Today, we need eLearning more than ever before. Companies looking for training and eLearning services for their employees need to leverage the power of agile learning. But why agile? Agile Learning differs from the traditional approach, both in terms of development and delivery.

The ADDIE eLearning development model is a more rigid process that only considers one production stage. Conversely, with Agile, employees can benefit from constant feedback and continual improvement & evaluation.

In today’s context, people do not need long-term courses. It’s pointless to invest time in creating a 6-hour course when you can create a course that is agile, short, smart & snappy. The agile methodology has been adopted by numerous eLearning programs, including Tremend’s own eLearning suite. 

We are a strong believer in the Agile methodology; thus, we focus on providing a user-centric, device-agnostic, and flow-oriented experience that increases organizational growth. Our main methodologies are SAM, design thinking, and Agile Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

Why is Agile Important in eLearning?

The agile project management methodology is extremely valuable nowadays for companies that require eLearning services. The truth is that this methodology comes with certain benefits and perks that make it superior to all other methodologies.

Here are a few benefits of agile in eLearning.

• It is highly flexible: when it comes to rigidity, most corporate environments are right up there at the top. That’s why they all invest in tools that bring flexibility. During an eLearning production lifecycle, flexibility is key, as it allows the educators to bring in additional content, integrate new processes or add new types of information into the mix. Agile enables educators to create multiple iterations, thus responding to any change required.
• Offers more feedback opportunities: feedback is very important in eLearning. Because in an Agile environment there are numerous iterations of the product released, the client can provide feedback on each iteration. Thus, the instructor can better determine what works and what doesn’t work.
• Promotes collaboration: the agile process is a collaborative, ongoing one that involves numerous consultative sessions with key project managers and stakeholders. This improved collaboration enhances communication and leads to greater team cohesion. This is highly beneficial for large companies where each employee has four or more stakeholders, thus requiring advanced collaborative skills.

The Agile Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

SDLC, also known as a Software Development Life Cycle, represents a valid process that is used by experts for developing, designing and testing high-end software. With this process, educators can produce more software with fewer resources, spending less time and becoming more predictable. 

Each stage of the SDLC process can be managed using certain tools, such as Kanban, Scrum, or Waterfall. For each project, the instructor has to choose a mix of methodologies. For instance, at Tremend, we’re using Jira and Kanban for increased productivity boost and heavy prototyping. 

Design Thinking

This is another methodology that educators can use when offering eLearning services. This methodology is solely focused on identifying human needs and solving problems with a human-centric approach. The prototyping and testing are mandatory parts of the design thinking process, while brainstorming sessions are performed multiple times a day.

According to the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design, design thinking consists of five stages:

1. Empathize: the educator has to gain an emphatic understanding of the true problem. They usually do this by engaging with people, talking to management, or by consulting with experts.

2. Define: after they have put together the information gathered, the educator should define the core problems 

3. Ideate: using specific ideation techniques, the person providing the training should encourage the team to think out of the box and form their own ideas about a certain problem.

4. Prototype: he should continue producing scaled-down, inexpensive versions of the course to investigate the solutions proposed by team members

5. Test: the evaluator or educator should test the product

Learning Mediums

Educators can use the agile environment with eLearning development for SAM, design thinking, and the Agile Software Development Life Cycle. In other to achieve their purpose, they can use innovative mediums that are much more appealing than the regular computer or laptop.

Let’s explore some of them below.

• Mobile apps: educators can create apps that respond specifically to users’ needs and enable them to achieve their educational purpose.
• Nano-learning: also known as just-in-time (JIT), nano-learning offers users instant access to information. These “nano” courses are a maximum of 15 minutes long, can be accessed on either device, and are extremely practical and focused, offering “nuggets” of information.
• Webinars: the traditional webinar is a great medium for learning. Educators need to ensure that the connection is stable and the audio & video are flawless.
• Computer games: although they are designed with sheer entertainment in mind, computer games can be used by educators to provide practical information in fields such as technology, science, economics, mathematics, defense, healthcare, or business economy.

The Bottom Line

The importance of agile in eLearning developments cannot be minimized, nor finding a team of professionals who are skilled in using the most innovative methodologies. If you want to learn more about Tremend’s eLearning services, click here.