In recent years, Learning Experience Platforms, more commonly known as LXPs, have emerged as a contender to Learning Management Systems (LMS). LXPs augment and diversify LMSs existing capabilities and integrate features from other content hosting and learning platforms to offer a new product-category for distributing learning materials. At present, there are fewer than two dozen LXPs in the market. This article will dive deep into LXPs and explore their features and implications for eLearning.
What is an LXP?
An LXP is a learning software that offers users a highly personalized learning experience by combining and curating learning materials from multiple sources in one place. LXPs are best described as aggregation tools that pull from multiple libraries and sources across the internet. They also utilize user-generated content.
The high level of personalization LXPs offer is enabled by AI and machine learning. LXPs use sophisticated algorithms and logic to identify user patterns and needs and suggest content based on them.
Notable Features of LXPs
Here are some of the core features of an LXP.
Content Aggregated from Various Sources
As mentioned previously, LXPs aggregate content from a wide range of sources to provide learners with dynamic and rich learning materials.
LXPs are a great application of the connectivism theory of learning, which states that learning in a digital age is made up of an external network of information from various sources. LXPs recognize and integrate this, moving away from the idea that all learning and ideas are internal to the learner and must be learned from a single source.
In this way, LXPs are well-adapted to the needs and patterns of modern learners and provide them with a type of learning that feels more natural in the digital age that we live in.
Personalized Content and Experience
The content aggregated in an LXP is offered to learners in a personalized format that is relevant to their expressed or inferred needs and usage patterns.
This particular feature makes for highly engaging learning experiences that naturally increase learners’ motivation and likelihood of self-learning.
Additionally, LXPs, like LMSs, can track learners’ progress and help them manage their learning through reminders, learning widgets, bots, etc. A unique feature of LXPs that adds to its high personalization is its integration with office and productivity tools such as calendars, note-taking applications, to-do list applications, etc.
Data-Analytics and Tracking
LXPs are highly data-driven platforms that use AI and data-analytics to not only track usage but also learner performance.
This has a two-fold benefit.
- It informs learners of their strengths and blind spots and enables them to tweak their learning strategies to incorporate these.
- It informs administration of learners’ performance, as well as helps link learning to performance indicators, giving the higher-ups a clear picture of the ROI on interventions, resources, etc.
Thus, LXPs enable data-driven decision-making, both at an individual level, as well as at the formal organizational level.
Integrated Design and Development Tools
Some LXPs also come with design and development tools that can help streamline and shorten the process of designing and delivering internal learning content to learners.
These tools can also help maintain a consistent look and feel and consistent brand identity across all of your content.
Another major advantage of in-built design and development tools is easy course updates in case of content changes, quality issues, and obsolete content.
LXPs and LMSs: Is There a Difference?
LXPs and LMSs are different types of platforms, albeit with a few overlapping features and a similar purpose.
LMS and LXP Difference #1: LXPs are Learner-Focused
LXPs are primarily a personal learning portal for learners where they can access a wealth of content that is tailored to them. They give learners control over their learning and allow them the freedom to navigate between different content and resources.
LMSs, on the other hand, are administrator-focused. While LMSs also deliver content to learners, they do not aggregate or personalize this content. Instead, LMSs help L&D personnel, managers, etc. to deploy and distribute custom-made content to target learners. Administrators can register learners, schedule courses, set deadlines and timelines, as well as track usage and completion. Thus, none of the content on an LMS is personalized. Instead, it is goal-oriented and business/institution-focused.
LMS and LXP Difference #2: LXPs Support User-Generated Content
Another key difference between LMSs and LXPs is that the former supports user-generated content. LXPs come with authoring features that can be used by learners to generate content. This content can be accessed by other platform users, enabling social learning and the exchange of diverse experiences and ideas.
LMSs do not have this capability. They can only be used to deploy and distribute content and have limited and exclusive access. Learners can only utilize LMS features in a limited or personal capacity, without much interaction with other learners except through chat and message boards, communication channels, and external groups, etc.
LMS and LXP Difference #3: Familiar User Experience
The interface and user experience of LXPs mirrors the modern internet experience, with tagged content, content filtering, and personalized dashboards and feeds.
Additionally, LXPs are newer tools, making them contemporary in their look and feel and micro-interactions.
While many LMSs today also have contemporary designs and micro-interactions, they are niche applications that have a specialized use. Hence, LMSs don’t feel as familiar or intuitive to users and can often have an overwhelming number of features, menus, and icons. Hence, the learning curve for getting the hang of an LMS is gradual and shallow.
Will LXPs Replace LMSs?
Rather than a simple yes or no, it is better to say that two is better than one.
LXPs offer users a high level of freedom and personalization, increasing learners’ intrinsic motivation to engage with content out of personal relevance or interest. However, self-directed learning might not be enough to drive the numbers from a business or institutional standpoint.
Employees and students alike are often good judges of what THEY need, and LXPs are a powerful tool to supplement these needs with tailored and impactful content from various sources.
However, solely relying on LXPs for learning can be overwhelming and time-consuming for most users. Without proper goals and objectives to link learning with, users find it difficult to get the maximum benefit out of these platforms.
Most learners lack the technical know-how that L&D professionals have to learn strategically, assess themselves, and fill learning gaps. Additionally, most learners will lack the expertise and knowledge to align their learning activities with broader business and institutional goals.
Hence, the streamlined and structured delivery of learning materials that LMSs enable is crucial to give learners a solid starting point, especially when learning something new. However, LXPs are crucial to help learners learn in a way that works for them and serves their individual professional goals, as well.
Thus, LXPs are best used with LMSs to give learners the sweet spot between structured and self-directed learning. LMSs can help outline objectives and performance goals and give learners objective information about their proficiency in topics. LXPs can aggregate related content alongside the LMS content to help learners gain a greater understanding and mastery of relevant knowledge and skills.
Conclusion
LXPs are a modern and user-centric learning tool that aggregate personalized content for learners based on their needs and interests. LXPs are different from LMSs and boast of some advantages over the latter. However, LXPs and LMSs should not be viewed as competitor tools, instead, they each serve separate but meaningful purposes for organizational learning.
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4 Notable Features of LXPs
Knowledge Check!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is LXP?
An LXP is a learning software that offers users a highly personalized learning experience by combining and curating learning materials from multiple sources in one place.
What is the difference between LMS and LXP?
LXPs are different from LMSs in the following ways:
- LXPs are learner-focused
- LXPs support user generated content
- LXPs have a familiar user experience
Why use LXP?
LXPs personalize learning and make it more easier to connect with for learners. They also facilitate self-directed learning that is personally relevant to each learner.
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