Reviewing New Learning Techniques for Business Learners

I am presenting some of the changes different organizations have made in their training strategies which have shown good results. Hopefully these reports can inform what other organizations might do going forward into 2019. I look forward to reading the 2019 reviews of additional changes that were implemented in 2018 and how successful they have been. I will share what I learn in future blogs.

Below are just a few of the comments, predications and recommendations that have been presented during this past year.

https://trainingindustry.com/magazine/nov-dec-2017/trends-2018-speed-is-the-heart-of-the-learner-experience/

“Training organizations that perform at a very high level are those that are deliberate in their approach to improving the speed of learning and performance change. The key trends for 2018 reflect the challenge and opportunity for training professionals to develop learning experiences that enable learners to reach proficiency in the shortest amount of time.”

“Blanket, one-size-fits-all training is no longer adequate to meet the unique needs of learners. They expect and require training that is customized to fit into the context of their workflow and meets the specific needs of their job role and function. To do this, learning leaders must shift their focus from creating learning programs to designing customized learning paths that encompass the entire learning experience – from the point of job entry to when the learner achieves expert performance.”

….

“Workforce learning is not about courses, it’s about the entire learning experience and how we build competencies and skills unique to the individual.”

….

“Research shows that the best way for a learner to master a skill comes not from the course or event, but from how deliberate they are in practicing and improving their skills over time. High-performing training organizations focus on competency models as a comprehensive approach to learning design, curating all aspects of learning from onboarding, to structured courses, to on-the-job training, to coaching and mentoring, and to the deliberate practice of skills.”

https://joshbersin.com/2018/06/a-new-paradigm-for-corporate-training-learning-in-the-flow-of-work/

“While learning in the flow of work is not necessarily the solution for every application, it’s coming fast and I believe it’s the paradigm you should design around whenever you can.”

Here is a review of what the diversified financial services company United Services Automobile Association (USAA) did when they recognized that their instructor-led course needed to be updated.

https://trainingmag.com/training-top-125-best-practice-usaa%E2%80%99s-credit-card-training-reinvention/

“The new course reflects USAA’s approach to building member relationships, and:

Includes a hands-on simulation

Provides a similar look and feel throughout the entire training

Teaches learners how to identify the right credit card to fit the member’s needs through added simulations and facilitated evaluations

Additionally, the training solution uses a military base town as its e-learning background. This ensures that the member experience and lifestyle is front and center to the learners as USAA is a leading provider of financial planning, insurance, investments, and banking products to members of the U.S. military, veterans, and their families.

By incorporating on-the-job performance support tools and USAA’s knowledge management system, the program was shortened by 15 days. Thus, employees spent less time memorizing and more time role-playing, practicing skills, and even more time taking live calls. This returned 15 days of labor productivity back to the business.

After evaluating four classes and following 30, 60, and 90 days of post-training performance data, USAA also noted a reduction in the number of calls to the help line and shortened average handle time. The new course also decreased USAA’s financial risk by meeting and documenting new regulations.”

https://trainingmag.com/4-learning-strategies-embrace-2018-and-beyond/

“It is well understood that most things people learn in their lives come not from books or classrooms, but from experience and collaboration. Until now, it has been difficult, if not impossible, for organizations to participate in that type of learning.”

…..

“Now, the technology available allows learning to conform to learners’ needs. This digitization means that all aspects of learning can be facilitated and measured with technology. Learners are able to access learning wherever they want, whenever they want, thanks to the cloud and mobile devices. Learners are more connected to experts and one another than ever before, thanks to advances in collaboration software.”

….

“All the learning experiences that happen spontaneously and without anyone’s knowledge can be measured against behavior and performance improvement. Companies that already are well on their way in this transformation journey report a strengthened link between learning and both individual and organizational performance. In fact, high-performing organizations (those with increased year-of-year key performance indicators or KPIs such as revenue, market share, engagement, customer retention/satisfaction, and employee retention) are far more likely to deliver a blend of formal, informal, and experiential learning opportunities than their lower performing counterparts”

….

“Companies with effective strategies are also twice as likely to use social/collaborative platforms, video servers/channels, and branded Websites to reach their audience. These companies are far more likely to report that extended enterprise learning has helped their business across multiple metrics.”

I am very much looking forward to learning about what other successful learning organizations have done in 2018 to improve learning and how they directly impacted the company’s bottom line.

Confessions of a New Yorker 4

4th in what now is a not-so-Occasional Series

So a funny thing happened this past month. After returning from a wonderful 3^rd trip to NYC I was invited to go one more time. Relatives now living in other places were coming home for a visit. Lucky, lucky me; I gladly accepted the chance to see relatives and to once again be a tourist in my “home town.” This trip allowed me to visit some new places as well as old favorites. But I am only going to talk about places I haven’t talked out in previous blogs.

Highlights of this trip included:

We went everywhere by subway. We also did quite a bit of walking, usually several miles a day. As we walked we often stopped for food. We felt invited in to various establishments by wonderful aromas or by seeing people walking out eating something we instantly needed to eat.

We visited the Delancey Street Tenement Museum. We watched a movie about people arriving in NYC looking for work and a place to live. We also participated in a tour, discussion, and a visit with a historical interpreter who portrayed a young girl from a large family that all lived in three small rooms. She told us how much she missed the home she and her family left, how all 10 of them lived and slept in the small apartment. The actor portrayed a young woman who actually lived in that apartment with her family. Her parents slept in a small bed; she slept on a rug and her brothers slept on the chairs, couch and the floors.

One morning we walked through Prospect Park in Brooklyn. It was Labor Day weekend and many, many people were taking advantage of one of the last week-ends before fall sets in. The weather was a bit warm but no one, including us, seemed to mind. There were several types of kid’s ball games, there were people setting up grills and others were playing frisbee. The most interesting site to me was a food fair. Many, many different international foods were for sale. But, no where was there a vendor selling hot dogs or hamburgers. All the food looked very fresh and delicious. We really enjoyed our walk.

We went to the Brooklyn Aquarium that was jammed packed with people. Lots of big tanks with lots of different fish and excellent signage explaining what we were seeing and which species were in danger of extinction. One exhibit had tanks on each side of the hall as well as a tank above the walkway that connected the tanks on each side. We saw fish swimming across from the different tanks. It was an interesting exhibit. 

I loved getting deli on the Lower East Side. I had a bialy, which is a crusty roll with a soft center filled with toasted onion. I have lived in lots of places across the country but have yet to find New York style bialys anywhere else.

When I lived in New York City they charged for traveling the Staten Island Ferry between Manhattan and Staten Island. Today it is free and many people were on the ferry with us when we crossed from Manhattan to Staten Island and back again. It was getting a bit dark when were travelled on the ferry but I sort of got a picture of the Statue of Liberty. As Lady Liberty came into view the rails filled with people, many of them speaking languages other than English. I very much enjoyed this experience. 

It is very true that NYC never sleeps. One long day after sight-seeing we had snacked all day and weren’t ready to eat again until after 9:00 PM. We walked down a street and had our pick of several different eateries. We choose a Vietnamese eatery where several people were eating both indoors and outdoors. As we were eating our excellent meals other people came in to either eat there or pick up take out.

All in all, as usual I had a wonderful time. However, as much as I love New York City I also love where I now live and very much looked forward to coming home.