Six Reasons to Incorporate Curated Content into eLearning Development

Content curation is the active sifting and culling ofInternet content—identifying valuable content, gathering it in some organizedfashion, and making it available to others. It’s a topic that’s been gettingmuch attention in eLearning circles lately. There are many reasons to make contentcuration an integral part of an eLearning development strategy. Here are a few:

• Curatedcontent offers learners a multitude of perspectives. Even in the largestcompanies with robust eLearning development staffs, the experience andexpertise is limited to the same group of employees. Seeking well-written,thoroughly researched and documented expert content—on any topic ofstudy—exponentially expands the knowledge base. Curation provides the manageror eLearning developer the opportunity to select that content carefully,ensuring that key topics are covered in the appropriate depth. It also exposeslearners to a wealth of information, expertise, and perspectives that in-housecontent might lack. Curators can even go a step further, encouraging social andcollaborative learning by creating discussion boards where learners can chatabout the content they’re reading.
• SomeeLearning content can’t be created in-house. Creating eLearning content oncertain topics might be beyond the abilities of in-house instructionaldesigners or developers. The perfect course might not be available in a neatpackage that can be linked to your LMS. But that content might be availableonline in the form of a MOOC, a webinar, an open-source academic article, ablog… Careful curation can steer employees to needed courses, providing asolution for resource-starved eLearning developers striving to meet diverselearners’ needs.
• Curatingcontent saves learners’ time. Learners may know what they need to study;they definitely know where their skills gaps are. But they might not know whereto find the best material online, and they can waste a lot of time looking or,even worse, end up with poor-quality or unsuitable materials. Reaching outbeyond the instructional designers to subject-matter experts throughout thecompany and asking them to recommend the best articles, courses, and otheronline materials can lead to a top-notch curated content site—where all of thecontent is relevant to at least some learners in the company.
• Curated contentis easy to update. Keeping eLearning content current is always a challenge.But periodic review of curated content can prune dead links and outdatedcontent. New content should be added regularly and in response to specificrequests or when new topic areas become relevant.
• Curatorsadd value and context. During curation, curators generally add a sentenceor two that offers some context for the content. It can describe the content oroffer suggestions on who might use it and how. It might link the content with aparticular course or learning objective. Providing this context enableslearners to make informed choices about which content items to use to explorebeyond their eLearning courses—or learn about topics not addressed in theireLearning courses.
• Learnerslove options. With curated content, it’s easy to offer articles, blogposts, videos, podcasts—a variety of content formats in different lengths.Providing choices makes it easier for all learners to find something ofinterest, something that will engage their attention, and something they canuse when they have a few minutes available.

Whether curated content takes the place of formal eLearningcourses or enhances them, it’s a great way to get targeted knowledge tolearners.

Want to know more about curation?

On April 5, if you subscribeto a Pro,Plus,or Premiumpackage from The eLearning Guild, you may be interested in Curation: Beyond the Buzzword. This one-day online Spotlight gathers curation expertsto look beyond the buzzword and explore curation’s current and future value.They’ll examine opportunities for curation, explore examples of it in practice,and separate fact from fiction. Join in and learn how you can apply curation inyour organization. To learn more about the program or to sign up, click here.