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In the ever-evolving world of Learning & Development (L&D), networking and continuous learning are vital to staying ahead of the curve. LinkedIn, as the leading professional networking platform, provides an ideal space for this, featuring numerous dedicated groups where L&D leaders can interact, share insights, and discover innovative elearning solutions. These groups not only facilitate the exchange of industry trends and best practices but also help uncover new elearning solutions for both today's and tomorrow's challenges. The following blog will guide you through some of the top LinkedIn groups for L&D professionals, explain why active participation matters, and how it can propel your career in the L&D sector. Participating in Industry-Specific LinkedIn Groups Being a part of industry-specific LinkedIn groups allows you to connect with like-minded professionals who are passionate about L&D, providing a platform to exchange elearning solutions, insights, and experiences. These groups often feature discussions on emerging trends, the latest industry research, as well as practical tips and strategies to enhance learner engagement and knowledge retention. By engaging actively, you can leverage the collective intelligence within these groups to help solve your professional challenges. Furthermore, it also gives you the opportunity to showcase your own expertise and thought leadership, bolstering your professional reputation. Top 9 LinkedIn Groups for L&D Professionals The Learning Guild Community A vibrant community of L&D experts, eLearning Guild focuses on the use of technology to facilitate learning. No. of Members: 150,000 Active Since: 2008 Why it's useful to be a part of Join an expansive community centred on technology-assisted learning. Gain comprehensive insights into the role of technology in L&D. Connect with IT professionals implementing learning technologies. Learning, Education and Training Professionals Group A comprehensive platform encompassing all areas of L&D, this group aims to facilitate dialogue and knowledge sharing among professionals. No. of Members: 250,000 Active Since: 2007 Why it's useful to be a part of Engage with a broad spectrum of individuals related to learning, training, and education. Interact with project managers, learning environment engineers, and corporate training leaders. Discover best practices, ideas, and resources to implement in your organization. Effective and Fun Training Techniques A vibrant community, Effective and Fun Training Techniques brings together trainers and educators interested in making learning more engaging and fun. No. of Members: 40,000 Active Since: 2012 Why it's useful to be a part of Explore and share innovative techniques to make training more effective and enjoyable. Connect with a community of trainers and educators who are passionate about improving learning experiences. Get access to resources, webinars, and workshops focused on creative training techniques. eLearning Global Network This group is a diverse network of professionals passionate about elearning, from instructional designers to L&D managers. No. of Members: 65,000 Active Since: 2007 Why it's useful to be a part of Join a group that's passionate about elearning. Connect with diverse professionals like instructional designers and content developers. Engage in rich discussions and share resources around elearning solutions and strategies. Chief Learning Officer This is a specialized group that caters to the needs of L&D leaders and focuses on strategic aspects of learning. No. of Members: 50,000 Active Since: 2009 Why it's useful to be a part of Join a group dedicated to strategic aspects of learning. Engage with other CLOs and high-level executives. Discuss topics like aligning learning initiatives with business goals and assessing L&D strategies. Organization Development (OD) | Training & Development (TD) A hub for L&D professionals, this group explores both the practical and theoretical aspects of training and development. No. of Members: 45,000 Active Since: 2007 Why it's useful to be a part of Join a group that perfectly blends theory and practice in the L&D field. Interact with a mix of academics and professionals. Engage in a rich exchange of ideas and feedback on various training and development topics. eLearning Industry A hub of educational professionals, eLearning Industry is a group dedicated to discussing and sharing insights about eLearning trends, technologies, and best practices. No. of Members: 176,000 Active Since: 2011 Why it's useful to be a part of Get insights and updates from industry leaders on latest eLearning trends. Network with eLearning professionals, share your ideas and learn from others. Access to a plethora of resources such as webinars, articles, and discussions to improve your eLearning strategies. ATD (Association for Talent Development) This group connects professionals committed to talent development, offering resources and networking opportunities. No. of Members: 40,000 Active Since: 2006 Why it's useful to be a part of Join a group dedicated to talent development. Access a vast collection of resources and discussions. Stay updated with ATD's events and certifications. eLearning Edge A dynamic group for anyone passionate about elearning trends and technology, offering a platform to share insights, strategies, and experiences. No. of Members: 20,000 Active Since: 2010 Why it's useful to be a part of Stay updated with the latest trends and innovations in elearning. Engage in meaningful discussions about elearning solutions & strategies. Share and learn from others' experiences in the elearning sphere. Tips for Active Participation in LinkedIn Groups Navigating the vibrant world of LinkedIn groups? Get ready to unlock your true potential with our dynamic guide on active participation! Be it networking, learning, or growing, here's your roadmap to making the most out of your LinkedIn groups experience. Conclusion: Unprecedented Growth in eLearning Solutions and Beyond In the dynamic world of L&D, being part of the right LinkedIn groups can provide invaluable industry insights, innovative elearning solutions, and a solid network of professionals. As an L&D leader, these resources are vital for maintaining your competitive edge. Actively participating in these groups can help foster connections, enhance your professional reputation, and drive your career growth. As a final recommendation, we encourage you to explore these groups, engage in the discussions, and contribute your unique insights to the global L&D community. Your active participation not only enriches your professional journey but also adds value to the collective wisdom of the group.

Movies have the power to entertain, inspire, and teach us valuable lessons about life and the world around us. From action-packed blockbusters to thought-provoking dramas, there's no shortage of cinematic stories that can provide valuable insights into key skills and concepts. In this blog post, we'll explore how customized elearning solutions can take inspiration from some of the most iconic movies to create engaging and effective training programs that can boost employee knowledge and skills. Before delving into that, it's important to first understand what customized elearning solutions actually are. Table of Contents What are customized elearning solutions? Why is a customized elearning solution better? (For your organization) What are the key features of customized elearning solutions? 8 Movies that can inspire your next Customized elearning Solutions What is the cost of customized elearning solutions? What are the steps to creating a custom elearning course? Conclusion What are customized elearning solutions? Customized elearning solutions refer to the development of online learning content and courses that are tailor-made to meet the specific needs of a particular organization or individual. These solutions are designed to address the unique learning objectives, goals, and challenges of a particular group or individual, rather than relying on a pre-packaged or generic course. These solutions may include the development of interactive online courses, simulations, games, and other digital learning resources that can be accessed via desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. The development of custom elearning solutions typically involves collaboration between subject matter experts, instructional designers, multimedia specialists, and software developers. Why is a customized elearning solution better? (For your organization) Custom eLearning is a proven approach that numerous organizations employ regularly to accomplish their business objectives. The effectiveness of custom eLearning solutions lies in the ability to provide a framework for training that is specifically tailored to the unique requirements of a workforce and custom-made for a particular business. Relevant content: Customized elearning solutions are tailored to the specific needs of an organization, which ensures that the training content is relevant to the organization's objectives and the learners' needs. This helps learners to retain the information better and apply it more effectively to their work. Increased engagement: Customized elearning solutions can be designed to be more engaging and interactive, which can help to increase learners' interest and motivation. This can lead to better participation, retention, and overall learning outcomes. Flexibility: Customized elearning solutions offer greater flexibility in terms of when and where learners can access the training material. This is especially important for organizations with remote or geographically dispersed employees. Cost-effectiveness: Customized elearning solutions can be cost-effective in the long run, as they can be updated and modified as needed to ensure that the training remains relevant and effective over time. This can save organizations the cost of repeatedly developing new training content. Improved performance: Customized elearning solutions can lead to improved performance and productivity by providing learners with the knowledge and skills needed to perform their jobs effectively. This can have a positive impact on an organization's bottom line. With Thinkdom’s customized elearning solutions, we help save your business both time and money by creating courses that can be easily updated and refreshed with new content to address emerging challenges, eliminating the need for completely rebuilding new courses in the future. This way, we help foster a culture of agile and continuous learning and development within your organization. Our custom eLearning services offer an efficient and cost-effective solution to achieve your business goals through engaging, effective, and tailored training. We leverage the latest eLearning technologies and innovative approaches to create custom eLearning solutions that are immersive, interactive, and responsive. What are the key features of customized elearning solutions? Personalization: Custom elearning is tailored to meet the specific needs of an organization or group of learners. This means that the training content is personalized to the learners' needs, preferences, and learning styles. Interactivity: These often include interactive elements such as quizzes, simulations, and games to engage learners and improve knowledge retention. Flexibility: They offer flexibility in terms of when and where learners can access the training content. They can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, making them ideal for remote or geographically dispersed learners. Scalability: Customized elearning can be easily scaled up or down to meet the changing needs of an organization or learner group. Multimedia-rich content: Custom elearning can include a variety of multimedia elements such as videos, animations, graphics, and audio to enhance the learning experience. Tracking and reporting: These solutions often include features to track learners' progress, such as assessments, quizzes, and completion tracking. This information can be used to generate reports to measure the effectiveness of the training and identify areas for improvement. Customizability: Customized elearning solutions can be easily customized and updated to reflect changes in an organization's policies, procedures, or best practices. 8 Movies That Can Inspire your next Customized elearning Solutions The Devil Wears Prada (2006) This movie is about a recent college graduate who lands a job as an assistant to a demanding fashion magazine editor. The film teaches the importance of adaptability and flexibility in the workplace. Key Takeaway: L&D professionals can use this lesson to develop training programs that teach learners how to adapt to changing circumstances and handle unexpected challenges in their work environment. Why it’s a good idea: According to a study by McKinsey & Company, companies that focus on building agile capabilities in their workforce see a 30% increase in customer satisfaction and a 20% increase in employee engagement. 3 Idiots (2009) (Hindi) This movie is about three friends who pursue their dreams against the odds and challenges of the Indian education system. The film highlights the importance of creativity, critical thinking, and pursuing one's passion in achieving success. Key Takeaway: L&D professionals can develop customized elearning solutions that align personal goals and values with the company's mission and objectives, leading to increased employee engagement, productivity, and motivation to achieve success for both themselves and the company. Why it’s a good idea: According to a survey by Gallup, employees who feel aligned with their company's mission and values are 3.3 times more likely to feel engaged in their work. The Social Network (2010) This movie tells the story of how Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook, one of the most successful social networking platforms in the world. The film highlights the importance of innovation, creativity, and continuous learning in building a successful business. Key Takeaway: L&D professionals can use this lesson to encourage learners to adopt a growth mindset and seek out opportunities for continuous learning and professional development through customized elearning solutions. Why it’s a good idea: According to LinkedIn Learning's 2020 Workplace Learning Report, employees who spend time learning are 47% less likely to be stressed and 39% more likely to feel productive and successful in their work. Moneyball (2011) This movie is about the Oakland Athletics baseball team's quest to create a winning team on a limited budget. The team's general manager, Billy Beane, uses data and analytics to identify undervalued players and build a winning team. The movie teaches the importance of data-driven decision-making, which is a critical skill in today's digital world. Key Takeaway: L&D professionals can use this lesson to develop training programs that teach learners how to collect, analyze and interpret data to make informed decisions. Why it’s a good idea: According to IBM, businesses that use data analytics see a 10x return on investment and are 2.2 times more likely to be in the top quartile of financial performance within their industry. Queen (2013) (Hindi) This movie is about a young woman who goes on a solo trip to Europe after being left at the altar by her fiancé. The film teaches the importance of independence, self-discovery, and resilience in overcoming life's challenges. Key Takeaway: L&D professionals can use this lesson to develop training programs that teach learners how to develop independence, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and resilience to overcome obstacles and achieve success in their personal and professional lives. Why it’s a good idea: According to a study by Deloitte, companies that foster a culture of resilience see a 30% increase in employee productivity and a 23% increase in employee engagement. The Imitation Game (2014) This movie is based on the true story of Alan Turing, a mathematician who played a critical role in cracking Nazi codes during World War II. The film highlights the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving skills in overcoming complex challenges. Key Takeaway: L&D professionals can use this lesson to develop training programs that teach learners how to develop and apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to solve complex problems in their personal and professional lives. Why it’s a good idea: According to a survey by PwC, executives believe that problem-solving, critical thinking, and innovation are the top three skills needed to succeed in today's workplace. The Intern (2015) This movie about a retired executive who becomes a senior intern at an online fashion company and develops a bond with his much younger boss while navigating the challenges of a new workplace. The movie emphasizes the importance of mentorship and adapting to the company's culture. Key Takeaway: L&D professionals can use this movie to structure an induction and onboarding process, which can help new hires become acclimated to the company's culture and expectations. The film also emphasizes the value of mentorship and how having a supportive and experienced mentor can help new hires navigate a new workplace. Why it's a good idea: According to research by Glassdoor, effective onboarding can improve new hire retention rates by 82%, and a structured onboarding program can improve employee performance by up to 11%. Additionally, a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 91% of employees who experienced effective onboarding felt more connected to their organization and its culture. Hidden Figures (2016) This movie tells the story of three African-American female mathematicians who played a vital role in NASA's space race during the 1960s. The film highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion in driving innovation and progress. Key Takeaway: L&D professionals can use this lesson to promote diversity and inclusion in their training programs and encourage learners to develop cultural competence and sensitivity. Why it’s a good idea: According to research by McKinsey & Company, companies with diverse workforces are 35% more likely to outperform their industry peers in terms of financial performance. What is the cost of customized elearning solutions? The cost of customized e-learning solutions can vary greatly depending on several factors such as the complexity of the project, the scope of the content, the number of learners, the type of technology used, and the level of customization required. Some e-learning companies offer off-the-shelf solutions that can range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars, while more customized solutions can cost tens of thousands of dollars or more. It is important to consider your organization's budget and the expected return on investment (ROI) when selecting an e-learning solution. It is also recommended to request quotes from multiple vendors and to thoroughly evaluate their proposals to ensure that the cost aligns with the scope and quality of the proposed solution. What are the steps to creating a custom elearning course? Developing custom elearning courses requires a comprehensive and collaborative process involving various stakeholders, subject matter experts, instructional designers, multimedia specialists, and software developers. Here are the key steps involved in developing custom e-learning courses: Needs Analysis The first step is to identify the training needs of the target audience and the learning objectives of the course. This involves conducting a needs analysis to determine the specific knowledge, skills, and competencies that learners need to acquire. Content Creation Once the learning objectives are identified, subject matter experts work to develop the content for the course. This includes identifying key concepts, creating content outlines, and developing multimedia elements such as images, videos, and animations. Instructional Design Instructional designers work with subject matter experts to structure the course content and create learning activities that align with the learning objectives. This includes developing assessments, quizzes, and interactive learning activities to engage learners. Download our free instructional guide here! Development Multimedia specialists and software developers work together to develop the e-learning course, incorporating the course content, instructional design, and multimedia elements. They also ensure that the course is responsive and can be accessed on various devices. Testing and Quality Assurance The e-learning course is tested extensively to ensure that it meets the learning objectives, is engaging, and functions properly. Any issues are addressed and resolved before the course is deployed. Deployment and Maintenance Once the course is complete, it is deployed to the target audience, and feedback is collected to assess its effectiveness. The course is maintained and updated as needed to ensure that it remains relevant and effective over time. Developing custom e-learning courses requires a collaborative effort and a structured approach to ensure that the courses are effective, engaging, and meet the specific needs of the target audience. Conclusion Thinkdom offers tailored and customized elearning solutions that allows for collaborative creativity and access to top-of-the-line tools. Our state-of-the-art content creation and elearning solutions cater to all your needs, whether you want to develop a program from scratch or improve an existing one. With Thinkdom, you can be confident that your elearning courses will engage learners and meet their unique needs while being efficient and cost-effective. Our team of instructional design experts will work closely with you to ensure that your elearning program exceeds your expectations and drives your organization towards greater success.

Introduction: Because it becomes less feasible for today’s on-the-go workforce to attend training sessions, organisations must make learning & training more accessible. Conventional training methods don’t seem to be adequate for continuous skills updates as they confine learners to closed structures. Here is why microlearning is beneficial What is microlearning? Micro training offers short bursts of information for learners, each based on a single learning outcome. Content can take many forms, from text to full-blown interactive multimedia, but should always be short. Microlearning is flexible and is a very effective form of training. It can be implemented in various ways to amplify employee and organisational performance. It can be standalone or be part of a blended curriculum. It is the best way to offer learning at the moment of need. What is NOT Microlearning? NOT limited to video content CANNOT completely replace eLearning Is NOT just squeezing content to make mini-courses Is NOT the same as MLearning or Mobile Learning: However, microlearning can be delivered on mobile devices and mobile learning can have micro-modules 4 key benefits of microlearning to your organisation 1. It has a better transfer of knowledge to the job The objective of any learning & development initiative is to help employees improve their performance. This can happen when they are able to transfer what they have learnt to their job. Given microlearning has small chunks of information, learners are able to better retain information and can apply the concepts better in their job. Microlearning helps employees understand the concept better as the concept is directly mapped to an outcome that is linked to their job. Due to the short duration of microlearning, learners can also access the course at any point in time to refresh their memory. 2. It’s less expensive A microlearning course is much cheaper to create & deploy. It takes fewer resources and instructional designers to develop a microlearning course. A team that’s well-versed in creating custom content will be best positioned to help streamline this for you. A specialised microlearning content creator like Thinkdom will make the process much easier. 3. It’s more engaging As microlearning is targeted to a specific outcome and is shorter in nature, it fares high on employee engagement levels. Microlearning courses are usually no longer than 5 minutes, and thus employees don’t feel the fatigue factor of going through longer courses. Employees can go through the courses quickly, understand and move on. When employees are able to complete a training module quickly and acquire the required skills, it helps drive motivation levels. 4. It’s faster & easier to deliver As a microlearning course takes lesser time to create, it lets organisations respond faster to changing business goals and cater to new training demands. Organisations that are looking for quick wins and want to train their employees on new features of their products or services or want to train their salesforce about a negotiation tactic can benefit from deploying microlearning. Organisations can also easily update any changes that they wish to make in the courses after a few months of deployment. To make it happen, organisations need to engage the right partner to develop these short learning nuggets. Thinkdom’s Tips to remember when designing a microlearning course Define the audience. Be a part of their lives and understand how they would best utilise microlearning. Keep it short. Get to the point quickly and don’t go beyond 5 minutes. It is ‘microlearning after all. Include interactive content to increase engagement levels. Limit the frequency to one lesson a day. This impacts learning success rates. Web-based word game Wordle is hugely successful for this very reason. Help your employees develop a habit of learning. Offer them something new & fresh each time they come to you. Create conversational content. Completion rates tend to be better when your employees relate to the content. Connect the next microlearning nugget with the previous. This increases memory recall between lessons. Summing it up! There you go! Now you know what microlearning is, what it isn’t and when to use it, how to design it and most importantly, the benefits it offers to the organisation. Deploy it with the right microlearning partner to learn big in small doses.

The Metaverse is happening. It will soon be as omnipresent as Instagram, Meta and TikTok. Technology will advance to bring us new immersive worlds. How our learning ecosystems prepare must also advance to meet these new opportunities. As the Metaverse is underway, Businesses, L&D professionals, Instructional Designers, and other Learning Solution providers have a chance to pave the way rather than getting caught in the whirlpool. In this blog, we offer a path for bringing best learning practices into the metaverse. We suggest a series of tried & tested principles to guide the design of new learning technology. The Vision Imagine a rectangular training room, surrounded by White Boards, Presentation screens and movable chairs. You’re taking your new joinees on the growth journey of the organization. All of a sudden, a timeline is projected onto the middle of the floor. Employees move their chairs away to stand in the present, ready to move backward and enter the year 1980 —a year in which they will encounter a new reality. Everything that surrounds them is of that year. Who’s that young, charming, driven person they see in the Metaverse? Well, that’s the organization CEO when he was 22 years old! The employees explore, they ask questions, they ponder, they learn! This deep, transferable learning that will last a lifetime comes to us by virtue of the metaverse being delivered in a hybrid, guided play environment that represents the learning of the future. The metaverse opens the door to new possibilities for incredible ways to leverage learning solutions within a greater ecosystem. A digital world in which users can collaborate, interact, analyze, practice and problem solve is ideal for corporate L&D because it gives learners the tools they need to succeed while at the same time, encouraging & enabling them to manage their own learning experience. 2022 has already ushered in widespread investment into Learning & Development programs and technology, specifically to engage a new workforce and enhance employee experiences. The Metaverse on the other hand continues to be the talking point in the News and organizations are starting to implement learning interactions in virtual environments. Consumers, especially Gen Z expect personalized, engaging experiences in their day-to-day life and that is setting the standard for learning solutions. The metaverse is likely to completely support AR & VR technologies, combined with Artificial Intelligence. The metaverse in its most optimal state, will allow for anyone to create on an global, interoperable platform where they can share their content & games with the world. Embrace Digital Disruption to Adapt to the Multiverse. How? Learning is ambient. It is the job of the L&D team to meet the learner in a place that they're comfortable & familiar in and more importantly, a place that facilitates the transfer of knowledge. Figuring out learner behaviours in their comfortable environments will help identify roadblocks and therefore, opportunities where the overall learner experience can be improved. You can begin by asking the following questions: 1. How are your employees acquiring the information they need? 2. Where do your employees access learning resources? 3. What captures your employees' attention when they learn? 4. How do you provide employees with feedback? Once you have these answers in place, it comes down to enabling the employee to find what they need, when they need it. Instead of drawing out a traditional learning journey, embrace the chaos. After which, you make the required information available through a combination of new technologies - online chatbots for support or AR to run practice simulations to VR led fully immersive sessions. With progressive technologies, and advancing learning cultures that accept remote learning & other digital disruptions, now is the best time to start formulating your organization's learning & development strategy for the Metaverse. The real ROI Organizations want their employees to come out of their training programmes being able to seamlessly perform their job in real life. That is the best way to measure whether your training worked or not. What type of training can the Metaverse be best used for? Experiential learning technologies, including AR, VR and other three dimensional simulations give learners a controlled & safe place to practice otherwise dangerous tasks. It's not necessary for all experiences to be driven through new age technologies. Despite the fact that it makes all training fun & engaging, focus on the 'right’ experiences. 1. Reducing risk in Dangerous Tasks It is safe to operate any machinery incorrectly in virtual reality. In fields like construction, law enforcement, safety training, health care and manufacturing, "mistakes" are often life threatening - not to mention expensive. Immersive simulations would help reduce the number of botched operations. VR can accurately replicate tasks and procedures that could provide practical, and hands-on training to enable learners to visualize, practice and prepare. 2. Prepare & Practise Soft Skills High risk industries aren't the only ones who could benefit from Experiential learning. The Metaverse could give learners the opportunity to uninhibitedly practice their soft skills and identify their shortcomings. Think of customer service professionals who could practise de-escalating conversations with customers, and interact with heated exchanges and actually prepare for those exchanges. Imagine a multiple scenarios' sales negotiation simulation that could better train your sales personnel. And so, we return to the classroom surrounded by white boards that can transport learners as if they work in a magic room. In this room and in this world, employees will have first hand experiences, master a broader suite of skills, and be better equipped to transfer what they learn into their real work. The metaverse is coming to businesses. The question is whether learning solution providers, designers, policymakers, business owners, and employees, can appropriately use this to enhance learning experiences.