Diluted AI for ELearning? Switch things up, without starting from scratch
If you’ve not been living under a rock, or on some social media or digital detox, then you’ve probably seen the flurry of news surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI). Particularly in Learning and Development, this produced quite the earthquake when the AI powered chat bot, ChatGPT, came on the scene and instructional designers realised they could have full training sessions written for them at the touch of a button.
“The quality of the output is very much dependent on the user’s input…it (ChatGPT) produced an answer which included the bones of an eLearning course, but lacked creativity and originality.”
Now I’m no expert on AI, I did however try out ChatGPT myself and concluded the quality of the output is very much dependent on the user’s input. When I prompted the bot to give me ideas for an eLearning course on wellbeing, it produced an answer which included the bones of an eLearning course, (i.e. learning outcomes, written content etc.) but lacked creativity and originality.
Don’t worry this isn’t going to be another post on the pros and cons of ChatGPT.
Amid the obsession with ChatGPT, many people are forgetting that AI powered systems and platforms have actually been a part of digital learning for some time. We have Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), both of which are powered by AI and most recently Learner Experience Platforms (LXP’s).
AR and VR never really took off in L&D, they’re expensive to setup, can be difficult to update and could be gimmicky if not used appropriately. LXP’s however, are where I think AI in learning is done well.
Not familiar with LXP’s? Let me provide a brief overview.
A Learner Experience Platform is almost like a customised Learning Management System (LMS) just for you. It houses a wealth of curated content to support learning, this could be eLearning, blogs, podcasts, videos. The learner is then presented with content that best suits their needs, skill level and job role. The platform will also suggest content based on what the learner has already consumed.
Unlike LMS’ in which the learner is enrolled onto courses, an LXP provides a lot more freedom and choice for the user to choose what they learn based on their individual goals. But where does AI fit into this?
Well an LXP is powered by AI, as with ChatGPT, the more information the user gives to the LXP, the better it can push forward and curate content suited to them. It then uses this ‘intelligence,’ to build a bigger picture of the user and adapt itself continuously, as the data inputted by the user changes and develops. Pretty neat right?
We’re all a bit selfish nowadays.
I don’t mean this in a bad way, actually I think it’s a good thing. Nowadays people are really taking ownership of their learning and want to complete learning that is going to directly benefit them and move them towards their individual goals. Therefore, trawling through an LMS to find a training course, or eLearning that feels relevant, can be a boring and laborious task.
Personalisation and choice are not only nice to have’s, but can actually boost retention and increase learner engagement. I mean it’s not rocket science that if you were offered a suit tailored exactly to your size in whatever colour you’d like, or a navy blue suit in standard high street size, you’d obviously want the tailored version.
That being said it can be a big move switching from an LMS to an LXP, so not all organisation’s are ready for an LXP yet.
This got me thinking, how can we translate influences of AI and LXP’s into a platform that most organisation’s already use? How can we switch things up, without starting from scratch?
Thankfully, eLearning is a very versatile method of digital learning and with the right technical know how, can be made to be personalised and support choice. So let’s walk through some options.
Add a name
Let’s start really simple by just adding a name to your eLearning course. Insert a new text entry box and provide instructions for the learner to input their name. On the next and subsequent slides, insert a new text box and click ‘reference.’ From here find your text entry variable and click okay. This will carry the learner’s name across slides. You could even input this into your master slide deck, so that the learner’s details are always present.
2. Create a quiz to determine content
Create a short quiz that asks the learner to answer a variety of questions. These questions will then determine which modules, or sections of the eLearning are best suited to them. This can be created using variables and states and is a bit tricky at first, but with good planning can be successful. Map your variables to each quiz answer, this will then dictate the modules, or topics shown at the end.
Module selection.
In the example image above, you will see how as a result of the learner answering the 3 questions, it has determined these 3 modules are best suited to their current knowledge and skillset. This would require programming all modules into the eLearning and you could still offer the learner access to all modules, once they have completed the recommended ones.
3. Support preference
Now before you all get rowdy, yes I know learning styles are a myth and have been debunked. Don’t come for me okay! I’m talking about preference here. This means accommodating to the way people prefer to consume content. For example, sometimes I like to listen to podcasts, but if I’m in a noisy environment I prefer to read something instead.
Consider providing multiple options for your learning content. Did you know video, podcasts and blog articles can all be embedded into an eLearning?
For each topic within your eLearning, consider curating a variety of content that can suit different preferences. This doesn’t mean replicating work, instead curating existing assets, so that the learning outcomes can be met, regardless of the method of learning.
Obviously the above will not be as intuitive, or as seamless as what AI can do, but it’s a step forward in taking our eLearning courses to the next level and making them feel more learner-centred. Because whilst AI can be exciting, I think in L&D we need to iron out a few creases, before we go buying yet another new shirt.
