Up close and personal : The benefits of a personalised approach to eLearning

Around 62% of Australian consumers expect personalisation from companies.  But how does this rise in personalisation affect eLearning?

In this blog, we’ll explore all aspects of personalisation in eLearning – including the benefits, challenges and what’s in store for the future.

Personalisation in technology

Personalisation has become a ubiquitous feature in today’s technology landscape, with companies harnessing user data to create tailored experiences for their customers. From music streaming services like Spotify that curate playlists based on listening habits to online retailers that recommend products based on previous purchases, personalisation has revolutionised the way we interact with technology.

One of the key benefits of personalisation in technology is that it can significantly enhance the user experience. By delivering content that is relevant to a user’s preferences and interests, companies can create a more engaging, ‘human’ experience which can lead to increased customer loyalty and ultimately, higher revenues.

However, personalisation also raises concerns about privacy and the potential misuse of user data. Companies must take steps to ensure that user data is used responsibly and transparently, and consumers must be aware of the trade-offs between personalised experiences and data privacy.

Despite these concerns, the trend towards personalisation in technology shows no signs of slowing down. As data collection and analysis techniques continue to evolve, the potential for personalised experiences will only continue to grow.

Personalisation in eLearning

Unsurprisingly, personalisation has also become a prominent feature in the eLearning industry, with many companies leveraging technology to create tailored learning experiences. By using data analytics to understand user behaviour, eLearning platforms can provide personalised recommendations for courses, modules, and resources that align with each learner’s interests and learning style.

One of the key benefits of personalisation in eLearning is that it can significantly improve learning outcomes. By providing content that is relevant to a learner’s needs and interests, eLearning platforms can increase engagement, motivation, and retention.

Personalisation can also help overcome the challenge of catering to a diverse range of learners – no longer is a one size fits all approach the only option. By offering personalised content and resources, eLearning platforms can cater to different learning styles and abilities, providing a more inclusive and accessible learning environment. For example, adaptive learning uses algorithms to adjust the experience based on the learner’s performance – if an individual answers a question incorrectly, the adaptive learning system might provide additional explanations or resources, helping them to better understand the concept.

What’s in store for the future?

The Australian eLearning market is expected to expand by 8% by 2026 – and as data collection and analysis techniques continue to evolve, the potential for personalisation will also only continue to grow.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are playing an increasingly important role. By using machine learning algorithms, we can expect to see even more sophisticated personalisation algorithms that consider a wider range of data points, such as biometric data and real-time user behaviour.

Personalisation is also likely to become more seamlessly integrated into our daily lives, with technology and eLearning platforms seamlessly adapting to our needs and preferences in real time. This could involve the use of wearable devices, augmented reality, and other emerging technologies to deliver personalised experiences that are truly immersive and engaging.

Given the speed at which this form of technology is advancing, it is crucial for companies and regulations to keep pace in order to minimise the risks around privacy and bias while maximising the benefits for everyone.

Five ways eLearning can help with personalised learning

With over 20 years’ experience in delivering learning systems, we understand that everyone learns differently, so it’s crucial that you have a system that utilises the benefits of today’s human-centric technology.  That’s where the applications we use like our learning management platform, Birch and authoring tools, Articulate 360 can help. They create seamless and effective learning experiences for all types of learners.

Here are some of the ways we use personalisation to enhance the learning experience.

1. Personalised learning paths: Birch provides personalised learning paths for each user based on their learning goals, interests, and progress. By recommending courses, modules, and resources that are relevant to each user’s needs, Birch creates a more engaging and effective learning experience.
2. Adaptive assessments: By analysing the learner’s responses and behaviour, adaptive assessments can identify areas of strength and weakness and recommend relevant learning resources. Using the extensive programming capability of Articulate Storyline we can create adaptive assessments.
3. Personalised content: All our applications allow for personalised content based on learning styles and preferences. For example, visual learners may benefit from videos and images, while auditory learners may prefer podcasts or audio recordings.
4. Personalised feedback: Personalised feedback can be used to help learners identify areas for improvement and track their progress. Using triggers and variables in Articulate Storyline we can create complex personalised feedback paths.

To find out more on how we can help you to create personalised learning solutions, please get in touch with us today. We’d love to hear more about your specific business needs and share the ways we can help.