An antiquated model, often cited but never actually proven, that 70% of people gain knowledge from experiences. 20% from physical interactions. And the final 10% from learning content.
This is the practice of ensuring that all students have equal access to learning content, regardless of their abilities or challenges in life. Making content accessible is not difficult to achieve and really makes a difference to your audience.
An international association that created a guideline ‘language’, called AICC, to allow the content to talk to learning platforms – and tell it that the learning had completed the course. A precursor to SCORM.
A set of ‘language rules’ that allow two pieces of software to talk to each other and share data. For example; to implement a Single-Sign-On system where an HR platform logs you into a learning platform automatically.
A way of overlaying graphics over a real-time video or photo to enhance what the user sees.
A way of asking the learner for their input, to help assess their level of understanding in a topic. Often delivered as structured quiz questions in eLearning modules, as this allows for the assessment to be instant and not require “marking” by an assessor. See also Formative Assessments and Summative Assessments.
A set of software and applications that allow you to create, review and test learning content in a rapid, albeit structured, environment.
Content that has been created specifically for you. Designed to deliver a unique experience for your learners, using your brand, language and very specific topics. The opposite to this is Off-The-Shelf Learning.
Delivering learning content using a blend of different learning styles, individually chosen to benefit the learner and the topic. The blend is usually classroom, live and pre-recorded video, interactive content and documents/guides.
An antiquated name for Digital Learning or eLearning.
A group of learning content that has been specifically designed to help individuals achieve levels of competency to carry out their roles within a business.
Content that must be completed by learners to prove their compliance in a subject. Usually this is Health & Safety or Industry Regulation training.
The act of collecting content from many different sources and combining them into groups or catalogues to allow your learners to find and complete them.
This term is usually used to describe the entire catalogue of content that is available on a learning platform. Good learning platforms will further group content into catalogues, collections or curriculums.
A term used for the act of tagging content items with keywords to enable search engines to find the content easily. Tags can also join content together into related similarities, so learning platforms can make recommendations. Rather like Amazon’s “people that bought this also viewed this”.
Similar to Bespoke Content, however custom content can be a combination of Off-The-Shelf modules that have been customised with the client’s needs. brand and business language.
An open data file format that is simple to edit, for example in Excel, but does not use the proprietary Microsoft Excel format. CSV files are often used to import and export user data on learning platforms.
A combination of digital files, documents or interactive modules that deliver learning, outside of a Face-To-Face environment, via a self-serve learning platform. Also known as eLearning and previously called CBT.
Used to describe policies and initiatives that promote the representation and personal development of different types of individuals. This includes people of different; age, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability and disability, gender, culture and religion. DEI is vital in any successful business.
Although this term can include digital files and documents, eLearning is now used to represent interactive learning content. These interactive courses are generally created using Authoring Tools and saved as SCORM or xAPI modules to be loaded and delivered by a learning platform. eLearning is also known as Digital Learning and previously called CBT.
A term to describe learning that is delivered in-person in a classroom setting, allowing for deeper engagement and real-time communication and content tailoring. Where the students are not physically in the same location, this learning is called Virtual Classroom.
A more structured learning programme that is generally planned and delivered at fixed times within a business. It is becoming more popular for the personal development of learners in more senior mentoring or leadership programmes. The opposite to this is Informal Learning.
An Assessment type that is used to monitor user progress and immediately identify areas for improvement. Formative assessments are generally delivered as part of the learning content and are not given a score. See also Assessments and Summative Assessments.
Adding elements of game design into the learning program to encourage engagement and completion. Examples could be achievement badges, league tables, or unlocking content based on successful interactions.
A slightly antiquated method of creating content by coding by hand. For very bespoke content hand-coding can still be relevant, but in most cases Authoring Tools are used nowadays to create Bespoke Content. The opposite to this is Off-The-Shelf Learning.
Software generally used by the HR department to manage employee data, payroll, recruitment, benefits and sickness. Some HR platforms can also host learning content but most businesses prefer to separate the HR and Learning functions into separate, but connected, platforms. Connecting the platforms is usually carried out using an API, Single-Sign-On or CSV data file transfer.
One-page documents that represents a piece of information, data or process pictorially. Usually an infographic combines text, images, graphs and iconography.
Learning that is outside of any formal or diarised learning programme. Informal learners can set their own goals and challenges and access the learning they wish to complete, when they want to complete it. The opposite to this is Formal Learning.
See eLearning (e-Learning).
Instructional design is the process of creating content and experiences that help people learn. It involves analysing learner needs, identifying problems to solve, designing and developing training materials, and measuring their effectiveness.
An online platform that is used to design, manage, deliver and report on learning content to a set of users. Please also see LMS, LRS and LXP for alternative platform options.
A method of delivering a programme of Informal and Formal learning in a progressive manner. Learners progress through a journey of discovery and learning to help them achieve a competency in a certain subject or role.
An online platform that is used to manage, deliver and report on learning content to a set of users. Traditionally they have been used to deliver more Formal Learning, however they are used more and more to deliver Informal Learning. LMS platforms do not generally include authoring tools. Please also see LCMS, LRS and LXP for alternative platform options.
An LRS is a platform that generally records, reports and analyses the learning data of users. The learning can be carried out in a number of different places including attending events and interacting on social platforms. Please also see LCMS, LMS and LXP for alternative platform options.
A platform that flips the user experience around and focuses on user needs. Rather than delivering a complete catalogue of content, a LXP will ask key questions and deliver opportunities for the learner to develop their skills and address their knowledge gaps. Please also see LCMS, LMS and LRS for alternative platform options.
Delivering short bursts of content to a learner which they can consume quickly and easily. Usually, the content takes no more than 5 minutes but is often shorter in length. Microlearning is a great way to delivering snippets of knowledge in an agile learning environment.
A solution that delivers free online content to anyone who wants to access it. MOOCs are an affordable way to learn new skills but do have challenges. Often the user experience is very complicated, content is hard to find, and topics can be inaccurate or out-of-date.
Ready-made training content, created by external companies, which can be rapidly implemented into your business. The content has generic messaging and may not fully align with your business messaging and processes. Compliance and Health & Safety content tends to be purchased Off0The-Shelf. The opposite to this is Bespoke Content.
The process of guiding a new employee into a business. Helping them understand the skills, processes and systems required to make them an effective staff member. Companies with a large staff-churn require rapid onboarding and often start the process before the employee officially starts their job. This is sometimes called preboarding.
A collection of questions that can be used repeatedly in a learning program. The term can also be used for a collection of questions where the user is presented with a random sub-set during the learning, to make sure that their assessment is different from their colleagues.
An antiquated term for Assessment.
The process of guiding an existing employee through a major change in a business, or if they have been away from the business for a long period of time. See Onboarding.
A vital part of a learning delivery programme. Competent Learning Platforms should provide the facility to report on the raw user and learning module data. Modern platforms can also provide analysis of that data to help measure the effectiveness of a learning programme.
A more comprehensive approach to measuring the success of an L&D programme holistically. ROE measures how the programme aligns with the goals of the business and moves away from the more traditional ROI financial measurement.
A measurement that focuses on the financial return of a learning programme. How much was spent and how much was earnt. This method is often difficult to measure and does not look at the entire benefit to a business. A more holistic approach is ROE.
A set of technical standards that define how eLearning content and a Learning Management Systems (LMS) interact with each other. SCORM defines how content is packaged and uploaded, how the LMS will present it, how the two elements communicate with each other, and how progress and scoring is tracked. SCORM is an enhancement on AICC and precursor to xAPI. All good LMS platforms will support SCORM.
A method of authenticating a user and allowing them to access multiple platforms using a single set of credentials. Often used by businesses to allow their users to access a learning platform directly, from their HR System or Intranet, without requiring further login. This is the same type of functionality you would use on a website that allows you to login to a third-party website using your LinkedIn, Microsoft or Gmail login details.
An individual who has specialised knowledge in a particular skill, topic, process, programme, software technology, etc. SMEs are the key to your successful learning programme. The SME can either work inside a business or be an independent external expert. A good instructional designer or content writer will be able to interrogate the SME and extract all of the information required to deliver exceptional learning, using the SME knowledge.
An Assessment type that focuses on the final evaluation for a learning module. Summative assessments are generally delivered at the end of the learning and the responses are given a score. See also Assessments and Formative Assessments.
An early name for the standard that became xAPI (Experience API)
A structured assessment process that measures and identifies the needs of the staff in a business. This helps identify skills and knowledge gaps and defines the best approach to address them.
A single platform that has been designed purely to collate, host, and manage video content for a business. Can be used for L&D or can also support other business departments. Most learning platforms can support video content, but they can also provide links to video, hosted on a VCMS, in a seamless manner for learners.
See Virtual Classroom.
A term to describe learning that is delivered in-person, to remote learners, using a video conferencing system like Teams or Zoom. Often seen as a poor relation to Face-To-Face Learning, however, a competent trainer can still engage with the audience with real-time communication and content tailoring. There is also an argument that virtual experiences, breakout rooms, and interactive assessments make the learning more effective than a classroom alone.
A method of learning delivery that represents spaces and objects in a fully virtual manner. VR allows users to experience things that would not normally be available to them like travelling through space or entering a human body. Unlike Augmented Reality, which relies on graphics to enhance a real place or object, VR is completely computer generated.
xAPI is a new method of allowing content to communicate with a learning platform. Whereas SCORM can record progress and completion. xAPI is based on web technologies and can be used to record absolutely any learning activity. The activity is stored in a way that allows both humans & machines to read the data. Not all LMS platforms support xAPI yet.
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