Traditional learning management systems are often associated with boredom and monotony, a necessary evil for delivering mandatory training and compliance courses, and meeting requirements, but it doesn’t have to be this way anymore.
Discussing best practices for learning platforms and the importance of modern learning systems in When Did Learning Stop Being Fun, a recent podcast on BeltWay Broadcast, our CEO and Founder Graham Glass said, “I wanted to create a modern learning platform that would make learning fun again, whether it's academia or businesses, because it is an area that could really do with a bit of fun injection.”
And that’s what this post is about: how the CYPHER platform has injected much needed fun into learning with an approach that combines fun and a modern learning approach that aligns with learning objectives and individual learning paths, to make learning more enjoyable, but also more memorable, meaningful, and effective.
However, before we get into the specifics of how the CYPHER platform makes learning fun, let’s first talk about why fun and learning go well together.
Ever heard someone say that learning isn’t supposed to be fun? I bet you have. A quick Google search gleans lots of differing opinions, articles, studies, and dissertations that assert the idea that trying to make learning fun fails, and asking us bewilderedly, where did we ever get the idea that learning should be fun? And in the world of work, we often eliminate fun and take it out of the equation. For example, if we're doing compliance training, it has to be serious and it cannot be fun.
Some of these naysayers define fun in learning as the mistake of allowing learners pursue their own independent goals. Are these opinions wrong? Does the pursuit of fun derail effective learning? Do we get more out of learning if we’re uncomfortable, challenged, and pushed out of our comfort zone? And maybe most important, are effective learning and fun mutually exclusive objectives? Can you be pushed out of your comfort zone, face learning challenges, and achieve better learning outcomes because it was also made enjoyable?
CYPHER doesn’t think effective learning and fun are mutually exclusive objectives. As Graham Glass says, "Modern LMSs are transforming the way we learn by making it more engaging, interactive, and personalized. With the help of technologies such as gamification, social learning, and AI, learners can now enjoy the learning process and achieve their learning objectives more effectively."
Graham adds, “If you're an educator like myself and you want to create educational content, you wanna make it so it's really fun with surprises and delights. People take twists and turns as they go. And it's still a corporate system. CYPHER is among the best of the best modern learning platforms in terms of features. But it's all about doing it in a way that's more creative and more fun, and that aligns closely to the learning objectives.”
Modern learning platforms like CYPHER are changing both the way we learn and the negative perceptions about fun and learning by incorporating new technologies and features that make learning engaging, interactive, fun, and at the same time, meaningful and effective. Here are six ways that CYPHER injects fun into learning:
Competency-based learning approach – Competency-based learning unlocks the potential for personalized learning, but on conventional platforms, it's extremely labor intensive and requires more time than most people have in their day. In addition to providing an engaging and personalized, modern learning experience supported by unique skills development features, site-wide automation, gamification, and flexible integrations, CYPHER takes a competency-based learning approach that ensures learners demonstrate mastery of a skill or concept before they move forward to the next lesson.
A Gartner report said, "CYPHER Learning's LMS provides a highly effective platform for competency-based learning, offering features like personalized learning paths, adaptive assessments, and real-time feedback that enable learners to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their roles." Additionally with CYPHER Copilot, instructors and administrators can save a lot of time by getting guided assistance in:
Generating competencies
Creating modules aligned to those competencies,
Creating the question banks and the essays aligned automatically to those competencies even down to the question level
Embedding gamification
According to the eLearning Industry, the global LMS market is projected to reach $22.4 billion by 2023. This growth can be attributed to the increasing demand for personalized and adaptive learning experiences. Modern LMSs are expected to cater to the needs and preferences of individual learners, ensuring that they receive relevant content and activities that align with their learning objectives.
By incorporating new technologies and features, CYPHER makes learning fun, in a way that aligns to learning goals and objectives, ensures that learners stay engaged and motivated, and results in improved learning outcomes. And as the demand for personalized and adaptive learning experiences continues to grow, we can expect the modern LMS to play an even greater role in shaping the future of education and training.
Footnotes:
Gartner, "Magic Quadrant for Cloud HCM Suites for Midmarket and Large Enterprises" (February 2021)