The training / eLearning sector isn’t one that you can just stand still in. So, as much as we enjoy making superb courses for our customers, this year, we’re going to have a little change of pace as we engage in something we’re calling ‘The Year of the Refresh’.
Don’t worry. We’re absolutely going to continue bringing out new courses. But the bulk of our resources will be committed to this refresh project. But what is a content refresh, and what are the benefits of updating content like this? This blog has been designed to explain all, and why it’s ultimately a really good thing for our learners.
Let’s get started then.
Learning things is a continual process. Things change. Ideas get usurped by better ones. The content we put out five years ago isn’t necessarily still entirely accurate. And that’s bad – obviously, it doesn’t do anyone any good to take a course with wrong information in it. That goes for employees, managers, business leaders, and even us.
Of course, we do have our finger on the pulse with this stuff. If new changes come in that really change a course, we act immediately. We’ll take a course out of the library and update it. It’s happened a couple of times with our GDPR course, as you can imagine.
We also review courses regularly as it is. Like taking your car for an MOT. When a course is launched, it goes through a rigorous creative process via our production line (see our "Creating Impactful eLearning for Lasting Behavioural Change - A 'How-To' Guide" blog). At each stage, the course is quality assessed, and when it goes live, we monitor the content based on data from our own LMS and that of our partners. The content is sent for that MOT every so often, and, if needed, it’s updated. Most courses that get checked are found to be fine.
There are some other reasons to update the content too, like our own vanity. Things we put out years ago when we were finding our feet may not look as good as modern content. They may not work as smoothly, and the interactions might not be as impactful. And of course, there’s accessibility to think about – the guidance changes regularly, and we want to ensure the most amount of people possible have the best experience with our content. Accessibility standards have evolved, and our modern courses are great for it. As we refresh our older content, we’ll be bringing it all up to the same standard.
New tech is another reason to update, too. In recent months, we’ve developed SCORM wrappers, which help make life so much easier for customers. Essentially, if you use our content on our LMS, you instantly get the latest version of the course, but if you use it on your own, you’re using some form of SCORM type. If you’ve switched to SCORM wrappers, any changes we make to the course automatically update, so you only have to upload it once, and when we refresh that course, the next time you launch: BOOM! Latest version.
A Changing Learning Landscape
The L&D industry is in constant motion. Remember when something like remote working was a novelty? Now, it’s pretty standard. AI? Well, that’s changing how we work, learn and interact right now. Legal landscapes are changing. For example, the Worker Protection Act that came into force late last year affected some previous courses (we’ve amended them). Regulations are updated, and outdated content can do more than miss the mark, it can potentially damage our reputation and legal standing, obviously something we want to avoid. Technological advances too, mean learning content is at risk of becoming irrelevant quickly.
We also have to consider staying relevant. It’s critical that our learning content reflect the current workplace reality, addressing things like AI integration, hybrid working and evolving regulations. If training materials aren’t changed, the content is at risk of becoming irrelevant. And if you think that’s an exaggeration; would you watch a training video from the 1990s (except to laugh at the fashion)?
More Than Just an Update
What exactly is a content refresh? It’s more sophisticated than simply changing a few words. It’s a comprehensive process that involves a deep review of existing materials and ensures it aligns with current industry standards (and our own). It incorporates the latest insights and makes subjects relevant to everyone again. We’ve also got to establish which of our courses need this refresh: to do them all in a year wouldn’t be feasible or necessary.
Think of it as renovating a house. You’re not demolishing everything, just strategically and incrementally making improvements to enhance the overall value and functionality. Some courses could need a complete overhaul, but most will only need minor tweaks. It’s about making intelligent, targeted improvements which breathe new life into learning resources so all of our customers can reap the benefits.
The Psychology of Learning Content
Understanding why periodic content refreshing matters goes beyond technical updates. There’s a psychological component, too. We know learners are more likely to engage with materials that feel current, relevant and reflective of their real-world experiences.
Going back to the example from earlier – the rise of remote and hybrid working and the integration of AI into daily tasks – They have changed how we work and learn. It’d feel like we were disconnected if we didn’t acknowledge these shifts, and frankly, may make some of our topics obsolete.
Learner Expectations
iAM treats learners for what they are: sophisticated consumers of digital information. We know our customers are accustomed to personalised, instantly accessible, highly relevant content in all aspects of their digital lives. So why should their L&D be any different? A content refresh will help us meet learner expectations and show that we understand and value their experience. If customers give us feedback on a course, and it’s necessary or feasible to amend straight away, we do. We’ll of course also take wider comments and preferences into account during this refresh.
The Benefits of a Content Refresh
We’ve probably all worked for a place that hesitated to update its in-house content. Maybe it’s too expensive or time-consuming. But ultimately, it could cost them dearly. Updating content is significantly more cost-effective than creating new materials from scratch. To back to that MOT analogy from earlier: you wouldn’t get a new car every time you had a flat tyre, would you?
Improving our offering will improve user experience. Our content will be relevant and up to date, which will instil trust in our audience so they keep coming back and hopefully become customers or partners. The refresh will help ensure all our content is compatible with screen readers and meets other accessibility requirements as they evolve, to ensure everyone has the best experience.
Internally, a refresh is better too, especially for our production and marketing team, who can redirect their energy to other projects. Refreshing causes minimal disruption (compared to complete overhauls) and we can spread our updates out over time, which helps us manage resources.
Search engines, too, reward fresh, relevant content. Updated learning materials with current SEO keywords, aligned meta descriptions and recent information tend to rank higher in search engines. Result? Increased visibility, greater engagement from our audience and ultimately, more cash to make more content. Let’s not pretend this is completely altruistic: the refresh benefits us all.
Longer-Term Benefits
So, the immediate advantages of content updates are clear. But there are long-term benefits that shouldn’t be overlooked. A commitment to regular content refresh signals to our employees, partners and customers that we’re:
Having a reputation like this is important to us. In an era where talent retention and skill development are crucial, learning resources can be a powerful tool for attracting top talent. That obviously means the quality improves further for customers.
Are There Any Challenges?
Of course, updating a library of content isn’t going to be smooth sailing. Resources are always limited, particularly as we’re committed to delivering new courses as per our roadmap. Plus, we’ll need a budget for this stuff – money we’ve already spent on each course the first time around. Everyone involved in a refresh requires paying for the work they do, after all. That’s where our strategic planning and a phased approach become critical.
So how are we going about it? Well, we’re going to start small. We’re not going to do it all at once. We’ll start with critical content – courses that are frequently taken, or rapidly changing areas like tech, compliance or workplace skills. We’ll prioritise this stuff, then work our way through the rest of the learning library.
We’re also going to involve a good chunk of the team in the process. Those people who regularly use or deliver our training will likely have the most insightful perspectives on what needs updating. Luckily, we’ve worked on a culture of continuous improvement, so our team knows this is a collaborative, ongoing process, not just the top brass shouting down a mandate from up on high.
Investment, Not Expense
Although the refresh will cost money, it’s key that we view it as an investment, rather than an expense. Every update is an opportunity to:
As we mentioned earlier, the cost of not updating content could be much higher than the investment required to keep it static. Outdated training can lead to decreased productivity, potential legal risks, and our customers thinking we’ve stagnated (we haven’t).
The Bottom Line
Refreshing our content this year isn’t about trying to keep up, it’s about staying ahead of the game. It’s a practical, cost-effective strategy that will let us deliver higher-quality learning experiences to our customers and partners. It’ll improve our credibility as a business and offer better returns on the money already invested in the content.
The ‘Year of the Refresh’ is going to be a tough one, no doubt about it. Five years into the business though, it’s the right decision for us. It’s about breathing new life into our content, and an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to continuous improvement, relevance and excellence. We talk the talk, and walk the walk.
We’re not going to let any of our learning materials become relics of the past. By embracing this refresh, our L&D efforts are being transformed, and all of our customers will feel the benefits.
Want to know more?
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