Cohort learning is known for its ability to drive higher completion rates and foster meaningful peer-to-peer interactions. However, the challenge lies in effectively managing and scaling these programs, particularly in large organizations. Uplimit's AI-powered platform tackles these challenges, enabling learning leaders to deliver impactful experiences with greater efficiency.
Why cohort learning delivers measurable results
Asynchronous learners often struggle with a lack of motivation, low course engagement, and feelings of isolation from classmates as they work through their online courses. These feelings are reflected in the completion rates, with MOOCs seeing as low as 3% of learners finishing a course.
Cohort learning stands out because it brings learners together, enhancing engagement and completion rates. Jeanne Meister, HR Consultant and panelist, emphasized during a recent webinar, "Cohort-based learning creates a sense of community that significantly increases engagement and completion rates." This sense of connection is crucial for organizations aiming to boost their learning programs' effectiveness and retain top talent.
Despite its benefits, scaling these programs can be daunting. Organizations face significant hurdles in managing cohorts efficiently, maintaining personalized learning experiences, and achieving high completion rates across large groups. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023, 4 out of 5 employers plan to invest in learning and training over the next five years, highlighting the importance of finding scalable solutions.
The challenges of scaling cohort-based learning
Scaling cohort learning isn't easy. It involves a complex web of management tasks, from coordinating sessions and tracking progress to ensuring that each learner receives the support they need. As I mentioned during the webinar, "The real challenge is not just in running cohort-based learning programs, but in doing so at scale without sacrificing the quality of the learning experience."
Key challenges include:
- Administrative efficiency: It can take months to manually create a cohort curriculum, from ensuring content aligns with learning objectives to iterating and seeking peer feedback.
- Difficulty in scaling personalized experiences: As cohorts grow, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain the level of personalization that makes these programs effective.
- Low completion rates and learner engagement: Without efficient management, even well-designed cohort programs can struggle with low engagement and completion.
How Uplimit overcomes these challenges
Uplimit’s platform addresses these challenges directly by providing tools that streamline and enhance the management of cohort learning programs.
- Transparency into course progress: Uplimit offers real-time insights into each cohort's progress, allowing learning leaders to monitor engagement and provide timely support. This transparency is key to maintaining high completion rates, as Karie Willyerd, former CLO of Visa, highlighted, "Having data at your fingertips allows you to intervene early and keep learners on track."
- Automated workflows: By automating routine tasks like scheduling and communication, Uplimit reduces the administrative burden on learning leaders. This automation enables organizations to scale their programs effectively, supporting hundreds of learners with the same level of quality that would typically be afforded to smaller groups.
- AI-driven interventions: Uplimit’s AI tools analyze learner data to suggest interventions that keep learners engaged and progressing. AI isn’t just about making things faster; it’s about making them smarter. Our platform uses AI to identify when a learner is struggling and recommends actions to help them succeed.
- Scalable management: The platform's automation features, such as calendar management, automated recording/transcription/uploading for live events, and pre-scheduled communication that can be copied over session to session, allow organizations to scale their programs without increasing the workload on their L&D teams.
Real-world success stories
Several companies have successfully used Uplimit’s platform to overcome the challenges of scaling cohort-based learning:
Databricks: The global data and AI company used Uplimit to build Databricks Customer Academy, scaling its customer education program from 20 to 1,000 learners all while maintaining a course completion rate of over 75%. By leveraging Uplimit’s AI-driven cohort management, Databricks expanded its reach without compromising on quality.
GE Healthcare: GE Healthcare piloted Uplimit’s AI Roleplays to give learners practical, real-world scenarios to apply their new skills. Kristy Callahan, Head of L&D, emphasized the platform’s impact, saying, "Our learners weren’t just absorbing information; they were applying it immediately in their roles, which is the ultimate goal of any learning program."
Kraft Heinz: Under the leadership of Pamay Bassey, Chief Learning and Diversity Officer, Kraft Heinz utilized Uplimit’s AI and ChatGPT for Everyone course to deliver a global learning event focused on AI literacy. The program was not only successful in educating employees but also in fostering a deeper understanding of AI’s role in the company’s future.
Procore: Procore used Uplimit to develop personalized learning pathways for its employees, ensuring that each learner achieved the necessary proficiency levels. The program’s success was measured not just in completion rates but in the tangible skill improvements that aligned with Procore’s business objectives.
Conclusion
Uplimit’s AI-powered platform is transforming the way organizations approach cohort learning. By addressing the challenges of scalability and management, Uplimit enables company leaders to deliver high-quality, impactful learning experiences efficiently. The future of learning isn’t just about technology—it’s about using technology to create learning experiences that are meaningful and scalable.
Ready to see how Uplimit can help you manage and scale your learning programs? With Uplimit, you can reduce course and cohort management time by 93%. Request a demo today and discover how to create efficient, high-impact learning experiences.