Shifting From A Netflix To A YouTube Mannequin
How the crisis has changed How we train
L&D professionals have had to join the eLearning trend more than ever, whether you view it as a temporary fix or the new L&D normal. It is clear that things have changed. Since 2020 makes personal training practically impossible, we had to make an effort to become zoom-capable and convert our training plan into a digital training plan. So what did we learn? While it is theoretically great to have a large library of eLearning courses available to our employees, the reality is that it is a long process, with frequent investments in skills training, tools, and a full-time instructional designer. What’s the alternative? How can we, as L&D experts, meet the training needs of our colleagues promptly and completely digitally without losing quality?
What is the Netflix Model?
The world of eLearning is moving fast and trends are constantly emerging. Until recently, companies struggled to create a “Netflix educational model” for their employees. But what do we mean by that? The Netflix model provides a library of digital training content (usually hosted in a learning management system) that employees can use at their own pace on any device. However, times have changed and needs have developed just as quickly. Not only can this model be extremely costly, but it can also fall short of the mark for technical training or more business-specific content such as introductory packages and skills training. So move over Netflix, there’s a new workout model in town!
To buy or not to buy?
While standard agency-created content can be great for meeting specific learning needs and creating the Netflix library we all crave, it has some pitfalls. Research shows that employees respond better to internal or tailor-made content because it is more relevant to their needs. Having a large Netflix library of off-the-shelf eLearning courses can be overwhelming for employees and actually have the opposite effect. What’s the alternative?
Whether you are an L&D professional creating in-house digital training or working for an agency, we all agree that creating high quality eLearning courses can take time, resources and expertise. For many companies, this may not be an option right now. How can companies continue to offer their employees appealing and relevant training quickly and in the twinkling of an eye?
Say hello to the YouTube model
Enter the YouTube education model. Many L&D teams are now taking advantage of knowledge sharing opportunities to meet these needs and fill skills gaps. Instead of running eLearning courses at an alarming rate, seek out some subject matter experts in your company and make the most of their expertise.
The new goal for L&D professionals is to create a framework in which employees can easily upload their own training material and share their knowledge, similar to the tried and tested YouTube format. Studies have shown that most of us learn best when we learn social learning (learning by observing and imitating others).
As if that weren’t reason enough, research also shows that employees have limited time for professional training and therefore value short on-the-job training more than longer courses. This is great news for us in L&D. By moving to a YouTube strategy, we can create common and relevant eLearning content across our business without the need for video artists, graphic designers, and lots of content authoring licenses.
Where should I start?
Start with an inventory of the tools you currently have and see which tools may suit your needs. For example, does your LMS offer coach and share functions? If so, creating dedicated channels for employees to share your own tutorial videos and step-by-step guides can take the strain off technical training. Invest time designing clear formats for learning videos, presentation templates for knowledge sharing sessions, and a great gamification plan to reward employees for participating in the knowledge sharing process.
Many learning management systems offer content rating systems and hubs to create forums, Q&A sessions, and space for staff to share resources and learn together. If you haven’t already, spend some time researching how your current LMS and authoring tools can facilitate knowledge sharing across your organization and encourage informal learning to complement formal eLearning courses.
Good digital training does not have to cost the world, create a learning culture in your company and use the expertise of your colleagues. We all do best when we are in the driver’s seat of our own learning experience. It’s an exciting time in the eLearning industry and it’s time to harness the power of YouTube-style knowledge sharing.
