EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

ADAPT LEARNING
 ABOUT

Over a year in the …tested and refined with ...our game-changing tool Here, we want to share
making… the help of hundreds of for responsive e-learning with you why we’re so
our customers… is now available to our proud and excited by it
customers for free. and how it will transform
your learners’ experience.

Adapt Builder 1/20 www.learningpool.com

 PLEASE SHARE ME!
WE’VE MADE THIS AVAILABLE UNDER A
CREATIVE COMMONS 2.0 ATTRIBUTION,
NON-COMMERCIAL, NO DERIVATIVES LICENSE.

Sounds complicated – but it just means that you can

share it with anyone you like so long as you don’t
change it, don’t sell it and attribute it back to us if
you do use it in any way.

In other words, please pass it along to anyone you

think might get some use from it.

Adapt Builder 2/20 www.learningpool.com

 1 ADAPTING TO CHANGE
From the very start
our vision has been to
transform and inspire your
people’s performance.
Many a time that’s meant
responding to changes in
the learning landscape, then
sharing some best practice
with you. But with Adapt
Learning we’re not just
responding to the changing
face of rapid e-learning.
We’re shaping the change.
In collaboration with other
developers, we’ve created
Adapt as an open-source
development framework
1
The code is released under a standard General Public Licence (GPL v3), a free, copyleft license for software.
Adapt Builder
that’s free to anyone to
download and use.1
As you’d expect in today’s
multi-device world, Adapt
is a responsive framework
– smart tech that generates
a single version of a course
which seamlessly adjusts
its display across different
devices.
That way, your team aren’t
tied to the desktop to do a
course. If it suits them to use
their tablet or smartphone,
they can – learning can
be: anytime, anyplace,
anywhere.
3/20
Not gone mobile yet? No
worries. Adapt Learning
is future-proofed for if
and when you do. Your
desktop courses will display
automatically on your new
mobile devices – at no
extra cost.
But Adapt Learning isn’t just
about devices. At Learning
Pool we’ve never just been
about the ‘tech’.
For us, what matters most
is the learner.
Adapt Learning isn’t just
responsive. It’s radical. It
replaces the book-based,
text/graphic page turner
with a learner experience far
more in sync with how we all
now use the Web to enhance
our knowledge and skills.
Let’s delve a little deeper.
www.learningpool.com
 2 HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?
Soon after the Web’s
emergence in the early
1990s, Jacob Nielson
published his first set of
Web Usability Guidelines
for web design.2
Nielson has himself noted
how the size of some of his
data sets can seem comical –
in his first study three users
trialled a mere five sites.
Yet his results have proved
to be remarkably resilient.
Today, some 20 years on,
over 80% of his Guidelines
remain in place.
2
http://www.nngroup.com/articles/1994-web-usability-report/
Adapt Builder
One early ‘pearl’ was to avoid
scrolling pages – content
was best split and viewed in
fixed, screen-sized pages.
Early users expected all the
content to display within the
screen area. It simply didn’t
occur to them to scroll down.
As a result, any content or
options further ‘down’ the
page were never even seen.
This particular guideline,
though, proved far from
resilient. It didn’t last 12
months as, by then, scrolling
had become second-nature.
So, why the change?
4/20
This is a great example and we could opt for a
of how a technological smaller set of scrolling pages
innovation can have – couldn’t we?
far-reaching consequences,
because this big shift in user Well, not quite – that’s
behaviour coincided with where the ‘fold’ came in.
the advent of the humble
scroll wheel.
Users no longer had to
accurately manipulate the
mouse over to the scrollbar.
A simple finger-roll was all it
took to slide up and down
a screen.
So, splitting content over lots
of fixed-sized pages could
now be consigned to history
www.learningpool.com
The ‘fold’ concept actually goes way
back, all the way to the broadsheet
newspaper.
Page size meant the broadsheet usually
got folded in half on the news stand,
with only the top half of the front page
showing. So, if you had a story to tell/
sell, it had to be above the fold.
In web design, the ‘fold’ is the bottom
of the screen, the line below which a
user must scroll to see the content.
And what studies seem to show was
that the ‘digital’ fold was as significant
as the broadsheet’s.
Above the fold
Below the fold
Adapt Builder
Take this study of a Google search page
as an example.
Viewing hotspots were recorded with
eye-tracking software. Red marks the
most viewed or ‘hottest’, blue/violet the
least or ‘coldest’.
5/20
The fold is marked by the horizontal
red line.
Clearly, the zone centre left above the
fold gets most attention with far less
below the fold – 80% above cf.
20% below.
So, if above the fold was the go-to zone,
below was a no-go.
So, while scrolling pages were usable,
the advice to web designers was to
make sure and put their key content
above the fold – which, in effect, meant
a return to packed, screen-sized pages
above the fold.
So, did web designers follow that
advice? Clearly not!
www.learningpool.com
 TODAY’S WEB IS INDEPENDENT OF SCREEN SIZE
We’re all more than happy to dip down Nielson himself recognised that the Of course, one Web zone has resisted
below the fold – often deep down. A page design itself will encourage focus the scroll – e-learning. While Web
page’s length seems not to below the fold. Two factors come pages have evolved, e-learning remains
concern us.3 into play: constrained in its ‘slideshow’ approach
with content that is fragmented to fit.
Percentage Scrolled to 90% or More of the Page 1. the layout has to encourage scrolling
70% exploration by, for example, Links to resources and some branching
60% visually breaking a long page into may be used but the main model
50%
section remains one that a 1990’s learner would
40%
2. users must believe it will be be all too familiar with – a horizontal
worthwhile to scroll. flow via clicks or taps on Next and
Back icons.
30%

20%
This last point seems obvious in
10%
hindsight. We don’t scroll for fun – we This traditional approach may partially
0% scroll with a purpose. If a page makes explain why e-learning may be resisted
500 900 1300 1700 2100 2500 2900 3300 3700 4100

Percentage Height (pixels)

We’re just as likely to scroll down ‘deep’
pages as short pages. So, there seems
to be an anomaly between our day-to-
day Web usage and what the data of
Nielson and others suggests.
3
http://blog.clicktale.com/2006/12/23/unfolding-the-fold/
clear the benefits of exploring the
content, we’ll do just that.
Equally, any apparent drop-off in
attention ‘below the fold’ may reflect the
content itself rather than its position.
Truly engaging content will do just that,
engage, wherever it sits on the page.
by learners. It sits so at odds with all
their other Web experiences – as if
from another time and place.
It’s time e-learning took advantage
of the rich Web experience that’s
evolved since its inception. Time it was
transformed to match how modern
learners learn. Welcome to
Adapt Learning.

Adapt Builder 6/20 www.learningpool.com

 3 ADAPT LEARNING
Adapt Learning adopts a scrolling layout that
harnesses the latest thinking in web design to the
world of e-learning, to deliver a host of learner
benefits.

• Related content no longer needs to be fragmented to fit

into fixed-size screens. With Adapt, different facets of a
particular course topic can be comprehensively covered
within a single Page.

• As a result, navigation is pared down. Repetitive clicks
on the Next/Back icons are compressed into smooth,
simple scrolls or swipes depending on the device.

Already the experience feels far more akin to the

learner’s other Web interactions.

• Adapt creates a learning zone that feels less

regimented, far more exploratory, where learners
are free to swipe up and down to scan a Page or scroll
steadily down to progress through the content.

• This progressive path down a Page adds to a real
sense of a learning journey laid out for the learner as
concepts are introduced, expanded, explored, applied
and tested.

Adapt Builder 7/20 www.learningpool.com

The sense of an overarching learning journey is amplified by applying a Theme across all Pages in a course to unify
their look and feel.

A number of such Themes already exist but unique, new Themes can be developed for specific courses.

THEME 1 THEME 2 THEME 3




MOBILE BANKING
Look & Feel Template ON THE GO!
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Nutrition and Malnutrition

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luctus nisl congue

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Click or tap on the blocks below to find out more
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COURSE MENU
Page 1 title Page 2 title Page 3 title Page 4 title Click or tap on the blocks below to find out more

1
Course Menu
SECTION 1 TITLE TO GO HERE Click or tap on the blocks below to find out more
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5
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2
Page 5 title Page 6 title Page 7 title Page 8 title
SECTION 2 TITLE TO GO HERE
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3
SECTION 3 TITLE TO GO HERE
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4
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SECTION 4 TITLE TO GO HERE
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COURSE PROGRESS

COURSE MENU
Click or tap on the blocks below to find out more

Adapt Builder 8/20 www.learningpool.com

 The texture of the learning canvas can be further
enriched graphically and textually.

• Background graphics can be applied to the different

sections of a Page. These not only add a layer of art
direction but help structure the Page for the learner as
they progress down.

• Text can be better balanced within the screen space.

Unlike traditional e-learning, where text must be
squeezed into the screen-sized space, Adapt’s scrolling
format offers a more fluid spacing, lowering the risk of
cognitive overload for the learner.

The end result is a far less rigid, far more

contemporary visual feel to the learning, more in
keeping with a digital, interactive ‘magazine’ than a
‘text-book, page turner’.

All of this, of course, merely sets the framework for the

object of the exercise – to provide not just engaging but
also effective learning.

And Adapt Learning’s interaction model marks a further

innovation in how it exploits the larger learning canvas of
its scrolling layout to generate engaging digital content.

Adapt Builder 9/20 www.learningpool.com

 Due in part to the constraints • At the Article level,
PAGE START
of screen-space, traditional background graphical
ARTICLE 1 START
e-learning remains areas that traverse across
BLOCK 1 template-based – a style multiple blocks can be
C2 that can stiffen the resistance linked with trigger icons
C1 -
Large intra-block of learners who’ve grown to to create one large,
Selected
background graphic expect ‘looser’ digital layouts. exploratory graphic that
illustrates and explains a
BLOCK 2 Freed from such constraints, particular concept
Adapt Learning is able to or process
Large intra-block
C1 background graphic adopt a more fine-grained • At the Block level, theory
model that generates a far and practice can be
richer, more modern field juxtaposed, with the
BLOCK 3
of interactions for the concept explained on one
Large intra-block learner to explore. side of the Block and a
background graphic C1 scenario question posed
At its core are numerous on the adjacent side
ARTICLE 1 END small elements, or
ARTICLE 2 START Components, that can be Currently some 15
BLOCK 1 arranged and combined Components can be merged
Large
in different ways to create and juxtaposed in literally
intra-block
background C1 Blocks of learning which, hundreds of different ways.
graphic
C2 in turn, are grouped into
Articles on a Page.
BLOCK 2
Large intra-block This freedom gives Adapt
C1
background graphic designers the opportunity to
ARTICLE 1 START
create a richly diverse array
of interactive packages,
PAGE START for example:

Adapt Builder 10/20 www.learningpool.com

 MODERN LEARNING FOR MODERN LEARNERS
Component options include media, within a Page
not only a rich range of allowing your courses to be
interactive presentation closely integrated with other
and question formats but parts of your learning blend
also a suite of modern or architecture.
media elements.
When set in Adapt’s
Pages can be peppered contemporary
with rich media activities visual framework, this
like video, audio, motion multi-faceted, multimedia
graphics, simulations experience creates a
as well as interactive vibrant digital landscape in
animations just as with sync with the inquisitive,
any other Web page. driven and sophisticated
learner of today.
Adapt Learning can even
embed video and other In short – modern learning
content from external for modern learners.
websites, including social

Adapt Builder 11//20 www.learningpool.com

 SEE FOR YOURSELF
If you’re a Learning Pool customer – we’ve already ‘Adapted’ the rest of the Learning Pool community. That includes a
over 200 of our courses. commitment to give our customers the option to create their
own Adapt content.
Though they’re a radical departure from traditional e-learning,
they haven’t lost any of Learning Pool’s signature support Which is why we’ve spent over a year crafting and developing
features that we know you value. Adapt Builder, an innovative but intuitive tool that gives
any customer the capacity to quickly and confidently:
• Central cloud hosting with:
managed storage and an audited backup procedure • personalise the existing catalogue of Adapt courses
controlled distribution and/or
ease of updating • create their own ground-breaking Adapt Learning
ease of localisation courses.
• SCORM-conformant content with regular reporting of
learner progress
• Fully accessible content to W3C standards
• Secure, password-controlled access to content

And we remain devoted to sharing and collaborating with

Adapt Builder 12/20 www.learningpool.com

 4 ADAPT BUILDER
With our friends and customers in the Learning
Pool community, we’ve worked tirelessly over the
last 18 months to design and refine Adapt Builder
so that ANYONE can feel completely confident and
comfortable using it.

Some within the community, like Strada Restaurants and

Doncaster MBC, have already released their own courses
to their staff.

1
2 3

Adapt Builder 13/20 www.learningpool.com

 SUPPORTING YOUR JOURNEY
Home Find Courses FAQs News You are not logged in Login

Adapt Builder comes with the full training and support

you’d expect from the Learning Pool team. We’ve created a
MOOC-style Academy of materials – articles, demonstrations
and ‘how-tos’ – to equip even the novice builder with the
total know-how they’ll need to construct a course. Your learning journey starts here

And our team will always be on hand to offer any one-to-one

support if needed. Alerts:

After using the Learning Pool Academy to support my upskill,

it’s really simple to create, edit and manage the modules.
David Woods, Learning & Development Officer, Transport for Greater Manchester

Adapt Builder 14/20 www.learningpool.com

 SIMPLE ACCESS
Accessing the tool couldn’t be easier. No software downloads
onto a single, licensed device are required. The tool sits
online, accessible at all times, via a secure login.
Adapt Builder will make my job
On login, you’re taken directly to your own Dashboard where
you’ll find all your courses waiting for you. easier. Simply editing an existing
course from the extensive
catalogue available will save
precious time and effort.

Bob Price, HR & OD Systems Officer,

Newport City Homes

Adapt Builder 15/20 www.learningpool.com

 EDIT WITH EASE
From there, you can get started by selecting your chosen
course. Your task may be the simple substitution of some
images in an existing course to make the content more
specific to your organisation.

Or it may even be the global application of a new Theme

across an entire course to put it on brand.

Adapt is simple to use, cost effective and the team love the
functionality and how it looks on different screens. I have created
several modules and have needed very little support to do so.
Rebecca Blasor, Strada Restaurants

Adapt Builder 16/20 www.learningpool.com

 EASY AS ‘ABC’
Or you may choose to construct a new course from scratch.
Adapt Builder’s sidebar interface lets you set up course Pages
where you can:
The new format of deep scrolling
• add Articles;
• build Blocks of interactive events by; has been a massive hit with the
• combining Components.
end users who have all said it’s
All as easy as ABC.
clean, slick, professional and more
engaging compared to previous

abc
e-learning used.

David Woods, Learning & Development Officer,

Transport for Greater Manchester

Adapt Builder 17/20 www.learningpool.com

 TWEAK AS YOU GO
Throughout your build the Preview option lets you view a
version of your progress to date – as a learner would see it.

That way, you can quickly refine and adjust the learner
experience as you go along, be it some textual corrections,
imagery, layouts or different component interactions.

I love the way I can see the course I’m developing take shape,
helping with that ‘wow’ factor to really impress our learners.
Vivien Mershon, Learning and Development Consultant, Warwickshire County Council

Adapt Builder 18/20 www.learningpool.com

 Throughout your development, you can offer access to
other members of your team – subject matter experts,
reviewers – to input to and improve your course prior to
publishing the final version to your chosen audience.

Subsequently, as with all Learning Pool courses, you can

easily update your course with Adapt Builder before
re-releasing the updated version.

Getting feedback as I go without wasting

precious time on multiple versions is game
changing for me. Truly revolutionary.

Stella Heskey, Head of Learning & Development,

East Thames Group

Adapt Builder 19/20 www.learningpool.com

 5 ADAPTING TO THE FUTURE
When we set out on the Adapt adventure we had a vision to change the e-learning
industry by delivering a free, easy to use development tool for responsive e-learning.
And, while we’ve delivered a lot of that vision, it feels like we just got started.
Paul McElvaney, CEO , Learning Pool

Yes, with Adapt Builder, you get you a
game-changer – a low-cost, responsive,
tried and tested tool that effortlessly
creates just the kind of effective,
engaging e-learning modern
learners crave.
But we’re not resting on our laurels. All
the team – project managers, designers,
developers – recognise we’ve only
scratched the surface of Adapt’s
digital canvas and how it can support
people performance in our
customers’ organisation.
So, look out for further innovations not
too far down the road – fresh layout
options, innovative Components as
well as novel ways of integrating
with external resources and/or other
blend elements.
As soon as they’re up and on-stream,
we’ll share them with you.
If you’d like to be a part of that journey
and find out more, or get your hands
on Adapt Builder, get in touch for your
free trial and access to our current rich
catalogue of editable modules.

Adapt Builder 20/20 www.learningpool.com

 CONTACT DETAILS
At Learning Pool, our passion is for building low cost,
innovative services that help customers deliver real
performance improvement.

Talk to us about how we can help you get the most

out of learning technologies to help improve
business performance:

W: learningpool.com
E: hello@learningpool.com
T: +44 207 101 9383

Adapt Builder www.learningpool.com