Introducing Learning Hours: A more complete picture of learner engagement

At xUnlocked, we are dedicated to providing learning solutions that are not only engaging, but also measurable in terms of their effectiveness. Traditional learning metrics like video completion rates, CPD credits earned, and pathway ratings have served us well in capturing some of the ways learners interact with our content. But we recognise they only tell part of the story.

That is why we are excited to introduce a new metric that will enhance our understanding of learner engagement: Learning Hours. This new metric delves deeper into learning activities, offering a more complete picture of how learners are actively participating and engaging with our learning content.

While we only officially launched at the beginning of June, initial modelling already shows that Learning Hours are on average 22% higher across accounts than the more traditional “Watched Hours” metric, which focuses on more passive consumption of learning content. Smaller accounts and those with assigned pathways or mandatory learning see even larger gains, while our most impactful result to date has been a 32% increase in hours spent actively learning.

What are learning metrics? And why this Learning Hours metric?

Our existing metrics have been instrumental in gauging learning engagement, but they have limitations. Our Watched Hours metric, for instance, measures time spent viewing or rewatching content. While this remains fundamental data in the effective delivery of our learning programmes, real learning encompasses so much more: active participation, cognitive engagement, and the application of knowledge in various contexts.

The need to apply a further engagement metric became apparent as we sought to understand not just whether learners are watching content, but also how they are interacting with it and applying what they learn. The result is Learning Hours, a metric designed to capture the full spectrum of learning activities, and provide deeper insights into learner engagement and progress.

Introducing Learning Hours: A deeper dive

Learning Hours is a comprehensive metric that reflects both passive and active learning activities. Our previous Watched Hours metric, measuring the amount of learner time spent viewing videos, will remain available for continuity in detailed analytics and API reports. 

But Learning Hours goes further, encompassing a variety of interactions that contribute to meaningful learning outcomes. This includes time spent across video modules, glossary terms, knowledge checks, case studies, written exercises, and pathway tests.

By accounting for these diverse learning activities, Learning Hours offers a richer, more nuanced understanding of how learners engage with content. It moves beyond simple consumption to capture the depth and breadth of learner interaction, providing a clearer picture of progress and value.

Key components of the Learning Hours metric

We use this metric to ascertain how much time learners spend:

• Watching and re-watching video modules.
• Viewing hotspots and reading glossary terms.
• Engaging in knowledge checks, interacting with formative assessments, reinforcing retention and understanding.
• Applying knowledge through scenario-based, case-study learning.
• Undertaking written exercises and exercise-based learning.
• Taking pathway tests, validating knowledge via summative assessments.

This multi-layered approach ensures that Learning Hours captures a wide range of learning activities, providing richer insight into how learners are progressing and engaging with each stage of their learning journey.

Benefits of Learning Hours for organisations

Learning Hours offers several significant benefits for organisations, providing valuable insights for professionals seeking proof of impact across learning and development programmes.

• Enhanced reporting: By capturing a broader range of learning activities, Learning Hours provides a more comprehensive reflection of learner effort and engagement.
• Better decision-making: The deeper insights gained from Learning Hours enable learning and development professionals to make more informed decisions about training strategies and investments.
• Continuity with flexibility: While Learning Hours replaces Watched Hours in key areas of our learning platform, legacy data will remain available for continuity in detailed analytics and API reports.
• Demonstrating value: Learning Hours helps organisations demonstrate the value of their learning initiatives by providing a clearer picture of how learners are engaging and progressing.

Transitioning to Learning Hours: What our clients can expect

The transition to Learning Hours will be seamless and supportive. The new metric will replace Watched Hours in the Manager Dashboard, Manager Analytics, Learner Analytics, and Assignments view. Additionally, an extra column for Learning Hours will be added to detailed Manager Analytics views by team and by learner.

Watched Hours will still be available in detailed analytics, CSV reports, and API access, ensuring organisations can maintain continuity in their learner analytics, while benefiting from the richer insights provided by Learning Hours.

To support this transition, we will offer guidance and resources to help organisations adjust their reporting and make the most of the new metric. Since launch, we are confident that our innovation in Learning Hours will drive greater understanding and optimisation of learner engagement.

Learning metrics that count

Learning Hours represents a significant advancement in our approach to measuring learner engagement. By capturing a wider range of learning activities, it provides a more complete and insightful metric that empowers organisations to optimise their training strategies and demonstrate the value of their learning initiatives. 

We look forward to working with all our clients and learners to realise the positive impact of this new learning metric.

Contact us today and find out more about the ways in which we work with organisations to implement learning programmes that have real business impact.