One of the key benefits of Skilljar's learning management system is our flexibility with course authoring. We can import packaged content in SCORM 1.2 format, and we also support lightweight course authoring by directly uploading videos, PDFs, creating quizzes, and more. In fact, you can combine one or more SCORM packages with other types of content authored on the Skilljar platform, all within the same course.

Training managers and instructional designers who are creating new courses now have the option of using a traditional desktop authoring tool (such as Articulate Storyline or Adobe Captivate), or using Skilljar’s built-in course authoring tools. If you are wondering what the best way to create your content is, this guide can help. Here are the key details to consider when deciding your approach.

Trainers who focus on customer and partner education understand that their audience consists of busy professionals who are on-the-go. Unlike mandatory compliance training where employees are captive at their desks, customer training is an optional, yet critical activity that leads to faster product adoption and long-term success.

Creating compelling training content in bite-size, self-paced pieces is the first step to encouraging knowledge mastery. When course completion is an important goal (and it may not be in all contexts), we've identified four incentives that are successfully used to encourage customers and partners to complete training. Read on for the details.

Innovations are pointless unless people and organizations harness them to achieve their goals. While we may not be able to predict the future, that does not mean we should sit idly by as the tides of change wash over us. One of the most effective mechanisms to ensure customers are continuing to derive value from your innovative products and services is by investing in Customer Education. 

One of the most critical considerations when building a successful Customer Education program is developing content that addresses your learners' knowledge needs AND presents the information in a format that is engaging and valuable. While it is common knowledge that different formats appeal to different learning styles, it’s easy to overlook one key factor - the way that busy, modern adults learn is fundamentally different from traditional learning models that were developed for classroom-based formal school instruction.

In my last two blog posts, I discussed the importance of having a cohesive, overarching strategy and the establishment of a content development process in building a Customer Education Program. With this foundation in place, the third element of a successful Customer Education Program comes into play: technology. As our colleagues at TSIA Research explain, “With new learning approaches being introduced at a rapid rate, technology is a critical investment area for education services teams hoping to meet and exceed customer expectations.”

At our inaugural customer conference in November, Skilljar Connect, we asked our customers for their thoughts on the essential steps that must be taken before the first piece of content is developed for a customer education program.  From the responses, there was one recommendation that consistently stood out:

“Start with the goal and then move backward. Training has to be easy and add value. Also, if it is not easily consumable, then no one will take it.”

We recently had hundreds of customer education leaders in town for Skilljar Connect 2018. After the conference, I took some time to reflect on our journey and what distinguishes great customer education programs at companies such as MapR, Nintex, Procore, Quick Base, The Trade Desk, Zenefits and Zendesk.

Today we announced our $16.4 million Series A funding from new investors Mayfield and Shasta Ventures, with participation from our existing investor Trilogy Equity Partners. As part of the financing, we’re excited to welcome Rajeev Batra from Mayfield and Doug Pepper from Shasta to the Skilljar board.

If you’re unhappy with your LMS, you’re in good company. The Learning Management System (LMS) is one of the oldest and most hated categories in enterprise software. According to a recent report from the eLearning Guild, fully one-third of organizations are “dissatisfied” or “very dissatisfied” with their LMS. In addition, over half of organizations are planning to change their LMS within the next year, and 89% within the next three years.