Study finds that learning functions' readiness to capably serve whatever learners of the future might bring is seriously lacking.
By 2020, "learning will take place in ways we can't imagine today," said 59 percent of respondents. A few of the factors that study participants believe will have a greater influence on learning between now and 2020 include:
- blended delivery methods, which combines the traditional classroom with technology-based learning (70 percent)
- experiential learning and action learning such as simulations (62 percent)
- microlearning, which is the delivery of learning in easily consumed bursts (62 percent)
- collaborative learning that involves personal and professional networks inside and outside the organization (53 percent).
However, less than one-third of respondents described their learning functions as leaders in leveraging new technologies to help achieve learning goals.
One talent development executive who is actively preparing for 2020 and ensuring her team has the skills necessary to deliver learning in the future is Amy Rouse, the director of AT&T University. Rouse says instruction for AT&T's learning team members is wide-ranging: "We're teaching them about curation, HTML5 and responsive design, gamification, microlearning, video and [immersive virtual learning] scripting, social learning—anything we can think of that's going to be coming down the road. We're creating tracks and resources for the learning team."
Actively preparing now to serve future learners and their changing needs is beyond the reach of many L&D functions. Some are hampered by insufficient budgets; others lack the technologies and IT support systems to create and deliver content in ways likely to engage learners who expect their employers' technologies and capabilities to mirror those readily available outside the workplace.
Talent development executives can, however, identify issues and involve the entire learning staff to find and implement solutions that will improve current L&D effectiveness—and prepare for the learners of 2020. Talent development executives can start by using ATD's Learning Effectiveness Index statements as a framework to evaluate these six essential areas of learning operations:
- Does the learning function regularly meet its L&D goals?
- How does L&D support achievement of the organization's business goals?
- Is learning delivered efficiently? (Consider timeliness, ease of access, and cost-effectiveness.)
- Is learning delivered effectively? (Review qualitative measures of learning outcomes.)
- How capably does the L&D function apply learning technologies to address business problems?
- What can L&D do to stay current with new learning technologies and apply them to meet learning goals?
Read more from CTDO magazine: Essential talent development content for C-suite leaders.
