Corporate training trends are always changing and, more often now, the training trends are technology driven. Some primary training trends to consider include business-centric learning, video-based training, multiple format training, the use of social media, and competency-based training.
Business-centric Learning
The concept of business-centric training is one of the corporate training trends that came about when individuals realized that forty per cent of organizations develop a learning strategy that directly aligns with business needs, and sixty per cent focus more on the content and the learners. These types of training have different characteristics. Content-centric training has existed for many years and focuses primarily on content. Training that is centered on the learners gives them access to information when they need it, where they need it, and the way in which they need to receive it.
Business-centric training provides detailed information that is tailored for individuals, ensuring information is available when needed and that information is aligned with business needs. When using business-centric training, the goals of the training should be clearly defined, and the relationship between training and goals should be measurable. Organizations that use business-centric learning often use technologies that provide data collection and analysis.
Video-based Learning
Online training and courses have introduced an era of video-based learning. Research shows that this is one of the corporate training trends in which most of the learning occurs visually and that combining video demonstrations with audio demonstrations is a highly effect way to teach and learn.
Multiple Learning Formats
Being flexible to one’s approach in training and being willing to use various learning formats can be highly effective. In addition to more video, we are seeing much more variety and flexibility in the use of learning formats. This type of learning urges employees to use personal electronics, such as tablets and smart phones, for business purposes. Multimedia technologies, including software and simulations, can be used to tailor the content to a specific learner’s needs. Some current trends with this type of learning include responsive design, mobile learning, and blended courses.
Use of Social Media
The primary concern when an organization uses social media as a tool for learning is privacy of proprietary information. All social media tools do not need to be public; however, and an organization can gain a lot by using collaboration and communication tools that go beyond discussion forums. Micro-blogs or videos can be extremely effective in improving learning functions.
Competency-Based Training
This is one of the corporate training trends that requires reorganizing training programs around skills. Competency-based training requires that learning outcomes are clearly defined and articulated and that assessments that can validly measure learning outcomes are developed. Organizations that use this training approach are often much more capable of coping with the skill gaps that affect many organizations.
Keeping Up with Changes in Corporate Training Trends
Corporate training trends are always changing, and an organization that wants to be successful will keep abreast of new training techniques as they evolve, including those based on technology learning tools. An organization should stay up-to-date in regards to new ideas that focus on the best way to educate a workforce.