The field of learning and development is undergoing significant change and the use of social media tools and technologies plays an important role. With that in mind the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD), the association representing training and development professionals, announces the launch of a study to update its World Class Competency Model for the field. The goal of the update is to equip learning professionals with a professional development agenda that will help them hone their skills and expand their knowledge, especially in the area of social media. Building their competencies will help learning professionals maximize employee development and organizational performance in today's increasingly competitive marketplace.
"This is one of ASTD's most important initiatives because the results will help to define the field and shape the professional development roadmap for learning professionals for the years ahead," says Tony Bingham, ASTD's President and CEO.
Jennifer Naughton, Senior Director of Credentialing for ASTD Certification Institute recently launched this study that began with an industry leader focus group. It convened leaders who are playing a major role in shaping industry thinking about how social media tools and collaborative learning technologies can be used to advance workplace learning and development. Allison Anderson, Learning Innovation Strategist for Intel, Jane Bozarth, author of Social Media for Trainers, Anders Gronstedt, President of The Gronstedt Group, Inc., Jane Hart, Founder and CEO of the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies, and Jeanne Meister, Partner Future Workplace, were among those who shared their expertise to help determine what should be included in the Competency Model update.
Naughton said ASTD also surveyed individuals on ASTD's LinkedIn site, which has more than 25,000 members, to better understand how learning and development professionals are using these technologies. Additional data and trends will be analyzed following the LinkedIn survey. The updated model will be published in early 2011.
