Moving from theory to practice is one of the most challenging aspects of the training process. Employees may be able to recite company policy or master skills in the online space. However, they’re not able to use them on-the-job to improve performance and stay in compliance. But how do you know if your eLearning initiatives are truly effective in real-world scenarios? Using an LMS with xAPI enables you to measure eLearning effectiveness in practical settings so that you can fine-tune your eLearning strategy. Or even provide employees with ongoing support resources to bridge gaps and achieve the desired business outcomes. Here are some tips to get you started so that you can monitor real-world application and facilitate meaningful change within your organization.

1. Clarify Objectives And Outcomes To Evaluate Employee Performance

Before you can measure eLearning effectiveness in real-world scenarios, you need to define your criteria. Clarify your goals and outcomes. Then determine how you’re going to use the LMS to facilitate and test practical application. You may even need to conduct a training needs analysis to identify your current shortcomings and employee performance gaps.

2. Monitor Mobile Training Access To Spot Areas For Improvement

An LMS with xAPI allows you to delve deeper into learner engagement. Is there a specific resource they access more often on their mobile device? Why is this tool so popular and could it indicate that the tie-in eLearning course or module needs some finetuning? For example, LMS reports reveal that your COI online training tutorial is accessed a record number of times by your sales employees. As such, you can take a closer look at the related certification course to look for areas for improvement. Such as content that may cause confusion or real-world online training activities that don’t mimic true behaviors or scenarios.

3. Incorporate Simulations That Demonstrate Skills In Action

Simulations evaluate your staff’s ability to use their training, minus the risks typically involved with on-the-job mistake-driven learning. They get to get past the learning curve in a safe and supportive setting. And you gain the ability to see their skills in action thanks to your LMS with xAPI. For example, can your warehouse staff use their new safe handling knowledge and creative reasoning skills to avoid a workplace emergency?

4. Use Serious Games To Engage And Test Their Practical Application

Many organizations incorporate serious games into their strategies to engage employees and increase motivation. However, their LMS often limits these reports to basic metrics, such as how much time they took to complete the game, what parts they struggled with, and if they got the highest ‘score’. Experience API monitors every click (or tap) to test their practical application in greater detail. They may be enjoying the gaming experience but you’re seizing the opportunity to evaluate their workplace performance. Or, at least creating virtual conditions that mimic these environments so that you can spot personal pain points.

5. Track Social Learning Activities To Test Team-building Skills

Most of your employees probably work with others instead of in isolation. Even remote IT support staff or call center employees still have to interact with customers. xAPI can help you track social learning activities that reflect their team-building skills, as well as other soft skills that may hinder their performance. For example, how they conduct themselves in social media groups or online forums. Or if they even participate in these activities at all – non-engagement might mean that they need to brush up on social skills. As an added bonus, these social learning events can also strengthen the team dynamic and foster a more collaborative learning culture.

6. Deploy Mobile App Pop Quizzes To Reinforce And Monitor Progress

A notable perk of investing in an LMS with xAPI is tracking offline and mobile training events. You can use this to reinforce knowledge and monitor progress with mobile app pop quizzes. For example, trigger notifications when employees reach a milestone or enter a certain section of the workplace. They might be prompted to complete a quiz when they are near a new product display to see how much they know about the latest items, such as features, benefits and specs. If they fail to make the grade, a list of recommendations shows up on their mobile screen to bring them up to speed.

7. Weigh Your LMS Reports Against Business Metrics To Get The Whole Picture

It’s not only the LMS reports which clue you into eLearning effectiveness in the real world. To get a comprehensive overview you must also evaluate business reports to connect the dots. For instance, employees use simulations to test their customer service skills. Look at your customer satisfaction stats, sales and other key indicators to see if it’s doing the job. Or if you may need to adjust your strategy to achieve maximum results. Like incorporating more diverse personas into your simulations so that employees get more exposure.

Moving from theory to practice is no easy task. Errors are part of the learning process as they help employees find new approaches and apply fresh skills. But making mistakes in the corporate sector could lead to costly violations or loss of valued customers. xAPI gives your staff the opportunity to identify areas for improvement to boost on-the-job productivity without compromising your company standards. Likewise, your organization can measure the effectiveness of your eLearning initiatives to see if they stack up in real-world scenarios.

Invest in an LMS that features a mobile app, API layer, and social learning support to reap all the rewards that xAPI has to offer. Adobe Captivate Prime also provides a free 30-day trial so that you can experience the benefits firsthand.

For more details, please write to Adobe Captivate Prime team at captivateprimesales@adobe.com.