"Almost Live" eLearning Software and Artificial Intelligence
Asynchronous learning is used so people can learn anytime and anywhere. The challenge was that people found it boring and isolating if no one else was in their e-Learning course.
So, Subject matter experts (SMEs) added live online sessions to give the courses more pop. That hurt the anytime-anywhere format.
New technology makes it possible to combine asynchronous learning with "almost live" interaction. This makes e-Learning courses more engaging and maintains the anytime-anywhere option.
People are more productive with e-Learning courses. But were they?
Before we had online learning most employee training was in a seminar room at the office or at a local hotel. There was and is nothing wrong with that format. But, economic change forced organizations to find other ways to provide training.
Organizations started turning to e-Learning courses to meet that need. Asynchronous learning with Learning Management System software became a standard for online learning. It would enable people to work from any location that had an internet connection. It enabled people to study at their own pace and according to their own schedule.
Research said that people would learn more if they could choose when to take an e-Learning course. But, many said asynchronous learning was boring. They said it lacked enough interaction to keep them stimulated.
What changed with e-Learning courses?
We tried to improve asynchronous learning by adding live sessions to the courses. That was an improvement but it came at the expense of the anytime-anywhere option.
Then we added more narrated video clips, simulations, and games to the courses. That was OK but it maintained the SME as the only source of content for these e-Learning courses. It did do a good job integrating the knowledge and creativity of course participants. It also did not do a good job enabling the ongoing participation of SMEs from the greater metaverse.
So, how do we go about creating an online course that engages and stimulates participants. We must combine asynchronous learning with the energy that live training provides.
The solution is to add a layer of what we call "almost live" eLearning software (with content) into the mix.
What will that layer of "almost live" eLearning software look like?
If we want our training to improve then we need to add "almost live" elements to our e-Learning courses. Below are descriptions of some of the apps that help define what we mean by "almost live" and make it possible.
1. Juiced-up Discussion Boards
Apps that work like VoiceThread can be the crown jewels of any almost live e-Learning course. They juice-up the old-fashioned discussion board. These apps enable people to post questions and comments and respond using audio or video or text.
2. Interactive Processes or Exhibits
Products like :Padlet create a real-time learning process. Ongoing contributions from the instructor, each participant or outside experts determine the direction.
With :Padlet you can create a collection of resources like an art gallery exhibit. People can interact with the resources. Or, they can do so with each other using features like you see in juiced-up discussion board.
3. AI-powered Learning
AI has evolved. It tracks user behaviour and suggest new topics and courses based on that behaviour. Help Bots now respond to real-time interactive discussions with contextual responses. This works both for training, education and real-time help desk support.
Expect more learning disruption to come!
Here's a thought. People taking asynchronous learning courses are more creative than people doing live training.
This is because they feel less pressure from deadlines. They don't feel put on the spot in a live training session. Asynchronous learners can take breaks between lessons. They can think more about the information and concepts they have seen and come up with new ideas.
With "almost live" eLearning software SMEs can improve boring asynchronous learning. They can better integrate the knowledge and creativity of each course participant. They can invite SMEs from the greater metaverse to contribute on a regular basis.
Artificial Intelligence will provide real-time validation that people have learned the material. And, it will confirm that employees and customers can apply that learning.
Taken together these advances will give you a more complete training solution.
