Training and development are positioned to take a big and exciting leap forward as we move into the next decade. Four converging trends are setting the path for this, making training highly focussed on each person’s needs. Training will become available when and where needed at a level of detail never before available. So, what are the trends creating this powerful opportunity for every organization?
Virtual Learning Takes Another Step
Whiteboards and tables are being replaced with smart TVs, creating organization-wide virtual learning platforms. When delivering training, many organizations are moving from the classroom training format to online digital platforms such as webinars or other online formats. The online format makes training available to employees at any location, at any time. It allows employees to spend time reviewing content that is most relevant to their needs and allows the organization to record their learning activities or provide a short quiz with the results recorded in the employee’s profile for future reference. This information adds value for compliance-related training and provides a reference when considering the employee for a new role. Online training is not limited to independent learning/ It can be scheduled in an online group format, creating an interactive earning experience that includes discussion and questions. This contemporary approach lowers the cost for training, makes learning accessible to all and provides a new level of convenience for both instructors and employees.
This trend wouldn’t fully replace traditional training methods. In some offices, because of the topic or due to the organization’s culture, classroom sessions are still held in groups, where one trainer makes an in-person presentation to everyone in-person. But even in these sessions, whiteboards are usually replaced with smart TVs and other electronic devices.
But It’s All About User Experience
A strong user experience (UX) will have a tremendous impact on the quality of learning and the willingness of employees to complete the training content. It will also have a significant impact on the acceptance of future learning modules.
The best way to provide a strong user experience is to keep content engaging and interactive. The challenge for all organizations is sorting out what their UX should look like. There isn’t a one size fits all solution, with different organizations have different preferences, different content requiring a different approach and then there are the good old platform constraints.
Designing programmes that provide employees with the opportunity to provide feedback, ask each other questions, ask the instructor questions, and carry out assessments to test their creates engagement. Providing multiple media formats as part of the course creates engagement and making it easy to access course elements and easy to navigate the content all add to the UX.
On the Job Training Becomes Real
As an organization’s approach to Training and Development evolves, managers and employers will have the opportunity to adjust their T&D solutions.
One of the most important opportunities will be real-time training and support. Employees in all professions can have quick and easy access to real-time training content or help screens that are specifically targeted to their immediate needs. These snippets of training content are providing exactly what the employee needs when they need it and then allow the employee to immediately apply their new knowledge to a work-related situation. This is a perfect learning environment.
This new learning format allows employers to assist their employees in applying new knowledge to real work scenarios.
As Jane Jeffrey says in AustralianWritings: “Real-time learning solutions are developed to enhance the ability of the workforce to directly solve implementation problems in their respective roles, instead of waiting for past experiences to be documented at the end of every project.”
During the next decade, technology is going to play a major role in the delivery of training and development. It will be readily available, add more value than traditional training formats and be integrated into the daily routines of every organization.