Oracle Blogs: Oracle Cloud Learning Subscriptions 3.0: Experience an Intuitive Platform for Cloud Learning

With the number of cloud implementations across Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PAAS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS) growing, a re-engineered cloud learning platform with new functionalities is essential.

A new platform makes the student's learning experience more intuitive.

The key characteristics of these new cloud learning platforms include:

• Adaptive learning
• Incremental learning
• An intuitive platform
• Measurable and objective-based learning
• Instrumentation 
• Video-based courses

Customers and organizations are exploring platforms that provide seamless employee learning, with just-in-time integration. 

They're looking for an integrated, continuous learning platform that keeps up with constantly changing cloud product lines. Below, we'll explore the top 10 desired functionalities of a cloud platform and how Oracle University is meeting the modern cloud learner's needs.

Top 10 desired functionalities of a CLOUD platform:

1. A unified platform for learning across multiple product versions: most cloud deployments need learning across multiple product versions of cloud products, such as Fusion versions 10,11 and12. Based on the project, the platform should let the learner switch product versions and build competency. 

2. Instructional learning based on specific topics and skills: the content needs to be re-purposed and architected based on application, skills and topics to ensure the learning is objective-based. The platform should help the student develop certain skills and topics required for specific projects. Learning can be measured to ensure all team members achieve a high level of competency.

3. Gamification to measure modern learning and drive adoption: the learning platform should provide basic incentives for learners to measure skills, like points, which can enhance the learning experience. The platform can undergo future enhancements, but having a basic point-based and skill-based learning system will encourage quantitative learning.

4. Taxonomy of role-based learning based on product implementation: the platform should provide role-based learning based on actual taxonomies in a typical implementation project. Within a cloud implementation project, roles like functional implementers, technical implementers, service administrators and end users would exist. The content is organized based on role and job description to provide a tailored, focused learning experience. If the functional team needs to develop a basic understanding of technical information, the platform should not restrict content and should provide access to all the information.

5. Assessment and certifications: the platform should provide a continuous assessment cycle based on specific topics. This helps the learner evaluate his or her progress. Assessments can test current knowledge and then design learning plans based on the results. The platform should also provide certifications embedded within the platform. Context-sensitive clicks can connect to the testing platform. Assessment and certification are a valuable combination that provide a "quantitative platform” to empower employees, L&D and practice managers to not only learn, but measure their progress.

6. Hands-on, interactive lab sessions to apply new knowledge: it's essential to practice new concepts learned through interactive video content. Through live labs or software, the platform should provide both schedule and on-the-fly labs. Learners can practice the same skills for a week, then relearn as needed through rescheduling. It's important that the platform enables self-management of labs and the flexibility to repeat the same labs to further enforce new learning.

7. Instrumentation and reporting on platform: that platform must effectively generate reports for the learn and also for management. These helpful reports provide insight about learning patterns, newly-developed skills, points earned, numbers of videos watched and how many certifications have been granted. This report is essential to enable proactive decisions and learning interventions, as they help managers create corrective action plan for improvement.

8. Collaborative learning: the platform must be able to connect with multiple customer best practices. Enabling collaborative learning between experts, customers and the support team is essential.

9. End user learning: cloud has a large set of end users to address and needs a separate intervention to ensure user adoption. An integrated platform must provide content to train the end users, while providing the platform capabilities to make the content easily consumable. With a Guided Learning Platform, students can learn with ease as they interact with new cloud applications.

10. Comprehensive platform for multiple user levels: large numbers of users will migrate from on-premise, while other users will come from previous versions of the products. It's important that the platform provides multiple learning paths based on the type of user so the content is applicable and just-in-time to meet their needs. The navigation must support various types of users, while enhancing the learning experience.

Oracle University's NEW Cloud Learning Subscriptions 3.0 platform (CLS) empowers users to learn Oracle Cloud. It has all the functionalities and platform capabilities mentioned above. 

This is a must to have subscription platform for organization and learning department to roll out to the users. Contact your nearest education sales rep for a free demo of the product.

About the Author:

Sudhir Menon is a seasoned and experienced techno-management professional with 22+ years of diverse experience across consulting, industry solutions, architecture, and technology management. He is very passionate about architecture and has diverse experience managing customers and building solutions specific to industry mapping to the business needs.

He has strong consulting experience in building IOT, Analytics, Cloud and Middleware Solutions for large customers. He is currently doing research around IOT and Analytics and building next generation solutions. He works as principal consultant at Oracle University.

You can reach him at sudhir.g.menon@oracle.com.