Association Flip Outs and E-Learning Solutions

Learning fascinates me. I always gravitate toward new learning opportunities, whether it’s a quick how-to video, a challenge to read more frequently, or a daily dose of a favorite trivia podcast. Professionally, I look to webinars, videos, social media, events, and networking to expand my knowledge of associations and relevant industry news.

For example, in December, I attended a session at ASAE’s Technology Conference, “Massive, Micro, Flipped and More: Key Trends and Technologies Driving the Future of E-Learning,” led by Jeff Cobb, Founder and Managing Director at Tagoras. His session introduced some of the models that are transforming online education, including the massive open online course (MOOC) trend, flipped learning, and microlearning. Jeff encouraged attendees to embrace these new approaches and see how they work for each organization.

So, what did I learn from this session? Well, these solutions are not one-size-fits-all. Here are some examples of common problems, and the e-learning solutions you could try:

E-Learning Solutions for Associations

Problem: Your organization hosts monthly training classes for your members to achieve their certification program requirements. Some members complain about not enough hands-on training or time for processing the content and asking questions.

Solution: Flipped Learning

Flipped learning puts the emphasis on maximizing face-to-face learning time and time-efficiency. In the above scenario, a “flipped” solution might provide pertinent how-to guides, videos, sample worksheets, or other online resources a week or two before the class. This would help ensure students are better prepared and everyone starts with the same foundation.

Problem: You’ve reviewed last year’s website analytics and found a dramatic increase in mobile visits, but also a higher bounce rate.

Solution: Microlearning

Microlearning narrows-in on specific topics with bite-sized learning. Take a look at the page content receiving the most visits from mobile users and identify trends. Make sure the pages are mobile-friendly and consider segmenting popular topics into short 5-minute videos or podcasts that your members can catch during their commute or lunch break. Accessibility should be fast, precise, and convenient.

Problem: Recent shifts in requirements/benefits related to your organization’s industry of expertise have resulted in the need to educate a large audience of your members globally on these changes, and not break the budget.

Solution: Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

MOOCs provide a “massive” audience with convenient and free access to an online course or courses. Many Learning Management Systems (LMS) provide associations with flexible formats for MOOCs including webcasts, online conferences, classes, and communities.

“By bringing the sense of community into the world of online continuing education, MOOCs have broken one of the last barriers to the great desire for continuing education options that fit into each person’s busy schedule.”- Clyde Seepersad, member of the IACET Board of Directors and General Manager, Training and Certification for The Linux Foundation.

This MOOCs for you…

Associations Now ran a great story on the Illinois Home Care and Hospice Council’s use of a MOOC—read it here. If learning is part of your organization’s mission, I think you’ll find it inspiring. And if you’re an association leader who’s tasked with delivering effective education programs, maybe MOOCs, flipped learning and microlearning are options to consider. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, you can begin evaluating next-generation e-learning solutions by pinpointing the challenges facing your organization (and members). To start the process, ask yourself these questions:

• “What are my main objectives and which challenges do I want to tackle first?”
• “What level of engagement do my members respond to?”
• “What is the budget we have to work with and how can we cut costs with e-learning?”

Free e-Learning how-to for you

For some expert guidance on enhancing your learning programs watch our webinar, “Grow Your Membership by Out-Educating Your Competition,” led by guest speaker Rich Finstein, Founder and CEO, CommPartners. Edit: This webinar is now available on-demand. Click here to request the recording.

And if you’re interested in finding out more about Association Management Systems can help your organization, check out our top-rated Association Anywhere software.

Sources

Jeff Cobb, Tagoras: Flipped Classroom, Microlearning, Leveraging MOOCs

Clyde Seepersad, IACET: MOOCS in Continuing Education

Associations Now: A Big Source for a Small Association