Are kids of the future smarter than kids today? We have all seen movies and TV shows where futuristic kids are learning on futuristic devices, and they are learning at an earlier age. The funny part is they have to learn the same materials we did in order to learn advanced things, but they are learning concepts in math and science at far younger ages than we ever did.
Proliferation of information has been accelerated thanks to the invention of the personal computer and the omnipresence of the Internet. The pace at which technology is advancing is far outpacing the adoption of those technologies in the learning space. Elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and colleges are using desktops, laptops and tablets in real-time, dynamic classrooms. Paper-based books are rapidly being replaced by digital versions as is paper-based testing. In the adult learning arena though, we are slow to recognize, utilize and capitalize on existing technology.
Unless you are in a technological industry, the use of high-tech learning tools is relatively absent from most curriculums. Using paper-based books is still the primary delivery model for new operator training. Very few companies are doing much more than this. Some use an online testing tool or a PowerPoint slideshow as their first step toward modernizing their training. The reality is this is a bare-bones approach, and the overwhelming reason more technology isn’t being used to close this gap is money. Companies have not been willing to make capital investments in the most lucrative asset they have: their employees. Today we are facing the retirement of the largest influx of the American workforce. In order for our post-millennial workforce to compete, companies must become more effective in delivering training. This doesn’t happen overnight, and it certainly won’t happen for free.
Digitizing content is a first step, and actually a fairly low-cost option, to breaking into the technology available today. This could be as simple as creating a PDF of your current documentation for presentation on a computer, tablet or smartphone. The next step is to create a dynamic repository, or database, of training content.
Creating a dynamic database for training material provides a number of benefits:
- Repurposing of content for multiple implementations (for example, e-Books, presentations, on-demand training and testing)
- Cost-effective maintenance of content by providing a central editing location for all instances of the information
- Lower costs associated with creating newly formatted or restyled training materials
The next logical step is converting this information, which now is stored in a fixed format and sequence, into dynamic training content to be utilized in e-Learning courses, competence alignment and self-guided learning.
How many incidents in the past 20 years were exclusively due to equipment malfunction or failure? How many were due to a training issue? How many more incidents aren’t reported because of a lack of knowledge? Many studies indicate insufficient or lack of training is a major cause of these incidents. Digitizing content and creating a dynamic repository trains more people faster and more efficiently. The content doesn’t change dramatically, only the delivery mechanism. In actuality, the data becomes multifaceted since the content can be customized to suit whatever medium is best for the learner.
There is an art to laying the groundwork for the future of an organization, and it is seldom an effort that produces immediate results. It requires coordinating communication and getting buy-in. The journey to success is sometimes not a well-paved road. No doubt there will be a few bumps, but those who venture into the great unknown are the first to leverage success. To the contrary, never starting the adoption of new technology will ensure you stay right where you are. Success is waiting; technology and the world around you will continue to move forward. Implementing these solutions is the first step to breaking that stagnation.
For more information, contact Kyle Fuller at (713) 284-1812 or email kfuller@gpstrategies.com.
