Adaptive Studying Technique: 5 Suggestions To Obtain It
5 tips for an effective adaptive learning plan
The training of talents in organizations through digital learning is the norm in the “new normal”. And in the next step you make sure that the training actually corresponds to the individual needs and goals of your employees. This can only be achieved through effective adaptive learning. Put simply, adaptive learning is an educational method that aims to provide learners with unique and personalized experiences in order to maximize their performance. Ultimately, adaptive learning, which harnesses the power of online learning that also focuses on the individual needs, goals, preferences and learning styles of each learner, is then referred to as adaptive eLearning.
However, you might think that implementing it into your L&D can be quite a challenge. And yes it is. But it’s not rocket science either. All you have to do is make sure that every L&D program is geared towards the uniqueness of each learner.
Let’s take a look at the best practices on how to develop an adaptive learning strategy to effectively educate your learners.
1. Promote continuous learning
First and foremost, in developing an adaptive learning strategy, it is very important to foster a learning culture in your company. The feeling of continuous improvement not only encourages your employees to develop professionally, but it can also reflect your values as a company.
One of the challenges you may have to face is engaging the learner. Beyond the formal part of the training, you can offer your learners the opportunity to learn outside the confines of a (virtual) classroom and give them the opportunity to explore themselves, which leads to a less formal learning process.
Interestingly enough, self-directed learning is referred to as a central concept in adult education. While some people learn better with a structured curriculum, others prefer to have little to no guidance while reading various articles, watching videos, and taking mini-courses, depending on what goals they are trying to achieve at the moment.
Another way to foster a culture of continuous learning in your company is to provide more social learning opportunities. These encourage collaboration within and between teams.
You can do this by:
- Create a workplace learning blog or forum threads where your learners can interact with each other and measure their interest in learning.
- Meet them on social media platforms and deliver informal learning content there and involve them.
- Using collaborative learning tools that convey peer-to-peer interactions and enable internal subject matter experts (SMEs) to share their knowledge on specific topics.
By making sure that your people improve themselves, you are definitely paving the way for more effective adaptive learning in your company.
2. Secure sources for learner data
Next, find out where you can get data and information about your learners’ current job roles, industries, learning styles, preferences and interests that can help you determine which learning content you recommend to your employees. Whether you are doing this manually or using adaptive learning technology, it is important to note that you should have enough information about your employees’ learning behaviors and preferences.
If you already have enough data, you can take a look at the training courses that most of your learners are interested in, the resources they are consuming and the learning methods they prefer (ex. One-to-one, group.) . Lessons with their colleagues and a trainer). Based on this, you can learn about your learners’ preferences and tailor your continuing education program accordingly in terms of design, delivery and available learning content.
For example, an initial assessment of their learning objectives, preferences for learning styles, skill levels and such factors can help you assess what type of learning resources should be made available to them and on which platforms they should be offered. In fact, some eLearning platforms have an integrated portal that allows HR and L&D professionals to quickly monitor their learners’ progress, whether as a whole, in groups, or individually.
3. Focus on content that is relevant to your learners
Aside from having reliable adaptive learning technology, it’s great to have a rich pool of learning content and training courses. These should close the qualification gaps within your workforce.
Make sure your LMS or LXP is equipped with industry-specific, business-oriented, and job-related learning resources. This then suits every learner in your organization. It is also important that your training programs and solutions are deeply integrated into your learning system. One reason for this is easy training access, which can result in increased training consumption and traffic in your LMS or LXP.
That being said, a Netflix-like personalized learning system is great too, as its sophisticated content recommendation system can greatly influence the learning behavior of your employees and the specific and relevant content they consume. Some organizations use AI technology to suggest content to learners based on factors such as portal usage, skill level, and job role. This makes learning systems and processes more intuitive and engaging.
The key is to make sure you have educational content for everyone in your organization. This will make it easier for you (or your system) to suggest appropriate resources to employees when they deem it necessary to develop professionally and personally.
4. Make adjustments the norm
For some, adaptive learning is synonymous with personalized learning. And they’re pretty much alike, really. But they’re just related, not the same thing. You can put it this way: Personalized learning is a continuous learning journey made up of bespoke learning experiences. And it does this through adaptive learning to better meet specific needs and goals. The aim is to personalize learning experiences. And this can be effectively achieved through adaptive learning.
Accordingly, you can ensure the adaptation within your L&D by:
- Curating learning content based on each industry and job role
- Offer specific and focused training based on the individual learning needs and goals of the learners
- Creation of a tailor-made course curriculum per group or team
For example, if you want to focus on developing a specific team, create a bespoke curriculum and curriculum based on the current skills of the group members, their preferred learning modality, and areas for improvement. Aligning them to their collective learning needs and preferences makes L&D more focused and effective.
5. Consider a training program with a learning support team
It’s great to have a group of professionals who can support your learners every step of their learning journey, from starting your learning program to the assessment process.
So in your L&D program, make sure you have a group of counselors who can guide your learners towards the best possible learning experience. They can also be helpful in suggesting relevant learning content and activities that your employees can consume and use. Plus, these professionals know when to deliver the right content to your learners, at the right time, at the right moment, and on the most appropriate platform. In this way, you can effectively integrate adaptive learning into your training strategy. Aside from the technology behind personalized experiences, don’t forget to add a human touch to learning by having a dedicated learner support team.
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In summary, it can be said that an adaptive learning strategy in your L&D ensures highly personalized learning experiences for your employees. This can then help them educate and expand their skills, which are critical to the long-term growth of your business.
