mobile Learning and eLearning With an increasing number of organizations going global today, soft skills training for sales teams needs to transcend the barriers posed by location and language. To get the entire sales team together for physical classroom training is next to impossible. Hence, the best option here is to invest in mobile training and eLearning. The benefits of mobile learning are immense. It allows employees to conveniently access the training program designed to improve their soft skills from their smart devices at their own convenience. Further, mobile and online learning also gives them the freedom to learn at their own speed, and access training content for specific areas where they feel they need more assistance. Organizations need to focus on creating mobile learning content for effective training delivery. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Provide Bite-Sized Learning Modules Traditionally, micro-learning or bite-sized learning has been used by organizations to improve soft skills such as leadership skills, listening skills, communication skills, problem-solving skills, and more. Depending on the varying needs of sales employees, these modules can address the basics of a topic/subject and aid in better information retention. Microlearning is especially suited for imparting soft skills to employees with short attention spans. Further enhanced usage of smart devices and the tech-savviness of present-day sales staff further make these bite-sized courses an ideal choice to deliver soft skills training. Use AR and VR In the absence of in-person training opportunities, virtual reality is another promising solution that businesses can use to help their employees develop vital soft skills. Unlike other traditional e-learning solutions, AR/VR tools including training simulations and scenario-based learning offer sales employees a truly immersive experience that helps keep them engaged by mimicking real-life situations in a safe environment. Apart from being highly interactive, simulations can also be easily customized to fit the specific business and growth goals of sales staff. The best part of simulations is that they allow sales teams to work at their own pace and retake specific modules as many times as needed. Gamify the Training Process Game-based learning is yet another effective method to deliver soft skills training. This is simply because it allows sales teams to understand the content better. Gamififying your learning platform also allows you to

webadmin January 4, 2022 No Comments

Envisioning the Future of Higher Education

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It’s nothing new that the last two years have proven to be a year of great change and adaptation in the field of education. Education moved to online classrooms for which both the students and teachers weren’t prepared. This adaptation of educational institutions made the experts foresee the future differently. Elementary students are now growing up with laptops and the internet has become an essential tool to prepare the students effectively for the modern digital landscape. Developers are building better technologies to help the students study with flexibility and convenience within the university setting. Even though the demand for hi-tech learning was always present and would have been inevitable in the future, the pandemic acted as an accelerant in this case. Now, so many educational institutions are finding themselves caught up to the challenges of higher education needs since last year. The recent changes in the field of education tell us that we must brace ourselves for the new realities of higher education. Here are some predictions of how the future of higher education might turn out to be. The Future of Higher Education Looks Exciting The future of education looks promising. Here are the things the stakeholder of education may expect going further: Content Producers and Distributors Will Enter the Marketplace Content producers and distributors will emphasize digital technologies by ditching time and place-based education. Low-cost degrees will be created, and outcome-based education will be offered. The competition, as well as the consumer choice, will rise. Students will be offered convenient combinations of course-based programs. Moreover, the courses will be cheaper than traditional colleges and universities, which will allow the students to afford the courses they are interested in. Content delivery platforms are presently revolutionizing the higher education landscape by providing unified content experiences for students. Gone are the days when learners had to visit various platforms for getting various content types. Additionally, since these platforms are access-based and copy-disabled, you can conveniently say goodbye to plagiarism and publish confidential content easily with the topmost data security measures. Institutional Control of Higher Education Will Decrease Just like consumers are given a choice over what, when, how, and where they will consume content like movies, newspapers, etc., the future of higher education will put more power in the hands of the learners. Thanks to the digital revolution, students will have a greater choice regarding all aspects of their education. Take a look at the modes of education around you, and you can already feel the change. Presently, a student of a remote village in Africa can pursue a course from a university in the USA. Going further, we expect this trend to continue even as more and more courses get added, and the education will become more immersive.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Students Will Seek More From Educational Institutions Just like the sources of entertainment like music, movies, and news updates are crafted based on a particular consumer, the future of higher education will encourage personalization that will fit into a student’s circumstances. Colleges, universities, and other educational institutions will unbundle their programs and services at affordable prices so that the students can buy according to their needs and wants. There will be an increased focus on delivering interactive lessons to higher education students. The future of higher education will focus on things we want the students to achieve, things we want them to learn, and not what we want them to be taught. All students don’t learn at the same pace. The explosion of new content being brought in by museums, software companies, and others is now becoming so diversified that the students’ academic development cannot be converted into stable time or process measures. However, one common denominator that all students share is that they produce outcomes, and whatever they learn is the consequence of their experience. The future of higher education will see a reset between the value placed on degrees and ‘just-in-time’ education will increase in status. Education will be more immediate and present-oriented. The increasing need for upskilling and reskilling because of the knowledge explosion and pandemic will tilt the balance towards educational programs that are aligned with the labour market, and students will be provided with badges and certificates and not degrees. Continuous Skilling Beyond Degrees Will Become Reality According to the President of the University of Phoenix, Peter Cohen, ‘continuous skilling’ will play a huge role in the future of higher education. Since more than 85% of students come to university to have a better career in the future, it’s the university’s responsibility to prepare the students with the best resources. Gone are the days when people used to think that you go to school once when you are young and have all the skills you need for life. As technology is evolving super fast, it’s necessary to prepare the students for the challenges they are going to face once they graduate from college. That’s why, apart from providing the students with their degrees, institutions will prepare them to tackle the challenges that they may come across. Blended Learning Holds The Key to an Immersive Learning Experience Although blended learning has been operational since computers were introduced in education, it has never been as pronounced as it is now. And, with technology evolving rapidly, we can expect blended learning to reach new heights. In the future, blended learning will refer to the combination of in-person, online, experiential, simulation-based, synchronous, and asynchronous learning. The days are not too far when a student will stay on the campus and attend virtual classes. Such facilities can invite a new era of economic growth by reducing the cost of education, which will eventually reduce students’ tuition fees. Conclusion We don’t need a whole lot of information to research and speculate on the future of higher education in the upcoming years. It’s slowly unfolding before our eyes with the innovations that institutions worldwide are adapting. The changes will come into better focus if we look closely at the margins where major changes

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