How ‘Creator’ Platforms, ChatGPT are Transforming Corporate Learning
By: Dave Zielinski (May 30, 2023)
The learning and development (L&D) team at ZoomInfo, a software company in Vancouver, Wash., had a dilemma. The team wanted to start creating short instructional videos to help new customers and employees learn the ins and outs of using the ZoomInfo platform. But while these learning professionals had an abundance of instructional design and teaching expertise, they had few video production skills.
The team resolved that problem when they discovered an artificial intelligence-powered video-editing app that enables not only L&D practitioners but subject matter experts (SMEs) outside of the training function to quickly create and distribute high-quality learning videos.
Vince Gorski, manager of learning and development for ZoomInfo, said his team now uses the video-editing platform from vendor Descript to create instructional videos that range from basic tips to the most advanced features of the ZoomInfo platform.
"Video production is new to our team, so having simple, easy-to-understand editing functionality was critical," Gorski said. "The tool has a screen-recording feature and can transcribe while recording, and also allows us to edit video content the same way you edit a text document, so it's super easy."
Creator Platforms, ChatGPT Transform Learning
New video-editing apps, along with ChatGPT and "creator" platforms developed by learning technology vendors, are helping organizations meet the growing need for workforce reskilling by expanding the pool of experts who can quickly create learning content. Vendors with creator platforms that enable employees to author learning content include Fuse Universal, 360Learning, Articulate, Udemy and more.
A Gartner survey of HR leaders found that learning and development is one of their top targets for investment this year. The survey also found that L&D offerings aren't keeping up with the pace of change in organizations, and that less than half of employees surveyed agree that the learning their companies provide is relevant to them.
Josh Bersin, a global industry analyst and CEO of HR advisory firm The Josh Bersin Company, said creator platforms allow regional L&D teams and SMEs to create and distribute training that's customized to local needs faster than corporate learning functions can.
"These tools are meeting a huge demand for training that corporate learning departments often aren't able to fulfill," Bersin said.
For example, in the past if a sales manager wanted to create a short, custom training course to help sales staff develop certain skills, the manager would have to make a formal request to the learning department for it, Bersin said.
"But it might be three months or more before an instructional designer built that course, often because corporate learning is so busy or is under-resourced," he said. "By using a creator platform, an SME in sales could use AI-driven tools like ChatGPT or course templates to build a series of videos or…click here to read the full article on SHRM’s website.