What Is Lost?

More and more businesses are offering opportunities for employees to learn what they need and want to know through individualized platforms. Offerings set in traditional classrooms are becoming less available for business learners. However, learners in a business environment are able to go on-line to learn pretty much what they want and when they want it. This tends to provide the knowledge the business needs them to have in a timely manner.

While it is good to learn at your own pace, I think that there has to be more interaction with other learners during the learning process. Yes, most on-line learning platforms have interaction among the learners to complete assignments or review the work of others as part of the program. But, learners in classroom settings have the opportunity to socialize and get to know the other students while remote learners don’t generally have this opportunity.

I think this is an important component of learning and we might want to consider how we can incorporate this aspect of the traditional learning environment into non-traditional learning environments. I say this because learning about others participating in a learning event provides people with information in addition to what is included in the curriculum. People might learn about the roles others are preparing for, the backgrounds others bring to the learning event, or information about other learning events people plan to take after completing the event they are currently attending. Of course there is much more of value that people learn from others when they are in classroom events that we should consider how we could incorporate these ancillary learning experiences into on-line or other non-classroom learning experiences.

While most individualized courses and other offerings do provide for learner-to-learner interactions, they vary in their degree and effectiveness compared to the interaction available in traditional classroom settings. What happens when people who have done most of their learning in an individualized setting need to apply what they know working with others to achieve business or other goals? How do these learners work to agree on processes? Do people who haven’t worked in teams during their educational experiences need training in teamwork?

Do we need to develop learning experiences for these skills? I think yes. I also think it might be a good idea to provide these experiences in workshops as people move into job roles. I know that there are companies that put new hires directly into training programs so that they learn about the company offerings and other key factors that they will need to perform their job roles. I don’t know that any of these companies have soft skill training in their programs but I think it is becoming more important to offer this type of training to new hires.

In thinking about what might be needed to round out what might be missing in on-line learning programs that are provided by traditional classroom settings, here are some questions that come to mind. I know that there are many more questions that can be added to this list.

• What do learners need that may have been missing from their remote learning experiences?
• What types of activities will provide them with the experiences that they need?
• What is the best way to provide these missing elements?
• How can practice be provided?
• Do we need to provide these experiences in the context of job roles? (for example, marketing vs. technical vs. sales vs. back room functions vs. customer facing roles)
• Should people who work together be trained together or should learners receive this training as they enter the company regardless of the roles they will perform?

Another factor to be considered is that people from all over the world will wind up working with each other. Whether their desks are side-by-side or perhaps they are in different countries, people will very often be working together. They will likely come in with different learning experiences, as well as different life experiences. These different backgrounds will need to be factored into how people are integrated into the company and their roles.

I think we need to address all of the changes in how workers are prepared for entering new roles going forward. We already know that younger workers, taken as a whole, have some different expectations and goals then the populations that have come before them. I believe that needs and wants of the new populations are best taken into consideration along with business goals and strategies.

Returning after a long absence

Many people find that they need, or want, to return to work after an extended absence. In some cases people have kept up with their fields, in other cases they have not. Those who have kept up with advances and changes in their fields may or may not have an advantage. Everyone returning to work after an absence will be facing challenges. With companies starting up and going out of business it may not be easy to find people you have worked with to give you references. Perhaps you didn’t plan to return to work but your circumstances have changed and you now need or want to find employment. Whatever the reason for your absence or whatever your plan to return is, there are ways to prepare.

If you have been out of work for whatever circumstance and not kept up with your field that doesn’t mean you can’t find a way to learn what has been happening and also find references. Today social media allows you to look for people you haven’t been in contact with for many years. You may want to search for people you worked for or with in the past. These people won’t be able to give you a current reference, but they will be able to speak to the type of worker you are. For example how you completed your deliverables on time, how you worked well in a team environment, how you helped others, or how you went the extra mile when you didn’t need to. There are many other aspects of how you perform job responsibilities that can be covered by prior employees and colleagues.

You can also ask for references from people you are currently interacting with. Working doesn’t always mean working for a salary in a business or other commercial environment. Do you currently work on projects related to your children? Have you volunteered to be a parent who chaperons field trips, helps with planning and running events, hosts learning or social events? Are you an active member of a PTA or other organization? Have you organized events such as a trip for a group of friends? Maybe you planned a wedding. Did you research information for yourself about vacations, local places to visit for fun or learning? Any of these types of activities can require the same skills and knowledge that might be needed for a new job role. Think of all the skills and expertise needed to complete these activities that could translate to work situations.

Hopefully, you can add some more types of work you have done that can be the same or similar to what would be needed for a job role you are interested in obtaining. Basically, I believe the first thing you need to do when thinking about how to present yourself after being out of work for a while is to answer a few questions so that you can plan how to best to proceed.

You may want to consider this your current job. Yes, your job is now to work on identifying what you need to do to get a new job. I recommend you begin by looking at postings for jobs that you might like to perform. Note the skill requirements and accomplishments required. Once you have that list, think about what you have done that would show accomplishments that relate to the job requirements. Next think about people who can give you references to show how you have performed these activities.

Perhaps you can’t find references for one reason or another. You may want to volunteer for an organization that requires the skills you have or even the skills you want to learn. You can then request references from these organizations.

There is more to think about and do as you begin the journey toward employment. But, I will stop here, as this should give you a place to start. Questions? Let me know and I will attempt to answer them. Good Luck!

What is Healthy?

It seems like we keep learning more and more about what works in learning situations, business situations, and other situations. Most of what we learn builds on what we already know. In some cases things change, but for the most part our learnings add to our knowledge base. We move steadily forward with a better understanding of how things can be improved. I am not saying that it is always a direct build, but I think there is almost always information that can be applied to how we develop and deliver training.

But, when it comes to learning about making healthy life choices I don’t think we do as well. It seems like every year or two we are starting over from scratch about what is or isn’t healthy. I loved coffee, but for many years I didn’t drink it because everything I heard and read said it was bad for your health. Then one day articles started saying why coffee was good for you. Researchers are still trying to find problems with coffee, but so far it is still in the “good for you column.” Then there is chocolate; same thing, first it was bad, then chocolate with high percentages of cacao was good, and now, just about all chocolate seems to be good for you in moderation. The same goes for alcohol. I think by now we all have the picture. We just don’t know and that is frustrating.

Recently researchers have shown that the amount of time spent exercising can be cut way down and still yield improved health and well-being.

https://www.thriveglobal.com/stories/29066-science-says-1-minute-of-this-kind-of-exercise-may-equal-45-minutes-of-jogging
“The short- and long-term benefits of exercise are absurdly well-documented. Exercise lowers your cholesterol, boosts your mood, decreases your stress, and increases your flexibility (plus about a zillion other good things).

In an increasingly packed daily schedule, though, carving out the time to fit in a workout can be a challenge.

Enter new research that shows you can get away with as little as one minute of effort.
……. one group spent about 10 total minutes on each workout, while the other spent 50 minutes. The SIT [sprint interval training] group got the same benefits in a fifth of the time. ……But the hard scientific fact is that we could get the same results from one minute of flat-out exercise.”

It would be great if we could always consult the experts to make healthy choices. We need to determine what will work for us. We are all unique and different, but I think we do know a few things that, at least for now, will help us decide how to maintain our health.

Here are a few things that are currently in vogue:
Eat Breakfast
Drink lots of water
Drink green tea
Don’t drink soda
Eat less meat
Eat more plant-centric meals
Eat more local and sustainably-sourced foods

I’m not sure whether or not these recommendations will still be around in five years, but for now they are recommended. If one or more of these recommendations are no longer at the top of the scientific lists I hope that at least they won’t be on the “don’t eat” list.