Personalised learning on a budget — is it possible?
In times of rapid change, personalised learning is essential. It helps employees quickly acquire new skills and adapt to challenges. But how do you put it in place when you’re facing budget constraints, resourcing challenges and changes in your team? With a little creativity and strategic planning, it can be both effective and economical.
Explore three practical strategies, along with tips and tools to implement personalised learning on a budget in your organisation.
Reading time: 4 minutes
You already know the benefits of personalised learning: improved learning outcomes, enhanced engagement, and increased motivation.
In times of rapid change, personalised learning is essential. It helps employees quickly acquire new skills and adapt to challenges. A study indicates that 77% of L&D professionals view personalised learning as crucial for employee engagement, highlighting its significant impact on motivation and retention. When done right, it not only boosts individual performance but also drives overall organisational success.
But how do you put it in place when you’re facing budget constraints, resourcing challenges and changes in your team?
The truth is, with a little creativity and strategic planning, it can be both effective and economical. By making the most of existing resources, using cost-effective tools, and tapping into internal expertise, you can create a strong personalised learning programme without overspending.
Read on to explore three practical strategies, along with tips and tools to implement personalised learning on a budget in your organisation.
1. Adapt existing content
Remember, you already have valuable content, so there’s no need to start from scratch. Adapting and repurposing your current materials can save time and money and create effective personalised learning experiences.
How?
Identify priority skills and capabilities
Start by identifying the most critical skills and capabilities your organisation needs. This focus will help you align your learning objectives with what truly matters, ensuring your efforts are directed towards the most impactful areas.
Review and revamp existing materials
Take a thorough look at your existing content. You might find materials almost ready to go and just need a few tweaks to fit your learners’ needs. Sometimes, the best resources are hidden in plain sight, waiting to be optimised.
Break it down into bite-sized learning paths
Divide your existing content into micro and nano learning pathways. These targeted learning experiences are easier to digest and can be more effectively tailored to individual needs.
Branching scenarios and customisation
Create branching scenarios where learners receive content based on their choices and decisions. Additionally, adjust the language, tone, or format of your content to match your organisational context and cater to different learning styles. Personalising your content delivery makes it more relevant and accessible, improving engagement and retention.
Leverage internal resources
Struggling with time constraints in your Learning & Development team? Consider setting up cross-functional project teams or recruiting interns to support you. This collaborative approach helps to distribute the workload, bringing fresh perspectives and ideas into the content creation process.
2. Use free or inexpensive multimedia resources
After reviewing your existing content, you might notice some gaps or find materials that aren’t easily transformed. Don’t worry – filling these gaps doesn’t have to be expensive.
How?
Dive into open educational resources (OERs)
Platforms like OER Commons, an online library with tens of thousands of free resources on a variety of subjects. These materials can be easily adapted to meet your specific learning needs, helping you fill gaps without spending a dime.
Harness free online courses
Look for structured, high-quality content that aligns with your teams’ objectives—all for free.
Leverage YouTube
Curate playlists that match your learning goals, or have your teams create short instructional videos.
Gamify learning
Who says learning has to be boring? Incorporate interactive quizzes with personalised feedback, friendly competition and rewards. Gamifying learning makes it fun and keeps everyone motivated.
Boost visual appeal
First impressions matter. Use free design tools like Visme, Canva, and Piktochart to create eye-catching visuals. Pair these with royalty-free images and sound effects to make your content pop and keep learners engaged.
Tap into social media
Share your personalised learning content across your organisation’s social media channels. This not only extends the reach of your materials but also promotes a culture of continuous learning.
3. Involve your internal experts
Why restrict your teams to traditional courses when you can make learning a part of everyday work? And the best part? You’ve got all the resources you need right within your organisation.
How?
Set up a skill marketplace
Create a directory of internal experts spanning various functions and levels. This directory connects learners with experts who can provide just-in-time learning support, making the learning process timely and relevant.
Implement a job shadowing programme
It’s a low-cost, high-impact approach where learners observe experts in action and gain real-world insights directly from their colleagues. This hands-on learning experience is invaluable for developing practical skills and understanding the nuances of different roles.
Review your mentoring programmes
Do they include reverse and peer mentoring? These formats facilitate the exchange of fresh perspectives and skills, bridging gaps and fostering mutual growth. Reverse mentoring, where less experienced staff guide seasoned employees, can be especially impactful.
Don’t overlook the power of informal learning: Creating interest groups, communities of practice, or hosting casual lunch-and-learn sessions can foster a collaborative and engaging learning environment. These settings encourage knowledge sharing and make learning a more enjoyable experience.
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Personalised learning doesn't have to be a costly or complicated endeavour. By tweaking what you already have, using free or low-cost multimedia tools and tapping into your teams’ expertise, you can build a dynamic and engaging learning environment.
Start small, get creative, and make the most of your resources. By implementing these practical strategies, you'll see significant benefits in your teams’ engagement, skill development and overall performance.
British Council has 90 years’ experience of partnering with organisations and individuals in over 200 countries to upskill their workforce for success. Our four-step process supports you to implement initiatives that make a difference, whatever the career path your employees choose.
Our online courses offer personalised, scalable options to grow your employees’ skills.
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