Scoop.it!
"Searching for true north in a digital blizzard” was how one persondescribed trying to find the best way to deliver workplace learning. It is easy to be side-tracked by technology and overwhelmed by the alternatives (and the noise surrounding those options). Certainly, many of our interviewees mentioned the same issues that have come up in previous reports, which in turn raises the questions, ‘why aren’t we getting on with these issues?’ and ‘what can we do to change that?’ However, there is a clear determination in the minds of many of our participants to focus on business needs and use them as a key factor in deciding future approaches. Face-to face training is clearly still with us and, if anything, seems to have found a crucial new place at the heart of blends that are often primarily digitally delivered. So, it feels like we have lost none of the core tools in the L&D armoury but have gained many more.
In the last 10 years, the biggest change has been the ubiquity of the web and all our changing habits and behaviours involving technology. University research in the UK suggests we check our smartphones on average 85 times each day, with more than half of this usage lasting only around 30 seconds. This adds up to several hours of smartphone use each day. Most, of course, is purely social (including listening to music, web browsing and using apps) but many of our interviewees felt the effect of our relationship with technology and the expectations of people at work should not be underestimated. Learners now expect instant, easily available learning. content that’s quick to go through, is bang up to date, and looks and feels as good as the games they play and the websites they browse. So, no pressure there then! No wonder there’s some anxiety within the L&D community about the need to catch up, to keep up, or stay ahead of the game.
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