LinkedIn adds custom video content, improved tracking to learning suite

Dive Brief:

Adding to its suite of employer tools, LinkedIn has announced Learning Pro, a new product set that allows learning and development professionals to add their own or third-party videos to the platform for learners to access. The update also introduces a simplified administrator tool to help manage and track video activity.
L&D can tag videos to make them easier for learners to find, as well as direct them to content relevant to their needs, skills and interests. Admins can also assess the use of mobile versus desktop access by learners.
Enhancements to reporting allow for tracking of learner engagement by groups, recommendation histories and more. The custom content video feature also gives L&D the ability to track video completion rates.

Dive Insight:

Learning Pro is just the newest addition to LinkedIn's family of employer tools. The company recently launched the ability to add video to employer pages, allowing business to promote their jobs and brand in a one-stop applicant shop. Adding video to the LMS capabilities may have been a natural next step.

Incorporating video may well an excellent way to reach learners and help them retain content. Reports suggest engagement levels jump from 30% to 60-70% with video learning. Employees are accustomed to jumping on the internet to find tutorials for everything from cooking to home repairs. Especially for younger generations, searching for a video is often a first choice, so creating video-based learning content can provide some learners information in a format they’re comfortable accessing.

The traditional classroom learning experience simply isn’t relevant for many workers that require training, experts previously told HR Dive. For remote workers (who tend to crave more feedback) or those not tied to a workstation, e-learning, especially the type that’s mobile-optimized, is increasingly a must. Businesses also are finding that on-demand content that speaks directly to the task being performed boosts learning and retention, particularly if it’s in video format.