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Weekly Digest #136: Optimizing Lecture Capture

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Weekly Digest #136: Optimizing Lecture Capture

Today’s weekly digest is motivated by a paper on lecture capture that I (Carolina) am currently co-writing (1). I thought it would be a good idea to put together a digest summarizing the evidence behind the benefits or pitfalls of recording university lectures. While students are eager to get their hands on lecture recordings, lecturers are usually more hesitant to provide such recordings – fearing that attendance rates will drop substantially. However, it does look like that the future in Higher Education will move towards lecture recordings as a standard practice and it is therefore important to understand ways to optimize their use. Essentially, it will boil down to informing students and lecturers how to make the best use of lecture recordings (1).

Image from Pixabay

Image from Pixabay

1)      Capturing The Lecture by Emily Nordmann, @emilynordmann

In this post some of the main fears that come with lecture capture are described and solutions are proposed. The focus here is on creating good policies that facilitate the implementation of effective use of lecture capture.

 

2)      The Complete Guide To Lecture Capture by Justin Simon via TechSmith, @TechSmith

In this guide the whys and hows of lecture capture are described. It also contains information of of software to use and tips on making effective recordings.

 

3)      Lecture Capture: What Can We Learn From The Research? by Gabi Witthaus, @twitthaus

This article gives a research overview of the effects of lecture capture on student learning and student perception. The author provides a wonderful account of the literature, which holds important practical implications.

Image from Pixabay

Image from Pixabay

 

4)      Lecture Recording: What Does Research Say About Its Effect On Attendance? by Karoline Nanfeldt, @knanfeldt

This is a post by a former 4th Year student at University of Edinburgh. She provides a brief summary of the effects of lecture capture on lecture attendance. This account is particularly interesting because it captures the student voice.

 

5)      Lecture Attendance, Lecture Recordings, And Student Performance: A Complex, But Noteworthy Relationship by Carolina Kuepper-Tetzel, @pimpmymemory

This blog post summarizes a study that looked into the complicated relationship between lecture recordings, attendance, student characteristics, and student performance. It provides a good idea of the many factors that play a role in investigating the benefits of lecture capture.

References

(1)    Nordmann E., Kuepper-Tetzel, C. E., Robson, L., Phillipson, S., Lipan, G. I., & McGeorge, P. (2018, December 11). Lecture capture: Practical recommendations for students and lecturers. Retrieved from psyarxiv.com/sd7u4.

Every Sunday, we pick a theme and provide a curated list of links. If you have a theme suggestion, please don’t hesitate to contact us! Occasionally we publish a guest digest, and If you’d like to propose a guest digest click here. Our 5 most recent digests can be found here:

Weekly Digest #131: Increasing Grading/Marking Efficiency

Weekly Digest #132: Dual Coding, Visual Note Taking, and Sketchnoting

Weekly Digest #133: Technology for Math Learning

Weekly Digest #134: How to Sleep Well

Weekly Digest #135: SoTL Researcher Spotlight II

Weekly Digest #135: SoTL Researcher Spotlight II

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Weekly Digest #135: SoTL Researcher Spotlight II

Dr. Henry L. Roediger, III is a cognitive psychologist recognized for his work on human learning and memory. He is known for developing techniques to study false memories, the power of retrieval practice in enhancing learning and retention, and a theory to explain differences observed between explicit and implicit memory tests. Dr. Roediger has served as President of the Association for Psychological Science and several other organizations of psychologists. He received the William James Lifetime Achievement Award from APS as well as numerous other awards. For information about Roddy’s research, visit his lab website.

Word + Quiz: yurt

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Word + Quiz: yurt

Note: Our Sixth Annual 15-Second Vocabulary Video Challenge is underway. It will run until Feb. 18.

: a circular domed dwelling that is portable and self-supporting; originally used by nomadic Mongol and Turkic people of Central Asia but now used as inexpensive alternative or temporary housing

_________

The word yurt has appeared in 19 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Feb. 2 in “A Room (or a Ryokan, Yurt or R.V.) With a View” by Stephanie Rosenbloom:

Airbnb’s booking data for the beginning of this year suggests that more travelers are interested in spending their vacations in what the short-term rental site calls “nontraditional” spaces, particularly those that allow travelers to be or feel closer to nature. Bookings for nature lodges and ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) have skyrocketed since last year. Reservations for yurts and recreational vehicles (R.V.s) have also spiked.

These are hardly new or nontraditional forms of shelter. The ryokan is centuries old. Yurts have been used by nomads for decades. Yet it seems interest in such lodgings has prompted more places to not only offer them, but reimagine them, too. The latest iterations have modern comforts and deluxe trappings even as they aim to retain some of the minimalism and spirit of their predecessors.

Learning With: ‘These Whales Are Serenaders of the Seas. It’s Quite a Racket.’

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Learning With: ‘These Whales Are Serenaders of the Seas. It’s Quite a Racket.’

4. How do scientists study whale sounds? What challenges do they face in tracking whale sounds over time?

5. How is the development of an individual whale’s song “one of the best examples of cultural evolution in the animal kingdom”? What are some of the hypotheses to explain why whales repeat, alter or begin new songs? Which do you find most convincing?

6. How have changes to the environment affected whales’ singing? What role has human behavior played?

Finally, tell us more about what you think:

— What did you learn from the article? What was most fascinating, surprising or intriguing? Tell us why. What questions do you still have?

— Does the article make you think differently about whales? Do you have a greater appreciation for the mysteries and diversity of life?

— Do you think research like this is important? How is the study of whale vocalizations helpful? Why or why not?

— In a related article, “Oceans Are Getting Louder, Posing Potential Threats to Marine Life,” Jim Robbins writes about the damage caused by noises from air guns, ship sonar and general tanker traffic:

Aside from the seismic noise, compounded sounds from container ships to navy sonar are posing a problem for marine life. As the number of ships moving around the world has increased significantly in recent years, cavitation, the noise from the synchronous collapse of bubbles created by a ship’s propeller, as well as the rumble of ship engines, poses a bigger and bigger problem. A recent study found that shipping noise could double by 2030.

Noise masks whale expressions between families, which can affect orientation, feeding, care of young, detection of prey and even increase aggression. Already 80 percent of communications of some species of whales is masked by noise, according to models assessed by a team of biologists.

“It’s ripping the communications system apart,” Dr. Clark said. “And every aspect of their lives is dependent on sound, including finding food.”

What is your reaction to this information? What should be done to better protect whales and their ability to communicate with one another?

Polar Vortex

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Polar Vortex

Note for Teachers: Join our Feb. 6 free webinar on teaching with New York Times-inspired writing prompts. Sign up here.

_________

A polar vortex has seized the Midwest, bringing snowstorms and the coldest weather in a generation. Are you or people you know affected by the snow and frigid temperatures?

Do you enjoy winter weather? What do you like about the season? What do you dislike about it? How do you like to spend cold or snowy days?

If you don’t get cold weather where you live, are you happy about that or not? Why?

Tell us in the comments, then read the related article to learn more about the polar vortex.

What Are Your Thoughts on ‘Hustle Culture’?

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What Are Your Thoughts on ‘Hustle Culture’?

Here at The Learning Network, when we ask students about life as a student, we often hear about the fatigue and stress caused by school. Students tell us about the pressure they feel to perform academically while keeping up with extracurricular activities, volunteer commitments and other obligations while also cultivating meaningful experiences, fostering friendships and managing to get enough sleep in the process.

Does any of that resonate with you? Do you think the need to “hustle harder” is real, or is it being perpetuated by those who see hard work as a lifestyle choice?

In “Why Are Young People Pretending to Love Work?” Erin Griffith investigates hustle culture in the workplace, particularly among young people. She writes:

Never once at the start of my workweek — not in my morning coffee shop line; not in my crowded subway commute; not as I begin my bottomless inbox slog — have I paused, looked to the heavens and whispered: #ThankGodIt’sMonday.

Apparently, that makes me a traitor to my generation. I learned this during a series of recent visits to WeWork locations in New York, where the throw pillows implore busy tenants to “Do what you love.” Neon signs demand they “Hustle harder,” and murals spread the gospel of T.G.I.M. Even the cucumbers in WeWork’s water coolers have an agenda. “Don’t stop when you’re tired,” someone recently carved into the floating vegetables’ flesh. “Stop when you are done.” Kool-Aid drinking metaphors are rarely this literal.

Welcome to hustle culture. It is obsessed with striving, relentlessly positive, devoid of humor, and — once you notice it — impossible to escape. “Rise and Grind” is both the theme of a Nike ad campaign and the title of a book by a “Shark Tank” shark. New media upstarts like the Hustle, which produces a popular business newsletter and conference series, and One37pm, a content company created by the patron saint of hustling, Gary Vaynerchuk, glorify ambition not as a means to an end, but as a lifestyle.

Students, read the entire article, then tell us:

— What, if anything, do you find appealing about “hustle culture,” as described in the article? Does anything surprise you? If so, what?

— Can you draw any parallels between your experiences in school and the workplaces you read about in the article?

— What do you think about messages like “do what you love” and “don’t stop when you are tired; stop when you are done”? What are some possible advantages and disadvantages to taking such messages to heart?

— The article posits some theories about why “performative workaholism” became a “lifestyle.” Do you think any of them are valid? Explain.

— Do you think that when you start your career, you’ll be enthusiastic about working long hours? Why or why not?

— Do you find the article to be critical of people who believe “the work itself is all”? What, if anything, is inherently wrong with finding a high degree of meaning in one’s job?

— What advice do you have for people in workplaces where there are disparate views on what constitutes “hard work?”

Students 13 and older are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

Learning With: ‘Trump Signs Bill Reopening Government for 3 Weeks in Surprise Retreat From Wall’

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Learning With: ‘Trump Signs Bill Reopening Government for 3 Weeks in Surprise Retreat From Wall’

Before reading the article:

Watch the above video, “Trump Announces Deal to End Shutdown.” What does President Trump say is the “fair deal” he is looking for from Congress? What does he say he will do if this deal is not reached? When does he say he will take this action?

Now, read the article, “Trump Signs Bill Reopening Government for 3 Weeks in Surprise Retreat From Wall,” and answer the following questions:

1. What has happened as a result of the announcement that the federal government shutdown has ended?

2. The article characterizes the announcement as a “surprise” and a “remarkable surrender” on the part of Mr. Trump. What details support these ideas?

3. On Friday, before the announcement that the shutdown had ended, what three events occurred that suggested that the shutdown had “fallout far beyond paychecks”?

4. What have Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer said they would be willing to support in terms of border security? What do they say they will not support?

5. According to Standard & Poor’s, how much money did the U.S. economy lose in the five weeks the government was partly shuttered?

6. What may happen if, in the next three weeks, a House-Senate conference committee representing both parties cannot reach consensus about a border security plan?

Finally, tell us more about what you think:

The related article “How the Shutdown Reordered American Life” states:

The effects cascaded far beyond the plight of individual workers, attracting the attention of Americans oblivious to the outsize role the government plays in their lives.

Federal agencies stalled projects. Plane crashes went uninvestigated. Research studies were deferred. A shortage of air traffic controllers caused flight delays across the Northeast on Friday, snarling air travel at some of the country’s busiest airports.

A lack of workers left some of the country’s most treasured sites in a state of neglect. That included Yosemite National Park, the place the pioneering naturalist John Muir described as a temple of canyons, rushing waterfalls and sun-streaked granite cliffs.

Read the rest of the article to find additional examples of how the shutdown affected everyday life in the United States. Consider any effects you observed in your community as well.

Top 50 Learning Systems for 2019 (50 to 30)

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Top 50 Learning Systems for 2019 (50 to 30)

Back by popular demand, the top 50 Learning Systems for 2019.  As in last year’s post, the rankings will be split up over multiple blog posts and weeks. 

First up, #50 to #40 listed, followed by mini breakouts for #39-30.  Next post by Feb. 1st will be #29 to #20 – might push it to #11), following week I will be traveling to speak at ATDTK, Feb. 8th at 8 a.m. on “So, you wanna buy an LMS?”,  then off to LearningTech19 in London, thus the post on Feb. 17th, will cover the Top 10 systems.

As mentioned in a previous post on how the award rankings were conducted including methodology, please go here.

Every vendor, with the exception of Blackboard (who is coming soon) can be found on FindAnLMS.com, my learning system search engine platform, an independent and trusted source to search, compare and engage with vendors in the learning system space.  Thus, you can be always assured that the best of the best will be on the platform, no more searching for months, reaching out to vendors who never respond (ours do), spending way too much time seeing if the system has what you need AND as a result blasting RFPs to vendors who won’t meet your needs and your budget!

You can see pricing ranges, user bases, implementation time-frame and of course functionality in one stop shop experience.  You get your very own calendar and dashboard. We built our platform to mimic an LMS. 

Couple of notes

a. Rankings are based on 1,000 vendors across the globe

b. New functionality – NexGen played a bigger role than in year’s past. It has always been important, but this year had an extra weight to it.  This includes vendors who have a content marketplace over those who don’t, thus they received more points on that feature, for example.

c.  Support always plays an important role.  The number one reason folks leave systems is the lack of support, yet it is rarely inquired about in any RFP, let alone demos.  Feel free to use my support card that I send out to vendors and/or ask them directly. 

d.  I look at a lot of factors when putting together the top 50, so please, do your due diligence.  Yes, they are the best of the best, but one might be great in say FS (Financial Services as their only vertical) and you are in consumer goods, so uh, they are not the system for you. 

Or, you may have had issues with a vendor, see them in the top 50 and go “how can that be?” – which I’d retort, “I base it on a lot of factors and variables, so while I understand, I wasn’t there to learn the challenges, issues or whatever occurred. While a vendor may have failed to live up to what they promised (since I wasn’t on the call or handled your search for you), I can only go by what I as an analyst look at, etc.” 

e. Response time in communication was a variable.  If they do not respond or it takes the length of a steam engine in the 1920’s, then yeah, there is a problem.  Same with vendors who have zero clue on why e-learning and/or WBT was created in the first place – so that is a variable. Why would you want to do business with a vendor who is selling a system, but has zero interest in learning about the history of our space?  You wouldn’t take your car to a mechanic who didn’t know about older models, and yours is an older model, would you?

f. Mobile played a bigger role.  I get it that your customers may not be using mobile, but the fact of the world is that mobile is very important.  I found it weird that one vendor said they had on/off synch for the app, but didn’t have one in either iTunes or Google Play.  Uh, is it Palm or blackberry?   I also looked at update time with the mobile app. If the app hasn’t been updated in the last three months, that should be a warning sign. 

While there are 50 vendors in the rankings, due to a tie at #7, the list ends at #49. This is due to me having both at #7, then a vendor at #8 and so forth, rather than what some do, which is count 7 to 9 per se, then move from there.  Thus the rankings go from 49 to 1, and the ranking you see below is the ranking noted in the mini report coming out in end of Feb.

The Rankings 49 to 40

#49 Blackboard Learn (Corporate)

#48 Create LMS

#47 Springest Go

#46 UpsideLMS

#45 Tessello

#44 Edcast Knowledge Cloud

#43 TILE

#42 Persona Learning Management

#41 Looop (LEP/LXP)

#40 Accord LMS

Rankings #39 to #30

#39 BizLibrary – Depending on the system you have, you might have seen their content (they created), but many folks are unaware that they also sell an LMS.  While the system lacks e-commerce and an LRS, it does however, pack a wallop with an extensive feature set. 

Two minuses for me though is lack of mobile apps (everyone does mobile responsive) and is miss on stronger analytical data and data visualization, which while the system does provide solid reporting and analytics, the way the world is heading in the corporate space, a system needs more to match it.   For those who go to FindAnLMS, you can schedule a demo directly with them and compare feature sets with someone else you might be looking at.  Oh, and send them your amazing RFP. 

#38 G-Cube – Not a lot of folks have heard of this system, but not hearing about them isn’t a reason for ignoring them on your list for consideration.  They have always been on my radar and each year, I just see them as a solid player worthy of a ranking.  The system lacks e-commerce, content marketplace, LRS, listing of most popular courses/content, and a couple of learning environment feature sets, but on the flip side, has machine learning, content curation, coaching, compliance management, mobile including apps and classroom management. Administration side of the house is quite good.  Supports PENS, a standard I wish all vendors did – but very few do, and of course, SCORM.

#37 eXact LCMS – Repeat winner and the best LCMS on the market. Don’t be fooled by some authoring tool platforms who pitch themselves as an LCMS (because uh, they aren’t), nor the few other LCMS players on the market who pitch how awesome they are – maybe in their minds they are (and I’m happy for you), but in my eyes, eXact reigns supreme.  I do wish their UI was a bit better, but in the LCMS space, UI has never been a top priority as a whole for vendors.  Excellent compliance management, offers classroom management, solid learning environment functionality.  If you want e-commerce, and LCMS isn’t for you.  Best suited for employees and B2B.

#36 SkyPrep –  Get your red hot SkyPreps here! Sometimes I see system names that I recognize folks cannot pronounce because it is so weird to begin with, this isn’t the case here.  Anyway, that isn’t the reason you should consider them (or maybe it is..your choice!). Wonderful UI/UX, classroom management, compliance management, multi-tenant, excellent administration functionality, mobile apps and coaching to name a few features.  I always have fun in the system (not sure if it is a good thing, but in my mind it is, I mean who wants their learners to go “ugh” when they go into your system?).  Big minuses for me include a lack of skill management (they have features, but not all that I look at, still though, might be enough for most folks – as I am picky), and video management.   Fun fact – you can be live in about a month – now that is fast.

#35 Agylia –  When they first changed their name, I admit it looked like Argyle and I heard a couple of folks I know call it at. Now, though it sort of rolls of the tongue, not as argyle.  If you want a system that truly is mobile first, and many vendors pitch that, I can truly say they are. Mobile apps, on/off synch, knowledge reinforcement tool to boot.  Can have e-books in the system as well, along with podcasts (most vendors do not offer this capability). Excellent functionality across the board, very good UI/UX.  Lacks machine learning (but many vendors do at this point in 2019), still I’d use the system. Track record on roadmap is very good.  Support is outstanding.  Repeat winner.

Break Time!

Who in the Top 50 to 30 appeared in past rankings for 2018, 2017, 2016?  Here they are

  • Blackboard (2018, 2017, 2016)
  • Create LMS (2018, 2017)
  • Tessello (2018, 2017, 2016)
  • TILE (2018)
  • Persona Learning Management (2018, 2017 – 2016 under their other name)
  • Accord LMS (2018, 2017, 2016)
  • G-Cube (2018, 2017)
  • eXact LCMS (2018, 2017, 2016)
  • Agylia (2018, 2017, 2016)
  • BizLibrary (2016)
  • TorchLMS (2018,2017,2016)
  • Talent LMS (2018, 2017)
  • Asentia LMS (2018, 2017)
  • Saba (2018, 2016)

Back to The Rankings

#34 Torch LMS – UI/UX is very good, lots to like here, but the biggest item that continues to bother me is the insistence from Torch that mobile is not needed (beyond being mobile responsive, which they are).  Thus no mobile apps whatsoever.  This isn’t some new decision by them, it is a decision that has existed for years (at least since m-learning gained popularity).  System is strong functionality wise, but lacks e-commerce (which is odd since they can do B2B and customers, so e-comm is relevant IMO), multi-lingual while good, still is missing multi-byte languages. The system supports every course standard including xAPI and PENS, but misses out on an LRS and content marketplace.  If those items are nothing burgers for you, then this is a system to consider.

#33 Percipio by Skillsoft – An LEP/LXP that does quite a bit, very good UI and UX. Mobile apps include on/off synch and knowledge reinforcement capabilities. While the system offers content curation, it is currently missing machine learning and coaching.  On the other hand it does offer competency and skill management. 

#32 Talent LMS – People always say to me, “you can’t find a good system at a very affordable price point.” To those folks I say, “check out TalentLMS, which can be found on FindAnLMS (nice plug).”

Seriously though this is a solid system that really is very affordable especially with user counts above 2500.  System offers among other things, mobile with apps and on/off synch, very strong administration capabilities, SCORM and xAPI, content marketplace, multi-tenant with separate branding for each tenant and classroom management.  A minus for me is the lack of machine learning (while understandable many vendors still lack it – the majority to be honest), and coaching.  UI/UX is good. 

#31 Asentia LMS  – From the fine folks at ICS Learning Group, this SaaS based system is by far their best product (they offer another LMS too).  Keeps getting better every year, and when it debuted a couple of years back it started out as good, so there’s that. Feature-rich including coaching, content marketplace, LRS and compliance management. Reporting offers ad-hoc and use of filters.  Minuses include the inability to have your individual learning plan and course catalog seen on the same screen, no mobile apps (except for mobile responsive) and lack of video management.  Very nice UI/UX.

#30 Saba Learning– Welcome back (please hum the Welcome Back Kotter theme)! I say welcome back because earlier in 2018, I stopped recommending them for a variety of factors, but changes have been made, commitments to boosting up the system with a soon to be launched new UI/UX (I’ve seen it, looks quite nice), but the admin side still needs fixes.  Robust system.  Mobile apps including on/off synch but UI on the app could be better. Feature-rich system, support though is average. I like that the company has me:time, an LEP/LXP (acquired as part of the Lumesse acquisition) which depending how they play it, could end up being a big-time win here (as it is, to me, a very good win).

Bottom Line

There you have it, the first list of rankings from #50 to #30.  If you didn’t see your favorite vendor here, well, they might be in the 29 to 1 rankings or they might not be here period. I can state that if they are (Adobe Captivate Prime, Axonify, Mind Tickle!, QStream, Bridge LMS) they failed to make the rankings for 2019, so no need to hold your breath thinking you will see them, unless during that time, you see them in your mind, before you pass out. (Don’t hold your breath.)

E-Learning 24/7

 

 

State of the E-Learning Industry 2019

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State of the E-Learning Industry 2019

Normally, folks write up a state of the industry at the end of that year (as I did for 2017).  But as with everything else, thinking out of the box, screams for a tweak. 

And thus, comes the State of the E-Learning industry as rumble forward with 2019.

What I have seen so far (covers 2018 into the first week of 2019)

Highlights or Lowlights depending on your perspective

  • Higher number of L&D folks finally seeing the value of personal and professional development thru the use of e-learning, especially with LMSs and LEP/LXPs
  • Increased number of LEP/LXPs trying to mimic an LMS as close as they can, without calling themselves an LMS – that said, there are a couple of constants as a whole, that LEP/LXP space is missing in the learning environment and administration areas specifically, that still sets them apart. 
  • Increase in assignments in the LEP/LXP space, which as I have noted in the past, defeats the learner-centric model they praise and pitch
  • Change of messaging, and the seemingly misunderstanding by vendors that there is a difference between training and L&D.  What I hear a lot is “L&D” and not training, when they identify who they are targeting for the tools, platforms, etc.   As any training exec will tell you, they do not want to work for L&D, nor be a part of L&D (and vice versa, I should add)
  • SaaS authoring tools, trying to become hybrid Lite LMSs (a return of a trend I totally disliked back in 2010-2014).  Instead of making a better SaaS authoring tool, a percentile of them, are using features you would see in an LCMS, a market that is minimal in today’s world, compared to say 2000 or even up to the mid 2000’s. 
  • CMI-5 increased interest among vendors, even more so, than on/off synch mobile apps for example.   But, CMI-5 with consumers is still quite low – a key factor – poor messaging on the benefits of CMI-5, compared with the other course standards
  • AICC is dropping by the wayside with learning systems, which could create challenges for folks who have 3rd party libraries of only AICC content
  • LRSs not being utilized by vendors who have it in their systems
  • Relying on the client (i.e. current client) or clients to drive key decisions on what to add to their products, especially in the learning system space.  Yes, listen, but don’t assume that if they do not ask, they do not want; nor rely on a survey or a focus group of folks.   Data should come from lots of sources, not just one or two. Oh, and you are supposed to be the experts here, not the consumer.
  • The history of e-learning, why WBT was created, etc. – is fading.   You see it first hand, when vendors refer to online courses as e-learning courses, even though e-learning is an umbrella term for everything online.   Reminds me of the folks who never knew that Madden was a great football coach, and not just the name of a video game.
  • Support in authoring tool space is actually worse than ever.  Support has never had a great track record in learning platforms, but in the authoring tool space it’s always been a challenge.  Yes, there are tutorials (in some cases), but when is the last time you saw a series of webinars on how to do this or that in their tool?  When is the last time you saw a “how to” using the authoring tool to build such a course?  The forums only go so far, especially since people post questions that no one responds to.  And even worse, there are tools that continue to have problems with xAPI, even SCORM, or some other items and when the customer inquires for help, the tool tells them it is the fault of the learning system, when uh, no, it is your product.  I am really worried about the CMI-5 add, and how that will work, when uh, it doesn’t work with an LMS.    Track record of fixing issues with some authoring tool vendors is poor.  One comes to mind right away, with mobile.  I’ll let you figure out who that is..
  • Web conferencing Zoom is being integrated into more learning systems that in the past.  Frankly it is the best web conferencing tool out there. 

Big Ticket Items

Coaching/Mentoring

This goes beyond just posting a question out there and having folks respond in a sort of Quora or Yahoo Answers approach.  

If there was ever an feature you should really keep an eye on for 2019, it is this one, because in 2018, it started to change in its dynamic on a)appearance b)design  c) outcome.

  • Web cam recording and upload of video from a mobile device is becoming a standard in the coaching/mentoring component. 
  • Web cam is still one way, not dual, which hurts the coaching experience and creates a reactive, rather than pro-active
  • Identificatin of “experts” is not being explained on a) how to identify them at their company, b) how to assure that they are answering questions, assisting, mentoring . Both of these should be provided by the vendor in their setup assistance with the client. 
  • Lack of analytical data to know responses times of the coaches; how many times they have responded/answered compared to the others in the group for example, how many mentorees they have, who are these folks, what are the subjects/topics/questions being asked (all of which can aid in future training and/or learning content to be added or addressed).   These are just the basics, but I have yet to see a system track them. 
  • Enhanced coaching functionality.  If a vendor offers it, it is basic.  Nothing that would want someone to repeatedly go back and use.   It sounds nice, but so does warm weather in London during winter.
  • Lack of any strong functionality with coaching via mobile app. 

Skill Building and Development

  • A change in the way vendors think of this.  You could always do a skill gap and analysis in any system going back to the late 90’s.  What is different today is that a)vendors are making it as though skill gap is new,   b)adding of functionality and components to list skills and thus gaps in those skills based on the usage of content or lack therof,  c)reliance too much on assessements – always a problem, but has continued to go in a trend line that is alarming
  • Skill Ratings – Vendors in the learning system are slowly starting to add this, but compared to the skill building platforms that are out there, either as learning platform or as seeing themselves as not a learning platform, rather “skill builder” – they are missing it too.  
  • Rehersal and similar have been a big disapointment in not only the coaching piece but also buidling and developing skills around coaching/mentoring via role play.
  • Sales Enablement Platforms which include training as a component, are not leveraging their capabilities in skill building/development beyond the standard repetition and daily task angle.   Mind Tickle! and QStream seem lost (they are the big two).  One factor is that SEP with training as a component pitches it is for sales training, but also has customer support (which makes sense), BUT they are also going after employees in general, which makes no sense.
  • Skill development using scenario based learning is nearly non-existent.  Real world scenarios work in any level of development, retention and synthesis and achieve higher comprehension than any assessment out there. 

Higher Education and E-Learning

A giant D.  I’d argue that systems such as Blackboard who are still heavy into synchronous based learning play a factor in it.  NEO on the other hand, goes more asynchronous, which is one reason why I think it is the best for HE on the market. 

While there are more universities/colleges offering 100% online degrees and courses, which is awesome, the application process and fees are still too similar to the brick and mortar way of doing things.  Consortiums will do far better in HE, if colleges adopted this approach for their students, and if the application process changed to reflect online, rather than fees to use the computer lab or gym.

The leverging of online learning, especially mobile learning is poor in the HE space.  Part of the blame is on the professors/instructors (sorry, you can learn too on how to use it and make it successful) and part is on the tools themselves. 

K-12 is delivering far better results, especially with apps for kids.  The platforms are still mixed though.  I do think that K-12 tends to dive faster into new EdTech than say HE, but equally, retention of long term usage is not at the same intensity and level.  A key reason on why NexGen EdTech isn’t at the same or even stronger than Corporate NexGen LearnTech.

Machine learning  (correct term to use) aka Adaptive learning (some vendors pitch it using this term).

Big uptick in 2018, huge growth.  All trend lines point to even a bigger 2019.  Deep learning the next evolution of machine learning isn’t quite there yet with learning systems. 

VR

Bust in my opinion for 2018.  One system is nearly VR in many ways, and yes, while they are authoring tools that can create a VR like experience, they cannot match a 3rd party shop that builds VR content.

Bigger problem though is the delivery mechanism for seeing and using VR.  Tethered headsets still are far superior to their standalone headset compadres.  And smartphone VR headsets are dropping in terms of units sold.  Even the cheap Cardboard.  VR may still get there in training  and L&D, but as a whole it hasn’t made even close to a dent.  A scratch would be more appropriate.

AR/MR

AR at least for now is a better route to go, but in the e-learning and thus immersive learning industry, it is lackluster in terms of content and folks that offer it.  Not seeing much better for 2019, trend wise.  Could change, but even with early adopters there isn’t enough in terms of platforms, tools, etc. to use let alone incorporate it.

The market

Learning Systems is an umbrella term and contained within are LMSs, LEP/LXP, learning platforms, employee engagement platforms, performance management systems with a training or learning module or component,  sales enablement platforms with a learning componenet, knowledge reinforcement platforms, coaching systems too.

Total market size –  I now track 1,325 systems worldwide.  I estimate another 200-300 systems out there (at least).   

Biggest market is the LMS space.    Learning Platforms are in the top three, with that group, in fact, second in terms of size.  LEP/LXP is third.  LEP/LXP is growing quickly (and if trend lines continue could surpass learning platform market size by 2020), but no where near in terms of size of LMSs. 

Authoring Tools market is on the rebound after slow growth the past two years.  That said, due to the sluggishness of the market, the numbers are down. A directory of authoring tools will be coming out in March. 

E-Learning Tools market size (and I’m not including Slack or some other type of products that were not built specifically for e-learning) is on an uptick.  One product line that has seen solid growth are online proctoring tools and platforms.  Overall though, NexGen is still below what it should be (in terms of LearningTech) with many of these tools.

Is it real or Memorex?

Innovation – overall sluggish.  When is the last time you saw something in a system and went, “wow, why hasn’t anyone else done this?” Okay, maybe you have, but from an analyst perspective, I haven’t.  I’ve seen a few wows with a couple of products (more tools then anything else) and yes, in many systems seen some very cool NexGen LearnTech and functionality. 

However, I have yet to see something earth shattering that goes, not only game changer but e-learning changer.   Seen plenty of game changers if the vendors stay the course, not e-learning changer, yet. 

Playlists for example, offer a nice step towards game changer if it goes beyond the content adding or subtraction.  There are so many components that could be added with the playlists, yet no one has hit them all.   I see the same in terms of video bookmarking, and the golden grail of all training and L&D when it comes to learning systems, a Smart LMS. 

No one is there yet, so if some vendor says they have a Smart LMS, then I would surmise they have a flying car, a t-shirt that says Bournmouth Premier League Champs and find Soylent Green devine.

Bottom Line

This is where we were in 2018 and early in 2019.

But, where we can go is up to you,

The consumer.

The vendor.

And the dreamers.

E-Learning 24/7

This post is dedicated to my girl, Cheyanne, a wonderful dog who blessed me with her love and genteel manner for the past 12 years.  From her talking to me on a daily basis, to chasing squirrels to knowing where the cookie bar is located (a treats area in my home) to just hanging out with me made such a huge difference and impact.  Sweet Dreams, sweetheart.  Sweet dreams. 

 

What you can expect in 2019

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What you can expect in 2019

Expectations.  We all have them.  We have them when we go out to eat. When we are on a blind date or using a dating app.  We are about to see a movie that we have been waiting for to come out.

Who hasn’t experienced the anticipation of a trade show and conference, with abated excitement, only to be bummed out, because it failed to live up to our expectations?

But, and here is the kicker, what if you could know ahead of time, that yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus.

Expect the following

VR takes a hit.  As with any new technology, the hype sometimes fails to materialize. Sure some folks are using VR and loving it with their training, and many of these entities have the budgets to pull it off.  But for the masses out there, those amazing VR solutions haven’t been met.  Cost is a key factor, and while authoring tool vendors are jumping into VR with new functionality, the truth of the whole matter is that VR headsets haven’t punched thru the L&D and/or training departments across the globe. 

Perhaps this will change with more VR headsets (I’d hold off on Oculus Go, as a new version will be coming out in 2019). But the problem is more than just the headset, rather it getting buy-in from the C-level folks that this is a must for your budget, especially when you just received the green light to drop 50K on a new LMS.

So far, my expectations as a whole, have not been met with VR for training thru the use of SaaS authoring tools or e-learning VR tools.  It is fine, but by no means something comparable to a robust 3rd party VR course designed by folks with backgrounds in digital learning and VR.

If there is any doubt in your minds on whether VR is still a hot commodity for 2019, take a look at other folks forecasts in the space. Or at an upcoming conference.  What I see is something else..

Machine Learning

This is going to be huge – high expectations.  You can expect to see a lot of vendors in the learning system space to go full throttle into machine learning, which at a point down the road (2020), will become deep learning (term noted by AI experts, as the next evolution of machine learning). 

I have noted in the past that the algorithm is a big factor here, and that vendors if they are smart, will have an open algorithm (does not mean you have access to the code). 

One item though that most folks are unaware of, is how that algorithm is trained. And so, my hope, err expectation is that you as the consumer, ask the vendor who pitches machine learning or AI, how their system’s machine learning was trained.  I surmise many salespeople will ask you what this means, and here is where you can show them that you know something they don’t know : ) .

The two big items to ask are

  1. How old is the data they used to train?  How far back is it? i.e. one year’s worth of data? Five years? Six days? 
  2. What data did they use for their training?  Was it one set of data based on types of content? Multiple sets of data?  

A vendor should be able to provide this information, it may take a few days for them to get back to you, but trust me when I say this, knowing how the machine learning was trained is huge.  When I talk to vendors whose systems are using machine learning, I will often request an additional call to talk to the person who is the key individual on machine learning with that vendor.

If a vendor declines to provide this information to you, then move on.  Let me say that again – move on, because if they are hiding this from you, what else are they hiding?  I mean red flag alert here.

LRS

My expectations when I inquire about a vendor using an LRS in their system (if they have one) is often not met.  I mean if a vendor has an LRS, you would think that it is being used in the system to generate an extensive set of analytics, beyond just what you saw prior to them having one or base level of analytical data that so many other systems possess.

And yet, I know of a lot of systems out there, who have an LRS built-into their platform or they use a 3rd party LRS, and do not leverage it, as part of their system for the analytical power it can provide.  An LRS tracks everything, and you do not need xAPI to have an LRS (so a vendor who says, “Well we do not have xAPI,” doesn’t fly).

Vendors should offer folks two options when it comes to analytical data, either here is what comes with the system OR here is what we can turn on (at no cost to you) for even higher level and thus a better assessment for you, via robust set of analytical data.

What I find to my horror is how many vendors have ZERO clue on why an LRS was created in the first place – which was capturing everything you do (as a learner) into a data file, where if you then leave the company, you take your data file with you (which has all your training or learning) and can go into another LMS at your new company (assuming they have an LMS with an LRS) without any issues (aka interoperability).

Anyone who has experienced the SCORM claims of interoperability of course, new that wasn’t going to be smooth sailing and my biggest concern from day one was tied directly to security and privacy.  I mean there are tech companies who won’t let you take anything with you, when you leave them, so the idea of going “here take this data record with you” seemed far-fetch.

On the LRS side as it relates to learning systems, I was surprised (and thus blew away my expectations) on how many vendors built their own LRS rather than going 3rd party, say with Watershed, especially since there were a lot of vendors who went with SCORM Engine for SCORM in their LMS (both products were made by Rustici, who was acquired by LTG, and just recently LTG acquired 100% of Watershed – where before they had 30%).

If a vendor pitches data visualization the best way to achieve that is via an LRS.  Vendors will tell me, often, that folks are not asking about an LRS or even using it, but, as they tell them, that isn’t the responsibility of the consumer.   If you have it in your system, you clearly invested funds to do so, so use it. 

While identifying influencers (an LRS standard feature) is of interest in some cases, I can see it with an LEP/LXP for example or with mentoring, the bigger winner is tying it to those wonderful KPIs that many systems are starting to add.

KPIs

Expect to see this capability showing up in more systems than before.  Systems who offer KPIs should in my opinion, allow the client the opportunity to tie them into something like a heat map or the ability to tie it into some form of comparative data. 

ROI or IOL (Impact of Learning) Data

Another function you can expect to see is an increase in vendors presenting (on the admin side), numbers of dollars saved or reduced costs and other sets of financial numbers that a person who is running training or L&D or even HR could show to someone to say, “hey, see this system is saving us this amount of money, and this and this.”

All in one system

Mixed expectations here to be quite honest.  I am a believer and always have been that if a system can offer everything I need and has other items that I have yet to need or use, it is better than if it doesn’t have those extra items (that I am yet to use or have a use for right away).

I mean you have no idea, unless you are Nostradamus, what the future will be, so how can you know what you will need for your learning and/or training in say six months or a year from now?  Isn’t it better to have a system that is forward thinking in its approach, rather than antiquated? 

I mean, even folks who are cutting the cord on cable and jumping over to Amazon channels for example, are selecting channels they believe they will use, even if they are not watching the channel on a daily basis, let alone dozens of hours per month. 

There is a reason that Wal-Mart Supercenter, Tesco and Costco are at the top level of their game. And why Amazon rules them all.  You can find and get everything you need at one stop.  I mean, I never thought I’d buy an Instant Pot, but then, one day (Black Friday), I did – and for the record, everyone should buy one (WOW).

Expect to see more vendors diving into the one stop shop approach.  A vendor who includes a course/content marketplace and offers learning tech vendors (3rd party) in that marketplace is ahead of folks, who only offer a content marketplace. 

Truth be told, my expectations nowadays when I talk to any learning system vendor is that they have a content marketplace that is visible to clients and where they client can just click and buy without having to talk to the vendor to do so.

Mimics what folks are seeing now on the net

Drag and Drop for files. Moving sections around with your mouse (drag and drop in essence). Fluidity. Agile in their approach.  Modern UX (because everyone will tell you their system has a Modern UI). On/off synch apps.  Android and iOS apps (and yes there are vendors who do not have Android).  Web cam capability in the product. Browser extension(s) for their system (rare right now).

Back in the day, people wanted their LMS to look like a search engine.  Then they wanted it to look like some amazing web page they saw.  Nowadays everyone says Modern, because honestly, no one is going to say, “Hey, can we have it look like Web Crawler?  Or maybe the look and feel of Windows ME?”

Quick Bonus Round

  • Skill-building and skill development – Big – every vendor should offer this in their system
  • Video management including video bookmarks, auto detection FPS and video streaming – Mixed expectations.  Video bookmarking is the wild card here.
  • Web cam real time viewing and recording for coaching/mentoring – Mixed expectations. Vendors have failed to leverage it to its full power for the learner and the coach/mentor.
  • Mimicking what they see in social media.  Mixed expectations.  Let’s move on from Facebook already. Still waiting for something like Whatsapp or Instagram.  For any K-12 or HE system, how about TikTok?
  • Identifying what are the browsers the SaaS authoring tool, e-learning or system will work in (minimum requirements including mobile).  Browser agnostic is a misnomer.  Low expectations.  Vendors tend not to share that info, unless it is in an RFP and even then, I’ve seen plenty who say, “All”, really? So, you will work with IE 7 and Maxthon?
  • SaaS authoring tools focusing on building a more dynamic and better authoring tool leverging ID design capabilties. Low expectations.   Seems more are interested in being hybrid learning systems (yes, it is rearing its ugly head again), then being uh, you know an authoring tool.
  • Game based learning in your system, mobile app or as a standalone. Mixed expectations.  Battles – Knowledge for example, seems to be the one that vendors who are adding this, are incorporating, beyond the usual stale stuff you see – Who is up for a game of breakout that looks exactly like tennis and hockey from the days of Pong? Tetris?  Oh, how about glossary?
  • Themes that administrators can select for their learners – Mixed expectations. I see more vendors offering themes (aka template themes) for their customers as an option, rather than learner by learner (which there a couple who do offer it, and yes, the admin can say turn off that function).
  • Mobile Responsive – Everyone can do this – so stop asking if they can!
  • Increase in number of LEP/LXP.  High level of expectations.  Another big ticket item. If I was entering the space, I’d ignore LMS build, and go LEP/LXP, that said…
  • More LEP/LXP adding functionality that mimics an LMS. Solid expectations.  They are doing it, rather than building an even better LEP/LXP.  Which is a surprise since the LEP/LXPs are mostly used as a built-on or add-on for those who have an LMS, as well as folks in L&D who are using an LMS for only compliance and required training.
  • Adding assignments to your LEP/LXP.  Stop right now.  Solid expectations.  Defeats why an LEP/LXP pitches the learner-centric and focused approach.  You can’t be both.
  • Vendors who only provide great references.  High expectations. Folks always want references from vendors.  If you think they are going to give you someone who truly says this stinks or you know, I like this, but not that – well, that isn’t happening.  Write down the name of the customers they show you, then go on Linkedin, find the person who runs training or L&D and contact them.   That is the real sample you want.  Not the person they give you directly.  
  • FindAnLMS.com expanding functionality and capabilities for 2019. High expectations.  A lot is coming in 2019, expanding the power of my learning system search engine and comparison platform.
  • One on One interviews, where I interview CEOs from various learning systems, and which can be found exclusively on Findanlms.com – will exceed your expectations – coming in early 2019.

Bottom Line

Everyone has expectations.  Some are good. Some are average and some are poor.

Berlin Station on EPIX is awesome and will meet your expectations.  Any movie you find on Amazon Prime, Netflix or Hulu where it looks like a bad B-movie, will meet your low expectations.

Expansion capabilities in your LMS may meet your expectations or may not. 

Support as always brings about mixed expectations.

And my vision of a Smart LMS,

I’m not seeing it

At least in 2019.

E-Learning 24/7

Note:  I will be presenting on Feb. 8th at 8 a.m. at ATDTK. The topic – “So you wanna buy an LMS?”

 

 

 

 

 

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