We all experience multiple “learning experiences” every day. These can be as informal as searching online for how to use a type of software or coming across a new industry term.
The most structured kinds of learning experiences most of us go through are professional training programmes. These are far from uniform and will differ from company to company, department to department, and even individual to individual.
Types of Learning
There are different ways of delivering company-wide learning and development programmes, each with their own benefits:
- Traditional Classroom Learning
In the past, all formal workplace learning was delivered face-to-face by an instructor. Although this had (and still has) numerous benefits, such as being immediately interactive, it is very limited and often expensive.
By its nature, it can only be delivered once, at a certain point in time, to people who are physically present. This makes it a bad fit for remote teams and people who want to take the training in their own time or go over it again. One badly-timed employee illness could mean they miss out on vital training.
- eLearning
Online learning courses are the ultimate flexible solution. They can be taken in any location with an internet connection, are often designed with mobile devices in mind and learners can return to them after completion if they need to go over something again.
eLearning providers create courses in topics such as health and safety and compliance, meeting the needs of new starters and those who want refresher training alike. They are ideal for remote teams, organisations based over multiple sites or shift patterns, and companies who want to cover all of their training needs in a flexible, cost-effective way.
- Blended Learning
The blended style of learning attempts to combine the best of both worlds. There have been various terms used for it over the years, such as “hybrid learning” and “mixed-mode instruction”, and just as many different definitions.
Put simply, blended learning uses both face-to-face training and eLearning. The two types of learning complement and reinforce one another. This method is common at universities and colleges, where learning materials covered briefly in lessons or lectures can be accessed later through online portals. Many businesses also use this model.
Learning Experience Platforms
For many years, the Learning Management System (LMS) has been the preferred kind of platform for organisations to deliver their eLearning through. They provide a secure space to store learner records, all eLearning courses and training materials. Administrators can enrol learners on all relevant courses and track their progress. The LMS entered the learning and development industry market in the 1990s and has been the dominant system for delivering eLearning since.
Recently, the term Learning Experience Platform (LXP) has been used more frequently. LXPs perform many of the same functions as LMSs, but platforms with the LXP title tend to have more user-friendly interfaces. They tend to use AI and data collection to personalise suggestions for further study in selected areas.
Our Astute platform has been designed with user experience at the forefront. Equally useful for desktop learning or via mobile devices, the platform provides targeted learning journeys to identify and prioritise each learners’ needs and continued career development.
