LinkedIn plus lynda.com

Professional Network & Courses For Career Advancement

LinkedIn is the premiere professional networking platform. Now with lynda.com and its skill-building content and scalable delivery platform, LinkedIn could possibly morph into something new and possibly disruptive..

Does 1+1 = 3, 4 or 5?

Is LinkedIn plus lynda.com an example of 1 + 1 = 3 (or 4 or 5)?  The combination has the potential to deliver graduate and working professional readiness, skill-building, career growth and differentiation.  I often hear cases where students in college pursue what appear to be "in-demand" areas of study only to find that four years later when they graduate, they do not have the skills and knowledge the workplace needs then.  Wouldn't you rather hire a graduate who has supplemented typical degree requirements with cutting edge, high demand professional know-how that may not be offered in colleges -- yet?

LinkedIn University?

Perhaps LinkedIn with lynda.com will grow outside the box and launch a LinkedIn-branded accredited degree and certificate-granting academic institution.  Would "LinkedIn University" help graduates close the grad vs. job market skill gap?  Would a seamless connection from certificate, credential and other skill-building programs to one's LinkedIn professional profile provide an easy way to differentiate job candidates and provide more targeted human capital searches?  Would it encourage (or create a sense of urgency) for LinkedIn members to enroll in more courses?

LinkedIn could become the ultimate "alumni" network and recruiter.  Think of the typical college "Career Center" on steroids!  LinkedIn University could provide internships, shadowing, job placement, HR search, recruiting and more. 

Differentiated Learning

In my experience developing and launching companies that enhance the skills and careers of working professionals globally (see www.avagmah.com), I have found the best certificate programs are designed for long-term learning.  Effective programs provide ample opportunity for students to apply what they have learned, use technology to deliver as-good-as-being-there hands-on work, enable students to engage in lively/interactive discussions and group or team learning.  Too often, MOOC and other large scale courses are too short to make a lasting and substantial impact.  avagmah.com focused on longer term (1-2 year certificate programs and full MBA degree programs).

There are some great hands-on but still online technology, coding and IT programs (for example,www.learningtree.com) that serve as a model for eLearning which is as good (or better) than a typical live face-to-face course.

Online learning can provide excellent just-when-needed help and mastery.  I created the first online tutoring systems at Sylvan Learning Systems in 1995 and have nurtured and grown the market since then (see www.tutorvista.com) to provide high quality, low cost and convenient tutoring for students worldwide.  

Individualized / Personalized Learning

I see the value of LinkedIn + lynda.com though differences in student interests, what "clicks" for one but doesn't move the needle for others, delivery styles, etc. suggest the need to adapt and re-position courses for localized markets and provide for individualized and personalized courses of study.  Online degrees and courses are popular for good reason, though in some countries off-site learning isn't as accepted.  LinkedIn would do well to engage local (e.g. country, subject area, etc.) experts in their respective eLearning markets.

Shopping List

There are a lot of benefits and opportunities for the LinkedIn and lynda.com combination.  There are also likely a few areas where Lynda could use, buy or may want to develop better assessment systems, hands-on simulations, serious games (and game-based learning) and patents.  When designed properly, online learning can be replicated and scaled.  Also, programs and courses can collect ongoing data that can be used to build intellectual property (IP) and more successful programs over time.  We can identify a student's learning style, cultural differences, ways to analyze what's needed for different jobs in different parts of the world as well as the most effective use of mobile and other tech platforms for just in time, verifiable learning.

Will we see a LU (LinkedIn University) any time soon?

I welcome your thoughts. 

John Stuppy, CEO

EDUMETRIX INC.