Training success relies heavily on the audience. If participants don’t believe content connects to their needs, they will not engage.

And can you blame them? We all feel like we have many projects, tasks, and responsibilities. We simply do not have the time to invest in an event that we perceive as irrelevant.

Workflow learning is something we're starting to hear a lot about. It's the concept of embedding content into the flow of work at each moment of learning need.

I think this is a great idea. But it’s not really new.  Our children are already doing this.

And, as is typical, they can't believe we haven't been taking advantage of all of the technology available to us to support our workflow all along. (Admittedly, they aren’t using these words.)

I’ll share a personal example.

Virtually There Session Recap

“Did the training work?”

If your stakeholders asked you this question, would you have an answer supported by proof, or would you feel anxious about demonstrating the value of your work?

We know that data can clarify the worth our learning events provide to participants and on the business’ bottom line. But the process of collecting, analyzing, and using data feels involved, complex, and perhaps sometimes more than it’s worth.

Analytics expert Scott Weersing to the rescue! During his recent Virtually There session, Scott shared the basics of learning analytics and how to use them to show your work makes an impact. (Watch the full replay here.)

Evaluation of digital learning programs, (when it happens!), often focuses on the technology or the process. Was the virtual classroom technology appropriate? Did you complete the eLearning? Did you download the infographic?

These types of questions don’t often provide satisfying results!  

Instead of looking at technology and process, we should be evaluating results. Who cares if content is delivered in a traditional classroom or a virtual classroom, as long as the results align with the business need?

The design and implementation of blended learning includes many moving parts. We consider the LMS that will host all the content, and the virtual classroom platform on which we will deliver live online components. We consider our learners, and the skills they need to build, and the wisdom they already possess. We also consider where learning will happen – whether in a classroom, on a mobile device, at a learner’s desk, or on-the-job.

One element we often overlook, though? Time. By not thinking through how learning takes place, we limit the potential of our programs.

If you were unfamiliar with L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz and read a description of the elements of the story, you’d likely see a list something like the following:

• a haunted castle with flying monkeys, a poppy field
• a tornado in Kansas, a village populated by wee folk
• a forest of talking foul-tempered trees
• a cornfield with a sentient scarecrow
• and a yellow brick road (YBR for short).

This weekend I had the luxury to catch up on some reading. Well, not just reading. There was a podcast, a whitepaper, the (digital) newspaper… in other words, it was a good weekend.

Some of the media I consumed was related to the learning and development industry, some was not. I was trying to give myself a break from work by engaging what intellectual bandwidth I had left at the end of the week in less heady content.

But, as is often the case, even the non-work-related content came back to learning and educational technology.

Virtually There Session Recap

Grabbing and keeping learners’ attention remains steadfastly at the top of the priority list for most trainers. Distractions abound in and out of the classroom – what can we do to provide the most interesting, engaging experience possible?

Expert Sharon Bowman believes Brain Science holds the answer. During her recent Virtually There session, Sharon shared six fundamental brain science concepts she relies on to teach memorable and impactful events. (Missed her live event? Click here to watch the replay).

And one of Sharon’s recommendations reminded me of a classic fashion tip: add a pop of color.

Evaluating a learning program is by far the best way to highlight its value to all business stakeholders. It also bolsters a culture of continuous improvement.

Without measurable results, it's hard to convince the business community that its learning and development (L&D) offerings are effective. Or even necessary.

We spend a lot of time at InSync considering how to design, develop, and deliver great virtual and blended learning solutions.  But how do we know they are, indeed, GREAT?

Creating content is only half of the learning development story. The other half is developing a plan for evaluating the learning. This requires crafting tools used to gather feedback that informs whether learners actually learned, as well as to determine to what extent learners apply what they learned in the workplace. An evaluation should also include on-the-job feedback as learners use newly acquired skills and knowledge.