Learning is transforming. It is no longer about just reading or listening to content. The new learning has become an experience where learners can immerse themselves with the digital content, feel, see and hear it all at once, and have that all-inclusive experience — whether it’s a video game, a virtual reality (VR), a graphic novel, podcasts or even an online course. This new form of learning is called immersive learning. It’s not just about having access to more content; it’s also about how you access all those resources in an effective way. Learners needHelp and guidance when they encounter any kind of difficulty while integrating the new learning into their existing knowledge and skillsets. They need a platform that can be used to track progress, reflect on what they learned within the specific topic, test their knowledge outside the classroom and provide external validation so as to ensure they didn’t just learn in isolation but rather really understand something from scratch.
How to build a successful learning platform
There is no silver bullet when it comes to building a successful learning platform. Instead, it is a strategic process that requires a well-thought-out approach from top to bottom. Here’s what you can do to build a successful learning platform: – First and foremost, the idea must be grounded in sound research. You can’t just say “let’s build a learning platform” and expect it to succeed. – Test your idea with potential users. This can be done through focus groups and user-focused studies. It’s important to understand exactly what your users want and how they would be able to use your product. – Build a roadmap. When you start building a product, you might be tempted to “figure it out as you go along.” This can be a mistake. Start building a roadmap for your learning platform as early as possible. It’s important to understand how long the journey will take and what milestones you will be aiming for along the way. – Build partnerships. Successful products are built by harnessing the power of other people and resources. Partnerships can be key when it comes to building a successful learning platform. When building partnerships, however, make sure you don’t let the idea of a “collaboration” fool you. Be clear on what you want and don’t let any partners try to change the product to fit their needs. – Be intentional. When building a successful learning platform, it’s important to be intentional. – Lastly, ensure you hire the right people for the job. As with any other aspect of your business, you will more likely fail if you don’t hire the right people for the job.
What are the key features required in a learning platform?
These key features are generally categorized into three key areas: engagement, learning and assessment. – Engagement: This is about the platform’s ability to keep learners engaged with the content, tools and resources available. – Learning: The platform’s ability to facilitate the whole learning experience needs to be facilitated. It includes, among other things, the tracking of progress, the giving and getting of feedback, accessibility of external resources, etc. – Assessment: This is crucial to ensure learner success. It can be both internal and external. Internal assessment is when learners ask questions and answer them themselves. External assessment is when the platform provides learners with the ability to share their learning with others.
Why Co-learning is important for improving learning outcomes?
Co-learning is one of the most exciting developments in learning platforms. It is essentially learning that happens when learners are paired up with others to learn something together. Co-learning is probably the most precise way of describing virtual collaboration in the digital space. It’s popular in online courses and programs, where learners can ask questions and see their instructor’s answer to help them learn. Learners can also see the answer to their question on a clickable whiteboard. Co-learning gives learners the ability to interact with each other, see and feel how their classmates learn and receive peer feedback to help them learn faster. Co-learning is great for peer assessment where learners can see each other’s answers and get peer feedback on their work. Co-learning also helps learners to see how well they are doing in comparison to their classmates and get external validation on their understanding of the content. Co-learning can be used for any kind of content and can be used on any platform. Co-learning is especially helpful for video and audio-based content. One example of where co-learning can be used is in an online course.
Learners need an assessment platform
It can be easy to fool yourself into thinking you understand something better than you really do. External validation is one way to ensure that you really understand something, as opposed to just memorizing a bunch of facts and figures. External validation can come in the form of assessments or quizzes provided by the platform. It can also come in the form of feedback provided by others. It can be helpful to see how well you are doing compared to other learners on the platform. External validation isn’t just about comparing your score to a pre-determined criteria. You can also see how other learners answered questions and get feedback on your work based on the questions you answered.
Learners also need scaffolding and mentorship
Scaffolding and mentorship are two sides of the same coin. These two key features are meant to help learners get started quickly and find success quickly. With a well-designed platform, learners can expect to find these features when using a learning platform. A well-designed platform provides learners with various resources such as easy-to-use tools, a support community, and experts who can help them get started.
Learners also need transparency and accountability
Transparency is essential in the learning industry. It gives learners the ability to see what they can expect from their platform. It also gives them the ability to see how their progress is being tracked. Accountability is one of the features that holds platforms accountable for delivering on what they promise to their users. It can be done in a variety of ways, including reporting on user satisfaction, reporting on the success of specific programs, and reporting on the outcomes of a program.
Learner Feedback
A learning platform is only as successful as the learners using it. When building a learning platform, it’s important to understand how learners need to be supported and engaged throughout their journey. Learners need a platform that is easy to use, easily accessible, and that has meaningful features to help them succeed. It’s also important to understand how learners want to be supported. They may want help with their coursework, with finding mentors, or with developing and testing their ideas. And they may be looking for a platform that provides external validation.
Summary
A learning platform is a critical component of a successful online learning experience. It can be difficult to build a successful learning platform from scratch, but it is important to begin building now. Here’s what you can do to build a successful learning platform: – First and foremost, the idea must be grounded in sound research. You can’t just say “let’s build a learning platform” and expect it to succeed. – Test your idea with potential users. This can be done through focus groups and user-focused studies. It’s important to understand exactly what your users want and how they would be able to use your product. – Build a roadmap. When you start building a product, you might be tempted to “figure it out as you go along.” This can be a mistake. Start building a roadmap for your learning platform as early as possible. It’s important to understand how long the journey will take and what milestones you will be aiming for along the way. – Build partnerships. Successful products are built by harnessing the power of other people and resources. Partnerships can be key when it comes to building a successful learning platform. When building partnerships, make sure you don’t let the idea of a “collaboration” fool you. Be clear on what you want and don’t let any partners try to change the product to fit their needs. – Be intentional. When building a successful learning platform, it’s important to be intentional. – Lastly, ensure you hire the right people for the job. As with any other aspect of your business, you will more likely fail if you don’t hire the right people for the job. Check: LMS vs lxp