Introduction
5 Key technology that is changing learning and development
Introduction
Things move fast in the tech industry. Regardless of the type of business, whether private or public, non-profit or profit, SMEs or mega-corporations, the majority of companies rely on their employees for growth, new ideas, and success. To advance faster and be more confident in their profession, employees must be constantly engaged, learning and expanding their talents. There is little doubt that upskilling their personnel will help companies achieve greater success in the future. According to some estimates, the eLearning business was worth more than 165 billion dollars in 2015. Since then, it has increased and is expected to increase by 5% between 2018 and 2023, surpassing 240 billion USD.
Let’s talk about five of the key ways technology is changing Learning and Development:
5 Key technology that is changing learning and development
1. The rise of mobile and tablet devices
The term “mobile learning” refers to any learning that takes place on a mobile device. Tablets, cellphones, and eReaders all fall within this category. Mobile technology offers a wide range of possibilities to enrich educational content and invent new forms of learning, whether in the classroom, at home, or in offices. The following are some of the primary benefits of successful mobile learning experiences: better access to course content, more engagement with other students and teachers and mentors, the ability to learn more about the topics covered, greater work quality, and higher motivation. They have the freedom to study when and where they want, as well as at their own speed. Track student progress and discover bottlenecks using statistics and analytical tools. One of the most important advantages of mobile learning is the ability to personalise monitoring and adjust the learning path based on each student’s progress. We are at the start of a massive transition. It will most likely take another five years for cellphones to overtake computers as the primary instructional tool for pupils.
5 biggest learning trends of 2021
2. The increase in ‘bringing your own device to work’
Allowing employees to use their own laptops, smartphones, tablets, or other devices for work is known as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). It has grown in popularity in recent years as a means of allowing employees to work from home or on the go while still having access to their company’s network and data. The enormous need for home working as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic has emphasised the trend even more. Fifty-nine percent of companies now allow employees to use their personal devices for work, and another thirteen percent plan to do so this year.
Advantages of BYOD:
A good, well-managed Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) environment can:
- Cost Reduction – One of the most obvious advantages of implementing a BYOD policy in the office is that the employer will no longer be responsible for the cost of pricey devices and regular upgrades. Companies can spend a lot of money to provide staff with technology. Allowing employees to use their own devices if laptop computers and phones are required for them to conduct their work can save a lot of money.
- Improved Productivity –According to a study conducted by Dell and Intel, productivity increases when tech-savvy employees are offered a variety of technology options. It also revealed that having access to a familiar and comfortable device may assist employees in completing their tasks more quickly.
- Increased Employee Happiness – When employees are allowed to work from a device that is also used for personal tasks, it can improve employee contentment. Employees are free to carry fewer devices and can also keep track of every important detail in their lives from a single device. Even better, employees can choose the device that best fits their personalities and preferences for maximum engagement.
- Increased Flexibility – Employees will have more flexibility with a BYOD policy. They have more control over the equipment they must use and can make decisions that are most beneficial to them. This can lead to a better work-life balance, which in turn leads to increased productivity. Plus, if employees use their own devices, it’s much easier for them to work remotely.
- Newer Devices and Features –Because technology may be so expensive, many businesses that do give gadgets for their employees don’t upgrade them very frequently. If outdated computers and phones are still functional, it may not be feasible for a corporation to replace them with newer devices on a regular basis. Employees’ personal devices are more likely to be newer and have the most up-to-date capabilities.
3.The gamification of learning
You’ve probably had your fair share of minor mobile game addictions ( PUBG, Freefire, Call of Duty, GTA).
The gamification of learning may help you generate innovative, instructional, and entertaining content regardless of your audience or topic matter. It’s not meant to transform work into a game, but it does tap into the psychology that motivates people to engage.
The benefits can be extremely pleasant and motivating. One of the main advantages of gamification is that it makes learning more interesting and instructive, owing to its interactivity. Role-playing and competitive components offer an immersive element that, when done right, may make learning enjoyable.
If you were to choose one goal for learning, it would undoubtedly be to embed new knowledge in your students. But what good is information if it can’t be remembered?
Another unexpected benefit of gamification in learning is the natural high it can provide, as well as the impact that ‘high’ has on knowledge retention. When our brain tries to reward us, it releases dopamine into our body, so we feel good when we win a game or do something significant.
For many people, learning new things is a pleasurable experience that results in dopamine production, and the very fortunate side effect of that natural drug ‘fix’ is that the boost in dopamine levels aids in the retention of that new knowledge.
The third benefit of gamification is all about getting your hands dirty. Learning on the job can be a very effective way of cementing skills by applying them to practical scenarios.
4.The opportunity to interact virtually
Do you have a question that you don’t understand? Working on a project with a group? Do you want to be kept up to date on the project? Do you just want to vent? It’s no problem. You may need to work a little more in order to get groups of students conversing and engaged in your virtual classroom. However, the good news is that most video conferencing platforms come with a variety of useful capabilities. I began to notice that communication in a virtual classroom differed significantly from communication in a traditional classroom. It’s actually quite straightforward. You can have as many people talking at once in a physical classroom as there are individuals in the room, and pair and group work can be employed to optimise the time your students have to practise speaking in English. However, you can only have one person speak at a time in a virtual classroom (unless you’re lucky enough to have breakout rooms).
Instructors, L&D professionals, and learners can exchange and access a variety of material, from quizzes and questionnaires to photographs and tips, by creating online groups or using hashtags.
Because social media isn’t supposed to be a source of distraction (as long as you use it right).
5.The assessment of progress
As technologies are advancing, tracking your progress has never been easier. Today’s tech is smart enough to provide feedback to learners on the go. Focused, specific feedback aids students in comprehending learning objectives, selecting the best strategies for the task, making course corrections throughout the learning process, monitoring their own progress, and deciding where to go next.
This means that throughout their e-learning and online modules, learners will receive a more personalised, targeted, and effective approach. Self-reflection and improvement are considerably easier with more formative sorts of examinations.
