E-learning is a dynamic and evolving field that requires constant learning and adaptation. Whether you are an e-learning designer, developer, instructor, or learner, you need to keep up with the latest trends and innovations in the industry. In this article, we will share some tips on how you can update your e-learning skills and stay ahead of the curve.
The first step to update your e-learning skills is to identify your learning goals and gaps. What are the skills and knowledge that you need to improve or acquire to meet your professional or personal objectives? You can use a self-assessment tool, such as a SWOT analysis or a skills matrix, to evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. You can also seek feedback from your peers, mentors, or clients to identify your areas of improvement.
I'd suggest that updating your skills should also be focused heavily on the trends within the industry. For example, someone may have personal objectives that do not include Artificial Intelligence. However if they want to stay relevant and employed within their role, they certainly have to consider upskilling in that area. Identifying your "learning goals" should include both personal and professional aspirations, but also areas of which your industry and job role dictates.
In some areas such as e-learning, identifying your learning goals isn't always easy. You don't know what you don't know. One way of identifying learning goals is to participate in design challenges. not only will this give you an idea of software required, but it is also a source of inspiration for colour, theme, functionality and design, all key areas in e-learning. Master the frameworks and the tools will simply be the vehicle.
I don't think we need to make such a lot of effort to analyse our needs. If you are actively creating content, you automatically have to update your skills. One day you need to edit a video, another day you have to erase the an element from an image, and you see posts on LinkedIn on digital storytelling and AI-assisted course generators and take a look, and update your skills.
Sometimes the best way to identify your learning goal is to go with "Undecided." Decades ago, applying to any school or program as "Undecided" seemed like a pure risk (How dare you be uncertain about your immediate future!). At best "Undecided" was a calculated risk for individuals who knew the major they wanted to declare but the competition was stiff. So a workaround was declaring "Undecided" to get accepted into the institution and later declaring the major they wanted all along. The beauty of e-learning is you can dabble in myriad topics and skills while remaining, in essence, "Undecided." There is nothing wrong with experimenting to see where life and learning experiences naturally take you to determine your learning goal(s).
Take a look at what you’ve done recently and do something different. Explore new tools and delivery modalities. Been presenting static content in Rise? Build a video in Camtasia! Making a lot of passive videos? Make an interactive video in Captivate or Storyline! Whatever you’re doing now, actively switch it up and deliberately do your work differently. You’ll grow in the process.
The next step is to choose the best learning resources that suit your learning goals, preferences, and budget. There are many options available for e-learning professionals and enthusiasts, such as online courses, webinars, podcasts, blogs, newsletters, books, and magazines. You can also join online communities, forums, and networks where you can interact with other e-learning experts and learners, share ideas, and get support. You should look for reputable, relevant, and updated sources that provide quality content and instruction.
Another thing to consider when choosing resources is how you plan to use your new skill. If I'm learning something new for my content creator or personal life, I often choose informal options such as LinkedIn Learning courses, YouTube, books, or industry newsletters. However, when I learn something I need to use within a higher education institution, I choose more formal options such as micro-credentials or certificate programs because those are the most accepted forms of "proof" of learning in that industry.
The third step is to plan your learning schedule and commit to it. You need to allocate time and energy to your learning activities and make them a priority. You can use a calendar, a planner, or a learning management system (LMS) to organize your learning tasks and track your progress. You should also set realistic and measurable learning objectives and milestones that will help you stay focused and motivated.
I would suggest two best practices to own the learning: 1) Using mind-map tools to take notes of all the newly acquired knowledge and skills. It helps to reconstruct knowledge and visualize your competence; 2) Using Kanban board (on project management tools or Excel) to plan your learning and track your progress. I personally use Monday.com to track all my self-learning over the years. It's recommended to list all your dreamed skills in your kanban board at the beginning of each year, consistently update it, visualize all the career capitals that you acquired, and reward yourself once you meet a big milestone!
Scheduling and staying on schedule are personal in nature. So it is important you pick a style just right for you (think Goldilocks and the Three Bears: not too hot, not too cold, but just right). If you are not in synch (all puns intended) with the scheduling method chosen, then it will be an epic fail. The same goes for the chosen method of accountability (hitting those milestones). My preference is block scheduling. I lead a very productive life and need to create harmony between several schedules (parenting, business, personal, etc.). Chunking my day and/or week means almost every detail of my life has a place, plan, and alloted time (including my free time). So if something goes off track all I have to do is shift blocks around.
I think, planning your learning schedule is crucial for effective learning. It involves allocating time and energy, prioritizing tasks, and setting realistic goals. Utilize tools like calendars or learning management systems for organization. Moreover, setting measurable objectives ensures focus and motivation. Consider incorporating breaks for optimal retention. Personalizing schedules to individual learning styles fosters efficiency. Embrace adaptability, adjusting plans as needed, and stay open to new methodologies. #LearningStrategies #TimeManagement #PersonalGrowth
The fourth step is to apply your learning outcomes to your e-learning projects and practices. You need to transfer your newly acquired skills and knowledge to your real-life situations and challenges. You can use a portfolio, a blog, or a case study to showcase your work and demonstrate your competence. You can also seek feedback from your colleagues, managers, or customers to evaluate your performance and identify your areas of improvement.
In my opinion, applying learning outcomes to e-learning projects involves more than mere application; it's about reflection and adaptation. Embrace diverse perspectives, including user feedback, to refine content and delivery. Utilize platforms like portfolios or blogs to exhibit growth. Solicit feedback actively, recognizing it as a catalyst for improvement. Employing #selfreflection and #continuousimprovement fosters a dynamic learning environment, crucial for evolving e-learning practices. Personal engagement enhances the learning journey, making it more enriching and fulfilling.
The fifth step is to reflect on your learning process and outcomes. You need to review your learning goals, resources, schedule, and outcomes and assess how well you achieved them. You should also identify what worked well and what did not, what you learned and what you still need to learn, and what you can do better next time. You can use a journal, a survey, or a SWOT analysis to document your reflections and insights.
Consider mentioning that when setting your goals, it helps to have measurable outcomes. If you are trying to understand how well something was achived, it helps to know exactly how you intend of measuring that success. It's not enough to say something failed, or was a great success, without having data to back it up.
If you are undertaking learning that isn't formally accredited, then consider using a blog as your reflection tool. This allows you to present your designs/outputs in one place, along with accompanying reflections and challenges, and can serve as part of a portfolio if you are looking for new challenges.
Journaling is an awesome way to chronicle what worked, needs improvement or should be ditched entirely. Truth be told, I am a new-ish convert to the powers of keeping a journal. I avoided journaling like the plague, even when it was required for schooling. Now I have several journals for all aspects of my life. The secret is finding the journaling technique that is right for you. There are several methods that are just plain fun. If you are adverse to formal writing then try drawings, a collage, stickers, a T-chart of pros and cons, a Likert scale (1-5), or other ranking systems. Feel free to let loose and be creative with your reflections. Perhaps emojis ????♀? ???? ?? are how you best express your insights. Go for it!
In my opinion, reflecting on the learning process is crucial. Evaluating goals, resources, and outcomes helps gauge success. It's essential to identify strengths and weaknesses, learning gaps, and improvement areas. Utilizing tools like journals or SWOT analysis aids in documenting insights. Additionally, considering diverse perspectives and incorporating #selfawareness enhances the process. Personal perspective emphasizes growth and adaptability, fostering continuous improvement. Reflecting allows refining strategies for future endeavors, promoting lifelong learning.
The sixth step is to update your learning plan based on your reflections and feedback. You need to adjust your learning goals, resources, schedule, and outcomes according to your changing needs and expectations. You should also look for new opportunities and challenges that will help you grow and advance your e-learning skills. You can use a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) framework to revise your learning plan and ensure its effectiveness.
As a lover of the humanities and all things literature, it is important to note that updating your learning plan can fall into two broad categories: revising and editing. Sometimes your plan might require a complete overhaul (revision). Other times a little tweak here and there is all that is needed (editing). Like writing, updating your learning plan is an ongoing process that will constantly see-saw between revision and editing at every stage.
In my opinion, the sixth step of updating a learning plan is crucial for personal growth. It demands reflection, feedback integration, and adaptation of goals, resources, and schedules. One should seek diverse perspectives to enrich learning experiences, leveraging hashtags for broader insights. Personally, I believe this step fosters resilience and agility in the face of evolving challenges. Moreover, integrating a SMART framework ensures the effectiveness of the updated plan, empowering continuous improvement. #PersonalGrowth #Adaptability #SMARTFramework
I think that outside of focusing on the learning outcomes and gaps you need to cover, you also need to pay attention to how you’re delivering the content. I don’t mean this in a theoretical way as much as in a design way. Have you chosen a theme for your topic? Is there some sort of a story that goes along with it? We’ve all sat through some sort of eLearning course that presents the information in a clear and professional manner. And those never stand out. What does stand out is the course that was modeled after a comic book or an old 8-bit video game. These make the learning memorable because the learner now has multiple ways to recall the material. So a lot of the time, enhancing the skills lies in trusting your creativity.
One should always be open to learning something new. That not only updates your skills but also opens up a vast array of opportunities. You should also keep track of the latest trends in the field of elearning so that you can work towards achieving those goals in near future.
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In my opinion, updating e-learning skills involves: Identifying learning goals to focus efforts effectively. Choosing diverse resources, including interactive platforms and expert-led courses. Scheduling learning sessions to maintain consistency. Applying gained knowledge in practical scenarios to reinforce understanding. Adding personal perspective, I found experimenting with various platforms crucial in finding what suits me best. Considering additional factors like peer collaboration and seeking feedback can further enhance learning experiences. #eLearning #SkillDevelopment #PersonalGrowth