{"id":62363,"date":"2024-04-11T17:21:46","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T17:21:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explore.local\/2024\/04\/11\/content-curation-vs-creation-learning-and-development\/"},"modified":"2025-04-04T20:24:44","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T20:24:44","slug":"content-curation-vs-creation-learning-and-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/degreed.com\/experience\/blog\/content-curation-vs-creation-learning-and-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Content Curation vs. Creation: Which Is Better for L&D?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Like nearly every other industry on Earth, AI is transforming L&D. According to a 2023 study by Training Magazine<\/a>, more than one in five L&D teams are investing in generative AI alone. They\u2019re using AI for everything from recommending learning content to content curation to matching learning to skills gaps.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But while AI is making both content curation and creation easier than ever, the role of humans has never been more important. L&D professionals are still the best judges of when<\/em> to create or curate. And they\u2019re the ones ensuring that content delivers results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how to choose between content creation and content curation for learning\u2014and how to do curating well\u2014to ensure you\u2019re maximizing your efforts and ROI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Basics: Content Creation vs. Curation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many companies dismiss content curation for developing learning pathways. They think it\u2019ll be much easier to create exactly<\/em> what they need rather than try to find the perfect resource in a content database\u2014or, if they\u2019re daring, out in the wilds of the internet. But the opposite is actually true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What content curation is\u2014and isn\u2019t. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

And hey, owning all your learning content and adding company branding to it for good measure? That\u2019s a total boss move. But the truth is, in most cases, curating will get more engaging learning to your employees faster and cheaper than creating. That is, if you do it well.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think of yourself as a museum curator designing an exhibit. Whether you\u2019re teaching kids about their favorite dinosaurs or adults about their favorite historical figures, you wouldn\u2019t just stick a bunch of artifacts in a room and wish the museum-goer good luck. You\u2019d create an experience<\/em>. You\u2019d give them a map. And you\u2019d make sure they learned something they could use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning pathways are like museum experiences, and every piece of content is like an artifact on display. Without a well-placed plaque to explain its significance, it doesn\u2019t mean much. Content, like an artifact, needs context. It needs to tell a story with a clear beginning and end. And it needs to be both relevant and actionable\u2014like that water conservation exhibit (complete with tips for xeriscaping my lawn) at my local natural history museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Content Creation or Curation: Which should you do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So which is better: creation or curation? I confess: this is a bit of a trick question, at least when it comes to your overall L&D strategy. You should do both. Default to content curation most of the time, but keep creation in the mix as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When to curate:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n