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The latest on e-learning and using technology to support learning and performance

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The latest on e-learning and using technology to support learning and performance.

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Integrate technology into your learning solutions using proven application approaches, practical models, templates, and a comprehensive process that considers learner and organizational needs.

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September 2024 - TD Magazine

Technology’s constant evolution has caused a mobile learning resurgence.

Learning Anywhere and Everywhere

Domino’s introduced a mobile app to overcome the challenge of inconsistent training across a global network.

Delivering on Quality Training

In today’s rapidly changing world, the way we learn has evolved significantly. Today’s learners expect their learning experiences to be integrated into their daily work, personalized, and supported by technology. Here are the key expectations and trends shaping the future of learning: People-Centric LearningModern learning focuses on individual needs, combining personalized digital and in-person formats embedded in daily workflows. While managers and HR support development, learners take primary responsibility for their growth.Learning in the Flow of WorkWith 65 percent of workers noting changes in job-required skills, learning must be seamlessly integrated into the workflow. Microlearning opportunities replace traditional course catalogs, ensuring continuous, accessible, and directly applicable learning.Technology-Driven LearningLearners expect user-friendly, intuitive, and engaging digital tools with gamification and social learning elements. Learning Experience Platforms (LXPs) offer personalized learning journeys, making learning a social, on-the-job event with artificial intelligence (AI)-driven recommendations.Data-Driven Insights for Personalized TrainingData collection and analysis are crucial for understanding learners' needs and tracking progress. Identifying skills gaps and providing personalized training suggestions align learning activities with career goals and organizational needs.Cultivating a Learning CultureA company culture characterized by openness, trust, and flexibility is vital. Recognizing informal learning and encouraging experimentation can enhance innovation and individual growth. Management support and targeted interventions are crucial. These evolving expectations highlight the need for organizations to adapt their L&D strategies. By focusing on personalized, integrated, and technology-supported learning experiences, organizations can ensure continuous growth and maintain a competitive edge in today’s dynamic business environment.What Do Organizations Need Regarding L&D?Organizations must adapt to the new normal to stay competitive for top talent, as 66 percent of respondents in Deloitte’s survey struggle with constantly changing skill requirements. Here are the key points organizations need to consider for effective learning and development (L&D):Strategic L&D OrientationOrganizations need a strong, long-term L&D orientation to handle short-term pressures and adapt quickly to new ways of working. Long-term investment in L&D now can better position businesses for future recovery and growth.Effective L&D Delivery ModelOrganizations must reconstruct L&D to foster adaptability, emphasizing digital and analytical skills among L&D teams. This includes virtual facilitation and online content curation.Learning Technology InfrastructureUse a learning technology ecosystem approach rather than an LMS-centric one to provide continuous, personalized learning experiences. This includes enabling informal learning, automating reporting, and improving content quality.Culture of Continuous LearningEstablish a culture that emphasizes continuous and lifelong learning, engaging employees in building an agile, customer-centric, and innovative culture. By addressing these areas, organizations can ensure their L&D strategies are aligned with modern demands, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability.Editor's note: This blog post has been adapted from Short on Skills? Rethink Your Learning Approach, authored by Christoph Hieber, Anna Hundstorfer, Belinda Spoerk, and Greta Liesenklas.

Rethinking Learning and Development for Both Learners and Organizations

In today’s increasingly diverse and geographically dispersed federal workforce, creating culturally relevant training videos is more important than ever. According to Gallup, only about two in 10 employees feel culturally connected to their organization.By creating culturally relevant training videos, you can improve engagement and learning outcomes.Understanding Culturally Relevant TrainingCreating training that connects on a cultural level means ensuring that the content is relatable and respectful of the diverse cultural backgrounds of the employees.Cultural differences can be influenced by race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, language, and socioeconomic status, as well as age, religion, family, geographical location, and social networks. When learners and students engage with content that reflects their cultural experiences and values, they feel more included and engaged and have improved learning outcomes.Here are five suggestions to help your training videos successfully connect with your audience in appropriate and meaningful ways.1. Conduct a Cultural AssessmentBefore creating training content, understand the cultural composition of your workforce. Surveys, focus groups, and demographic data offer insights into employee cultures and values, so you understand which practices you can build to make your training more culturally accessible.For example, an organization creating a cybersecurity training video series may send out a survey that finds:Employee core values emphasize ethical behavior and compliance.The workforce consists of a mix of experienced professionals and recent graduates.Some employees indicate limited familiarity with cybersecurity practices.To make cybersecurity videos relevant to this workplace culture, the training team may: Focus on how cybersecurity practices create a more ethical and compliant work environment.Use real-life examples and case studies from employee experiences.Segment the training. Create a basic version for beginners and advanced versions for more experienced learners.Tailoring characters, scenarios, and language to your organization’s data ensures your videos remain relevant, engaging, and inclusive.2. Use Inclusive VisualsUse diverse characters in your training videos to represent different cultural backgrounds that are reflective of your workforce.In addition to including characters with a variety of skin tones, include characters with different ages, religious backgrounds, gender expressions, and body types.Even hair and clothing choices can make visuals more inclusive. For example, afro-textured hair continues to be stigmatized in the workplace. Featuring characters in training videos wearing natural and protective hairstyles could help include Black employees while increasing awareness and mitigating bias.3. Use Inclusive LanguageUse simple and direct language. It may be tempting to include slang or jargon you think might appeal to one of your audiences, but this can cause confusion for those who don’t share the same cultural or linguistic background. You may also find yourself relying on stereotypes. Focus on making the content relevant to your learners’ needs and values.Whenever possible, make copies of your videos available in different languages. All-in-one video creation tools like Vyond offer quick translation features that even account for regional dialect. This will allow you to make your videos more relevant to those with a variety of linguistic backgrounds.4. Consider the Roles of Your CharactersBe cognizant of not only whether you include characters from diverse backgrounds in your video, but what roles those characters play.Watch for any trends or biases in the kinds of roles you give your characters. Are you placing your blind character in the role of a supervisor or a junior employee? Are your characters of color primarily teachers or students?Ensuring diverse representation in leadership roles promotes inclusivity and equality.5. Involve ReviewersTo ensure your videos are relevant and appropriate, involve trusted reviewers from the backgrounds you aim to reach. This can mean:Sharing script and storyboards with your team before you start creating the videoBeta testing your video with small groups of your learnersGathering feedback from subject matter experts who represent the cultural backgrounds you’re targetingIncorporate feedback on language, visuals, content, format, and script, and iterate. Regularly update and refine the training content to ensure it remains relevant and effective.Culture evolves over time. As trainers and colleagues, it’s our ongoing responsibility to make sure learners are represented and their needs are met through our training programs.

5 Tips for Creating Culturally Relevant Training Videos 

At this year's ATD Demo Day, the focus was clear: AI-enabled skills management is the future of workforce development. According to Gartner's Innovation Insight: AI-Enabled Skills Management, ”HR leaders will benefit from investing in this technology at an early stage. Trying to set up a stable structure first is wasted effort; AI-enabled skills management will quickly become a foundational capability for any organization.” This highlights the critical nature of embracing these technologies to address challenges and set organizations up for success. Overcoming Skills Management ChallengesSkills management has been a challenge for organizations in the past. With large team sizes and the complexities of human performance, management everywhere has scaled down on the scope of skills tracking and competency building due to the taxing and continuous task of interpreting the necessary data. Benefits of AI-Enabled Skills Management The future of AI-enabled skills management is allowing learning and development (L&D) leaders to envision more harmony in the workplace in many ways.Identifying Learning GapsThe implementation of AI integrations to pinpoint learning gaps can streamline the process of identifying employee deficiencies, saving valuable time, reducing frustration, and eliminating uncertainty. By leveraging AI-driven insights, organizations can efficiently target areas needing improvement, fostering a more productive and focused environment. Personalized DevelopmentThis capacity of AI integration allows employees to input their job title, where they will see the skills they are expected to have, and the opportunity for growth that lies ahead of them. Efficiency and FocusBy allowing individuals to have a personalized dashboard where they can check off the skills they are proficient in and focus on upskilling, organizations save time and resources through intentional education efforts.AI-Enabled Skills Management FAQs How are organizations coping with the new regulations needed to use AI-powered learning platforms? Organizations are establishing robust frameworks to manage AI-powered platforms, ensuring privacy, security, and compliance. This means ensuring these applications are integrated into controlled workflows to prevent misuse, preserve compliance, and maintain alignment with organizational goals.How do AI algorithms create quizzes based on identified skills in education? How does this improve learning outcomes? AI generates quizzes aligned with identified skills, enhancing learning outcomes by accurately measuring proficiency. This allows systems to adjust when an individual is comprehending or not grasping certain material, leading to better retention and understanding.How will AI analytics help users monitor progress over time with improved teaching methods? AI-driven analytics provide real-time insights into skill acquisition, guiding personalized instruction strategies. L&D can track progress comprehensively and adapt their approaches to optimize learning outcomes.How consistent are the skill lists and job roles in AI-based skills management platforms?These platforms can provide both standardized and customizable options when it comes to selecting a career role to upskill. While offering predefined skill libraries, these services also allow organizations to tailor roles to specific industry requirements and internal competencies, ensuring relevance and alignment with organizational goals.What’s Next With AI-Enabled Skills Management?AI-enabled skills management is setting a new standard for personalized, efficient learning experiences. By leveraging AI, organizations can streamline their learning processes and foster continuous skill development required for staying competitive in today’s market.Curious to see AI in action? Watch the ATD Demo Day replay where CYPHER shows how AI-enabled skills management can make personalized learning a reality. 

How AI-Enabled Skills Management Transforms Workforce Development

As today’s digital landscape rapidly evolves, integrating AI voice technology into a business’s daily operations has become increasingly common. Many companies have turned to AI for voiceover work on training videos, interactive voice response (IVR) for handling customer service inquiries, or enhancing marketing materials. No matter the use, AI voice technology can streamline processes, improve engagement, and help businesses scale their needs at a reasonable cost. However, before diving into the world of AI voice, it’s crucial to consider several factors and understand your company’s specific needs to help you choose the best solution.Consider the following:How will the voice be used?Who is your audience?How do the available voices sound?How much control do you need over the voice?How is the data sourced?When is a human voice actor a better option than AI?How Will the Voice Be Used?When considering AI voice technology, it’s important to define why it’s needed and what it will be used for within your company. Whether you need to record automated responses for customer service calls, narration for a presentation, or voiceover work for learning and development videos, understanding those needs will help you narrow down the options that align with your goals and potential ROI.Who Is Your Audience?After deciding what your needs are, consider who your audience is. How would different members of your audience respond to AI-generated voices— be that your customer base or your company’s board? Some may prefer the reliability and consistency of AI or not even notice the use of AI at all, while others may prefer to have the natural touch of a human voice.How Do the Available Voices Sound?The auditory quality of AI voices can widely vary, and while more natural-sounding voices would no doubt be preferred, determine how important it is for the voice to sound natural and human-like, or if a more digital tone acceptably fits your needs. It’s also important to cater to the size and diversity of your audience, as some people may respond differently to voices with certain accents, voices in their preferred language, or voices with different tones.How Much Control Do You Need Over the Voice?Depending on your business needs, you may require control over pronunciation, pitch, speed, or the emotional tone conveyed by the voice. Whether for conversational interactions or formal presentations, having the ability to customize your voice to align with your brand’s identity and communication style can be a deciding factor when choosing an AI voice company to work with, or opting for a voice actor.How Is the Data Sourced?Ethics play an important role in AI voice technology. Understanding how AI companies source and manage voice data is essential to ensuring compliance with ethical standards and regulations. Data acquisition and usage transparency help mitigate possible ethical concerns and reinforce trust with stakeholders.When Is a Human Voice Actor a Better Option Than AI?Deciding between AI and human voices boils down to your business’s specific needs. AI voices excel in consistency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, making them ideal for things like customer support scripts or multilingual content. However, human voices offer authenticity, emotional resonance, and nuanced delivery, which may be preferable for brand storytelling or high-touch customer interactions where empathy and creativity are key.Putting It All TogetherIntegrating AI voice technology into your company’s operations can revolutionize how you communicate with customers, streamline processes, and enhance brand consistency. By carefully assessing your specific needs regarding voice usage, audience preferences, customization requirements, and ethical considerations, you can make informed decisions that maximize the benefits of AI voice technology while aligning with your business needs.

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