Engaging employees, customers and partners is a challenge for organisations today. Learners need a personalised and compelling learning experience that is customised to their needs and expectations. Gray Fowler of NetDimensions discusses how learning portals can make learning and collaboration accessible, quickly digestible and fresh.

1. Custom Learning
Portals
Gray Fowler
SVP Strategy & Design
NetDimensions Interactive

2. Custom Learning Portal
Discussion Points
Define
Benefits
Applications
Examples
Developing

3. Learning Portals
Defined
custom e-learning portal
A learning portal provides learning resources and tools
to target a specific business goal, audience or subject
area.

5. Common Portal Features
Learning
Portal
Leaderboard
Performance
Support
Surveys/
Polls
Informal
/ Social
Media
Branding
Formal
Courses
Rewards/
Badges
Analytics &
Reporting

6. Integrating Business Workflow
Self Register
Download
and Fill Out
Form
Submit
Form Online
Complete
Courses
Print
Certificate
Facilitate and track business process within the training path.

7. How is a Custom Learning Portal
different from
an LMS?

8. Poll

9. How it Works…
My Example Portal
Custom User Interface and Targeted Messaging
Login
Consolidates relevant functionality and content from
different resources, for specific audience.
Social Media
Social Media
(e.g. Jive)
PDF and
Other
Resources
Corporate
Intranet
CMS for
Bulletins or
Other
Frequently
Changing
Content 3rd Party
CMS
Course Launching and
TrackingLMS
(e.g.
NetDimensions)

10. 3rd Party
CMS
My Example Portal
Custom User Interface and Targeted Messaging
Course Launching and
Tracking
PDF and
Other
Resources
Social Media
CMS for
Bulletins or
Other
Frequently
Changing
Content
LoginVarious methods for
integrating content and
functionality:
API
Widget
Link
Embedded
Page
Data & Information Sharing
LMS
(e.g.
NetDimensions)
Corporate
Intranet
Social Media
(e.g. Jive)

11. Single Sign On
My Example Portal
Custom User Interface and Targeted Messaging
Course Launching and
Tracking
PDF and
Other
Resources
Social Media
CMS for
Bulletins or
Other
Frequently
Changing
Content
Login
Single Sign On provides an
Elegant Integrated Experience
LMS
(e.g.
NetDimensions)
Corporate
Intranet
Social Media
(e.g. Jive)
3rd Party
CMS

12. Custom Learning Portal Attributes
Tailored Learning
Learning Paths
Centralized
Combines Formal and
Informal Modes
Relevant Messaging
Promotes Continuous
Learning
Motivation
Promotes Sharing of Ideas
and Information
Facilitates Development of
Best Practices
Opportunity to Integrate
Training and Business Process

13. Poll

14. Common Applications for
Learning Portals
• Sales Training
• Service Training
• Manufacturing Training
• Compliance Training
• Technical Training
• Extended Enterprise
• New Hire Onboarding

15. Portal Scenario: New Hire Orientation
Challenges
1. Make the employee feel welcome
and connected to the organization
and their department
2. Disorganization: New employees are
receiving information from different
sources (HR, IT, Security, etc.)
3. Need to communicate a clear
understanding of what the
employees responsibilities are
during the onboarding process
4. Provide a facility for answering
employee questions

16. Portal Example
Onboarding
ACME New Hire Onboarding Portal login
Welcome!
Here’s your
learning path
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Your Courses
Welcome to ACME Company
Corporate Compliance Policy
History of ACME
Resources
Ethics Policy
ACME 401k Plan
Insurance Forms
Benefits Overview
IT Resources
Network
Computer Security Policy
Wi-Fi Access
Your Mentor
John Smith
HR Department
555-1212 x1234
jsmith@acme.com
Your Team
Hi there! Welcome to ACME! I think
you’ll be working on my team. Let
me know if I can help with anything!
Yeah, I think you’ll like it here! Let me
know if you need help setting up
your computer.
Post
Comment:

17. Portal Example
Onboarding
ACME New Hire Onboarding Portal login
Welcome!
Here’s your
onboarding
path
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Challenge Addressed
• Make the employee feel
welcome and connected
to the organization and
their department
Features
• Welcome
messaging/video
• Social Media
• Mentor Contact
Your Courses
Welcome to ACME Company
Corporate Compliance Policy
History of ACME
Resources
Ethics Policy
ACME 401k Plan
Insurance Forms
Benefits Overview
IT Resources
Network
Computer Security Policy
Wi-Fi Access
Your Mentor
John Smith
HR Department
555-1212 x1234
jsmith@acme.com
Your Team
Hi there! Welcome to ACME! I think
you’ll be working on my team. Let
me know if I can help with anything!
Yeah, I think you’ll like it here! Let me
know if you need help setting up
your computer.
Post
Comment:
Your Team
Hi there! Welcome to ACME! I think
you’ll be working on my team. Let
me know if I can help with anything!
Yeah, I think you’ll like it here! Let me
know if you need help setting up
your computer.
Post
Comment:
Your Mentor
John Smith
HR Department
555-1212 x1234
jsmith@acme.com
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4

18. Portal Example
Onboarding
ACME New Hire Onboarding Portal login
Welcome!
Here’s your
onboarding
path
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Challenge Addressed
• Need to communicate a
clear understanding of
what the employees
responsibilities are during
the onboarding process
Features
• Learning Path
• Welcome
messaging/video
• Mentor Contact
Your Courses
Welcome to ACME Company
Corporate Compliance Policy
History of ACME
Resources
Ethics Policy
ACME 401k Plan
Insurance Forms
Benefits Overview
IT Resources
Network
Computer Security Policy
Wi-Fi Access
Your Mentor
John Smith
HR Department
555-1212 x1234
jsmith@acme.com
Your Team
Hi there! Welcome to ACME! I think
you’ll be working on my team. Let
me know if I can help with anything!
Yeah, I think you’ll like it here! Let me
know if you need help setting up
your computer.
Post
Comment:
Your Mentor
John Smith
HR Department
555-1212 x1234
jsmith@acme.com
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4

19. Portal Example
Onboarding
ACME New Hire Onboarding Portal login
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Your Courses
Welcome to ACME Company
Corporate Compliance Policy
History of ACME
Resources
Ethics Policy
ACME 401k Plan
Insurance Forms
Benefits Overview
IT Resources
Network
Computer Security Policy
Wi-Fi Access
Your Mentor
John Smith
HR Department
555-1212 x1234
jsmith@acme.com
Your Team
Hi there! Welcome to ACME! I think
you’ll be working on my team. Let
me know if I can help with anything!
Yeah, I think you’ll like it here! Let me
know if you need help setting up
your computer.
Post
Comment:
Your Courses
Welcome to ACME Company
Corporate Compliance Policy
History of ACME
Resources & Forms
Ethics Policy
ACME 401k Plan
Insurance Forms
Benefits Form
IT Resources
Network
Computer Security Policy
Wi-Fi Access
Challenge Addressed
• Disorganization: New
employees are receiving
information from different
sources (HR, IT, Security,
etc.)
Features
• Learning Path
• Courses, Resources and
Forms all available from
one site
Welcome!
Here’s your
learning path

20. Portal Example
Onboarding
ACME New Hire Onboarding Portal login
Welcome!
Here’s your
onboarding
path
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Your Courses
Welcome to ACME Company
Corporate Compliance Policy
History of ACME
Resources
Ethics Policy
ACME 401k Plan
Insurance Forms
Benefits Overview
IT Resources
Network
Computer Security Policy
Wi-Fi Access
Your Mentor
John Smith
HR Department
555-1212 x1234
jsmith@acme.com
Your Team
Hi there! Welcome to ACME! I think
you’ll be working on my team. Let
me know if I can help with anything!
Yeah, I think you’ll like it here! Let me
know if you need help setting up
your computer.
Post
Comment:
Your Team
Hi there! Welcome to ACME! I think
you’ll be working on my team. Let
me know if I can help with anything!
Yeah, I think you’ll like it here! Let me
know if you need help setting up
your computer.
Post
Comment:
Your Mentor
John Smith
HR Department
555-1212 x1234
jsmith@acme.com
Challenge Addressed
• Provide a facility for
answering employee
questions
Features
• Social Media
• Your Mentor Contact
Welcome!
Here’s your
learning path
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4

21. Portal Example
Onboarding
ACME New Hire Onboarding Portal login
Welcome!
Here’s your
onboarding
path
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Challenges Addressed
• Disorganization: New
employees are receiving
information from different
sources (HR, IT, Security,
etc.)
• Need to communicate a
clear understanding of what
the employees
responsibilities are during
the onboarding process
• Make the employee feel
welcome and connected to
the organization and their
department
• Provide a facility for
answering employee
questions
Your Courses
Welcome to ACME Company
Corporate Compliance Policy
History of ACME
Resources
Ethics Policy
ACME 401k Plan
Insurance Forms
Benefits Overview
IT Resources
Network
Computer Security Policy
Wi-Fi Access
Your Mentor
John Smith
HR Department
555-1212 x1234
jsmith@acme.com
Your Team
Hi there! Welcome to ACME! I think
you’ll be working on my team. Let
me know if I can help with anything!
Yeah, I think you’ll like it here! Let me
know if you need help setting up
your computer.
Post
Comment:
Your Courses
Welcome to ACME Company
Corporate Compliance Policy
History of ACME
Resources & Forms
Ethics Policy
ACME 401k Plan
Insurance Forms
Benefits Form
IT Resources
Network
Computer Security Policy
Wi-Fi Access
Your Team
Hi there! Welcome to ACME! I think
you’ll be working on my team. Let
me know if I can help with anything!
Yeah, I think you’ll like it here! Let me
know if you need help setting up
your computer.
Post
Comment:
Your Mentor
John Smith
HR Department
555-1212 x1234
jsmith@acme.com

22. Poll

23. Case Study:
Digicel Retail Academy
Target Audience: 1000+ Retail Store Employees
Training Goal:
• Onboard new and existing retail employees
• Provide training on Digicel product line and selling
techniques
• Motivate learners to complete courses quickly
Outcome:
• Launched in November
• 1600+ of courses registered
• Positive feedback from learner audience and
stakeholders

24. • Login & Self
Registration
• Multiple languages
• Key Provided for
Registration Access
Case Study:
Digicel

25. • Self registration page
with auto enrollment
based on Role
• Profile information
with store selection
for inserting learner
in the appropriate
reporting
organization
Case Study:
Digicel

26. • Leaderboard
• Personalized
• Encourages completion
by given date
• Stars to indicate relative
quality of work/scores
• Reference Library
• Ability to enroll in
additional courses
• Survey
• News Articles
Case Study:
Digicel

27. Case Study:
3Shape Academy
Target Audience: Dentists & Clinicians
Training Goal:
• Provide comprehensive technical
training for operation of their Trios
dental scanning tool
• Multi-modal
• E-learning
• Clinics
• Resources/Videos

28. Case Study:
3Shape
• Self Registration
• Key Code for Access
• Authenticates against
proprietary CRM system

29. Case Study:
3Shape
• Learning path
• Multi-modal learning
with tracking and
certification
• Multi-language support
• Reference resource tab
• Authenticates against
product CRM system
• Links to other external
resource sites (YouTube,
etc.)

30. Case Study:
3Shape
• Clinic Registration
Tracking
• After Registration
Certificate Provided for
Printing
• Optional Survey

31. Administrator Functions &
Analytics
Analytics
• Reporting on portal specific
functions such as leaderboard,
badges, time on the site, and
more.
• Graphical dashboard for quickly
analyzing and comparing data
Admin Functions
• CMS text editor for quickly
updating messages
• News editor
• Feedback manager/approval of
comments

32. • Portals can be designed to serve up content to
mobile devices
• Dynamic device detection allows for distribution of
the appropriate content for the device
• Performance support and job aids
Mobile Portals

33. Portal Development - Overview
Three phase process
Requirements
Analysis
& Design
Portal
Development
& Delivery
Maintenance &
Enhancements

34. Portal Development - Overview
Requirements
Analysis
& Design
Portal
Development
& Delivery
Maintenance &
Enhancements
• Business Goals for Portal
• Target Audience
• Key Features
(badges, leaderboard, etc.)
• Integrated Systems
(NTS, Wikis, Other Systems)
• Authentication Requirements
• Branding Guidelines & Look & Feel
• Navigation Design and Mechanics
• Reporting and Analytics
• Hosting Requirements
• All Tech & Security Requirements
• Target Delivery Date
• Deliverable:
Specification Document

35. Portal Development - Overview
Requirements
Analysis
& Design
Portal
Development
& Delivery
Maintenance &
Enhancements
• Detailed schedule and pricing
provided
• Client provides any required
content
• Developer provides final graphic
and technical designs for client
review & approval
• Hosting established for production
and staging sites
• Developer builds portal on staging
site
• Three cycle QA and client review
process
• Client approved portal is migrated
to production server and tested
• Optional client pilot test
• Portal goes live

36. Portal Development - Overview
Requirements
Analysis
& Design
Portal
Development
& Delivery
Maintenance &
Enhancements
• Follow up evaluation and review
• Establish feedback tracking system
• Ongoing technical performance
monitoring
• Any enhancement ideas are
discussed and considered
• Updates to content as needed

37. Thank You!
• Learn more at NetDimensions.com
• gray.fowler@netdimensions.com