Incorporating user generated content (UGC) in elearning- a simple guide
This is the decade of user generated content (UGC). From the era of TV and radio where information exchange was always one sided, this is the decade of organic, bilateral dialogues. And this leads to an interesting situation for elearning developers. Let us find out what it is.
What is user generated content
User generated content, or UGC, is any content that is created by the users. Marketing teams had been using UGC successfully for a long time. Wikipedia is one of the most visible examples.
User generated content in corporate training
Social learning has been one of the top elearning trends in the past years and continues to be in trend. Social learning is nothing new. People have always reached out to their peers, that is why the coffee machine is such a necessity in an office. But in the current workplace where working remotely is becoming kind of a norm, the social learning and exchange of ideas that an office can provide is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve. A corporate training course can never substitute the casual learning.
Everyone has knowledge, and thanks to the internet, information and guidance is available everywhere, and sharing personal stories are easier than ever. This means that employees are more likely to listen to their colleague’s updates via WhatsApp than going through the corporate elearning modules. Also real world is way more complex and multi-factorial than to be thought out by the learning managers. This automatically creates a trust situation where employees mistrust or at least brush aside ideas given to them via corporate channels. This can lead to non compliance. Besides, real guidance is in the heads of the expert employees and the veterans.
This is where user generated content becomes important. It is nothing but a platform for employees to share their ideas and process improvements.
How do You Encourage User-Generated Content?
You might’ve noticed that employees speak up during team meetings if given a chance. Asking their opinion not only empowers them, but also leads to an organic dialogue. In an elearning perspective these are the ways you can encourage user generated content in your organization:
- Use tools and LMS platforms that support user generated content.
- Use elearning automation tools that support easy content and eLearning generation, Like Wizcabin.
- Encourage learners to participate — provide benefits and gifts
Benefits of UGC
The human element
Every organization’s culture is unique. Every employee understands this and are aligned to it. By sharing user generated content, you are sharing ideas in the culture and vernacular that the employee understands, not in a stiff corporate lingo. This creates a personable learning experience which is more humane, relatable and hence, easily understandable.
Better compliance
Very few people like to be taught or rather ‘schooled’. Real learning comes from experience, i.e. from actual incidences and ‘stories’. Stories and advises from your peers are inherently more likely to be accepted than from a corporate channel as it is easily relatable. This easy acceptance of new ideas will essentially lead to more compliance.
Real world stories
The content generate by users are by default original, relevant and practical. A learning manager cannot think up all the scenarios and employee goes through while doing their work. Hence,
user generated content helps to fill up the voids that a corporate training modules can not fill.
Updated corporate courses
Subject matter experts and veteran employees have a plethora of information and expertise. This is what makes them a real value to the organization.
User generated content is one of the best way to tap into the vast experience they have and update the curriculum.
A morale booster
By seeking ideas from them, employees feel empowered and feels that they are valued. The acceptance of their ideas by management and peers act as an informal recognition. This also makes to more dedication and ownership to the processes and to the organization.
