The OLS Blog

Is Corporate Training Speaking to the Digital Natives?

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As the corporate world continues to focus on cost cutting, training groups are being pushed to use technology to deliver training efficiently.  The question I pose is “are we delivering effective training.”  Blended learning is touted by many training delivery groups, but are we taking instructor led training and moving it online without thought of how to design and deliver training using technology?  Are we forcing our “digital immigrant” views onto a generation of “digital natives”?  As leaders in training and development we have to recognize that the new workforce have grown up having information available to them immediately and with no restrictions.  At the same time we are still providing them with fixed, repeatable, scheduled courses.  Maybe we need to provide flexible learning activities where we start them on the journey , but we let each individual find their way.

Training groups that use technology effectively will use social learning, collaborative web sites, action learning and experiential activities.  Technology can be used to engage our new generation of participants as long as we ensure leadership, trainers, instructional designers and subject matter experts all understand the new world that we are embracing.  Once we let go of the past, then we will produce results that focuses on productivity and interpersonal growth. 

Training leaders have to give up some of the control and trust that the participants can find their way.  We have to balance the delivery of online learning with real time interactivity and we have to recognize that may mean a formal trainer is not involved.  Training has to truly be scalable, available anytime, anywhere and build communities that will over time lead to continuous learning and improvement that sustains itself.

Posted by Max Windham

Baker Hughes Global Learning and Development

Western Hemisphere Manager