This issue of Training magazine is devoted to training tools and delivery. As you know, there are quite literally a gazillion (an actual unit of measure) different tools from which to choose. It is an embarrassment of riches.
However, let’s consider that buying more tools—even the most popular tools out there—will not make us better at doing anything. Resist the temptation to buy brand new tools just because they are new and different. Instead, take an honest inventory of what is already at your disposal and get better at using them. Really. Shiny objects don’t make us appear smarter or better at doing what we do. In fact, a tool used poorly can have exactly the opposite effect. And no one wants that! So take stock…today!
Use Current Tools…Better
In addition to taking stock of the tools you already have access to, learn or relearn how to use them better. For example, most of us use about 1 percent of the capabilities of PowerPoint. Maybe it makes sense to upgrade from Adobe Acrobat Reader to the full version of Acrobat or add Adobe Express to get what you need. Do you need to pay for a subscription app for editing audio files when a free tool like Audacity might be all you need? Closed captioning can be achieved using text-to-speech tools built into mobile devices and bundled toolsets, too.
After you’ve taken stock of tools already at hand, signed up for classes, completed the tutorials, read blog posts, and started projects using existing tech in new and different ways, it is time to review existing learning content, as well as programs that might be in process, to determine whether the delivery method is fully learner centric. Or was it one of too many hurry-to-get-it-done-the-way-we-always-do-it projects? If so, explore how learners might benefit if one or more conditions are shifted or changed. For example, would a desktop-only course be more effective and have more completions if it were shifted to a mobile option? Could classroom instructor-led only content be shifted into a blended, hybrid, or flipped model with more team and group projects built in?
Delivery Modes and Methods to Explore
Continuing to modes of content delivery and methods, beyond the classroom and learning management systems (LMS), here are some things you should prioritize learning more about:
- xAPI
While it has been around for years, Experience API (xAPI), sometimes referred to as Tin Can API, still seems to be shrouded in mystery and wonder and “maybe someday” spoken wistfully. 2025 seems like a great time to move past measuring learning completions only with SCORM-based metrics and get started. xAPI enables tracking and recording of diverse learning experiences, both online and offline.
Never heard of it? xAPI is highly versatile and able to capture data from a broad spectrum of activities such as virtual reality simulations, mobile app interactions, and even informal learning moments and reading text material. Flexibility allows you to gain deep insights into learner behaviors, preferences, and outcomes that can foster data-driven decision-making to refine training strategies. It can integrate seamlessly with most LMS platforms and other systems to create a unified ecosystem for continuous learning, making it an indispensable asset in developing robust, personalized learning environments.
- Personalized Learning
The term, “personalized learning” (PL), commonly appears in educational circles. But it has many faces and has a place in corporate and government learning and development (L&D) strategy discussions and planning, too. PL is built to tailor instruction to meet the unique needs, interests, and abilities of every learner. It involves customizing the learning experiences to ensure learners can learn in ways that suit them best. Some specific strategies for implementing PL include:
- Differentiated instruction: Tailor instructional methods and materials to accommodate learner preferences and abilities. For example, some learners may benefit from visual aids, while others might prefer hands-on activities or auditory instruction.
- Learner-centric learning: This approach allows learners to take an active role in their own learning, presenting choice in the learning activities, offering the ability to set their own goals, and providing opportunities for self-assessment and reflection.
- Blended learning: Combines traditional classroom instruction with one or more forms of online learning, allowing for some level of control over the time, place, path, and pace of their learning, making it more personalized.
- Adaptive Learning Technologies
In brief, adaptive learning technologies are digital tools that adjust the level of difficulty and types of content based on learner performance. The tools provide immediate feedback and additional resources to help learners master the material at their own pace.
Adaptive learning has emerged as a transformative approach in modern education and corporate training. Leveraging advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI), adaptive learning platforms dynamically tailor content delivery to suit individual learner profiles. These systems analyze data points such as prior knowledge, learning pace, and engagement levels.
Unlike traditional methods, adaptive learning ensures learners receive the right content at the right moment, effectively bridging gaps and reinforcing strengths. This approach not only enhances retention but empowers learners to take control of their learning journeys, fostering deeper understanding and skill acquisition. Some examples:
- Project-based learning: This strategy involves working on projects that are relevant to learners’ interests and real-world problems. It encourages critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity, and allows students to apply their knowledge in practical ways.
- Flexible grouping: Groupings created based on their current needs and abilities. Learners may be allowed to move between groups as they progress, ensuring that they are always working at an appropriate level.
Whether integrated with LMS platforms or standing alone, adaptive learning tools are redefining the landscape of training and education, making them indispensable in today’s rapidly evolving digital age.
Possible Outcomes
When learners are given the ability to complete learning they are likely “required” to complete, they do better. Go figure! Some of what you may see take place, likely rather quickly:
- Improved engagement
- Enhanced self-efficacy
- Improved critical skills
- Flexibility and Adaptability
- Increased levels of retention
By implementing one or more of these strategies, you can create a personalized and more positive learning environment that meets the unique needs of your learners.
