As we speak, there are around 200 million school-going students. Nearly 600 million Indians, almost half of India’s population, are aged less than 30. Our dream of India becoming a world power by 2047 can only come true if we have a large, employable workforce.
To fulfil this demand, edtech and skill development organisations are playing a vital role in bridging the gap between academia and industry demands by providing impact-driven training at scale. But a big question lies in front of them: How to ensure the success of training delivery? Is it getting a learner placed in a job or ensuring each candidate acquires the necessary skills?
While these might be one of the many outcomes, it is important to discuss the impact of training programs. Understanding this will ensure that learners are skilled, and hence, they’ll achieve a lot more than just getting a good job.
This brings into view the “Loop of Success” for edtech and skill development businesses, which ensures that impact is delivered across all their training programs. Let’s dive deeper and explore the concept, which is true for any training program out there, to measure training impact and effectiveness.
Stage 1: Create a Comprehensive Learning Experience
This involves several steps to ensure the learning material is engaging and educational.
- The process begins with a thorough “need analysis”. To understand the learners’ goals, challenges and basic knowledge. Based on this, clear and measurable learning objectives are defined.
- The next step involves curating & developing content in a way that it aligns with these goals. Using a variety of formats to adapt to diverse learning preferences. This includes virtual training, in-person sessions and interactive activities. Additionally, assessments are crafted to evaluate learner progress and offer feedback.
- Finally, the course is reviewed and refined based on learner feedback and learning outcomes. Thus creating a dynamic learning environment that evolves with the needs of its participants.
This structured approach facilitates an in-depth, streamlined, and effective learner experience. Now that we know this, let’s move on to stage two to understand how it is beneficial.
Stage 2: Gather Data from the Learner’s Journey
More than 70% of training businesses fail to deliver immersive training experiences despite having world-class training programs. This is one of the key challenges faced by the industry.
This directly results in low course completion rates, poor assessment performance or low NPS.
More than 90% of these businesses have reported that they fail to measure basic KPIs. Such as DAU (daily active users), MAU (monthly active users, DAU:MAU (a ratio of both), engagement rate, learner satisfaction levels and more.
But what could be the core reason for this? Is data not available? Or is it available but still not helping in measuring any KPIs?
After working with more than 5,000 businesses, one of the core reasons behind this is a “broken learner experience,” most often caused by a “disjointed use of multiple platforms.”
Creating a comprehensive learning experience involves gathering data from the learner’s journey. Mainly to optimize and tailor training strategies effectively. This stage is crucial for understanding how learners interact with the content and which tools are most effective.
Since training businesses are often hindered by this core challenge. They can benefit significantly from integrating a centralized data collection system.
Such a system would track key metrics across all tools. Analyzing this data helps identify successful elements and those that might need improvements.
Hence, enabling educators to refine the curriculum and teaching methods. This approach not only makes learning more cohesive and personalized. But also drives continuous improvement in educational offerings.
Stage 3: Examine Performance, Engagement and Satisfaction
Building on this foundation of data requires examining learner performance, engagement, and satisfaction. This is pivotal in assessing the effectiveness of the learning modules and the overall training environment.
- By measuring learner performance through assessments and tracking engagement metrics. Training businesses can gauge how well the content resonates with the learner base. This includes metrics like participation rates and time spent on modules or assignments.
- Learner satisfaction surveys and feedback forms are also integral. Mainly because they provide direct insights into their experiences and perceived course value.
This comprehensive insight and evaluation allows training businesses to pinpoint their strengths. All while identifying areas for improvements in the learning experience. Thus, ensuring that the curriculum remains aligned with learner needs and expectations. Thereby maximizing training impact.
Stage 4: Enhance the Learning Experience
After collecting and analyzing this 360-degree data, training businesses are well-equipped to enhance the learning experience and maximize training outcomes.
This valuable data serves as a foundation for iterative improvements to both the content and delivery methods. By identifying patterns and trends in this data, educators can customize learning paths, which then increases relevance and overall learner satisfaction.
For instance, if data shows learners consistently struggle with a specific module, the content can be revised. To be more digestible or supplemented with additional resources such as tutorials or interactive exercises.
Furthermore, drilling down on learner satisfaction can lead to improvements in user interfaces and content interactions, making the platform more intuitive and engaging. This dynamic approach not only elevates the quality of training delivered but also ensures that training remains cutting-edge and highly effective.
Summarising the “Loop Of Success”
The loop of success in edtech an skill development businesses is a vicious cycle of enhancements aimed at improving training effectiveness, impact, and outcomes.
To begin with, creating a comprehensive learning experience via a thorough needs analysis is crucial. To understand learners’ goals, challenges and knowledge levels. Leading to the development of clear and measurable learning objectives. Training content is then curated across various formats. Like virtual training, in-person sessions & interactive activities.
The subsequent stage involves gathering and analyzing data from the learner’s journey. Alongside addressing the common issue of disjointed tools which breaks the learning experience. By implementing a centralized system, training businesses gain insights into content interaction & engagement. Thus, driving curriculum refinements.
In the next stage, detailed analysis of performance, engagement and satisfaction metrics is done. This helps further identify the strengths and weaknesses of the training programs. This evaluation is critical to aligning the curriculum with learner needs.
Lastly, the gathered data informs iterative improvements in both content and delivery. Identifying trends allow for the personalization of learning paths & adjustments to specific modules. Enhancements in UI & interaction contribute to a more intuitive and enjoyable learning platform.
Key Takeaways
So to wind up with a few quick key-takeaways, here’s a brief list of action items for edtech and skill development businesses.
- Implement a Comprehensive Needs Analysis: Start by thoroughly understanding your learners’ backgrounds & objectives. To tailor the learning experience effectively.
- Develop and Integrate Varied Content Formats: Use a mix of digital and physical learning tools. To better address different learning preferences and ensure comprehensive content coverage.
- Establish Robust Assessment and Feedback Mechanisms: Regularly evaluate learner progress and course effectiveness. Through structured assessments and feedback channels.
- Fix “Broken Learner Experiences”: To enhance user interface, interaction and centralise data collection, integrate all learning tools into a single platform. To streamline data collection and allow for more cohesive analysis and comprehensive insights.
- Analyze Learning Data Intensively: Dive deep into the data to understand learner engagement and performance. Then use these to guide curriculum adjustments, enhancements and increase course engagement.
- Continuously Refine Learning Modules: Use feedback and performance data to make targeted improvements to learning modules and overall course structure.
With this brief yet comprehensive list of key takeaways, you’re on the right track to crafting engaging & effective courses and training programs. While also maximizing its impact and outcomes.
