06. Current Trends in Training and Development

   by Yasodha Pathirana

Training and Development are a crucial aspect of any organization, as it helps employees improve their skills and knowledge, adapt to new technologies and processes, and become more productive and effective in their roles. In today's fast-paced and increasingly globalized world, Training and Development programs need to be flexible, relevant and responsive to the changing needs of the workforce and the business (Zetlitz & Heivoll, 2023). In today’s competitive business world there are several core trends that are shaping the global landscape of Training and Development.

 

AI Training

As the market for artificial intelligence solutions continues to grow, every industry is becoming more AI and data driven. Incorporating AI in learning or Training and Development would mean more automation and personalization. In a way, AI mirrors human intelligence and behavior, creating a personalized experience for the user. With the help of algorithms, AI-based learning platforms can perform data analysis, measure the ROI, share recommendations based on the users’ previous interaction with the tool. An AI-based learning tool can also share tailored training plans and resources for individual employees. So, investing in an AI-powered learning platform will enhance the learning experience of employees (Neendoor , 2023).

 

Personalized Training

Not all employees will have come from the same backgrounds or learning environments as others. They also likely have different ways of learning and respond to different types of incentives. Long gone are the days of a one-size-fits all approach to training. Instead, the best organizations employ personalized training programs that can be tailored to each employee's specific learning needs and skills gap. While this approach is certainly more complex, it will likely yield better results for both employer and employees.

 

Microlearning

In today's fast paced and attention deficit world, it can be difficult for learners to focus on long, traditional training sessions. As a result, there has been a trend toward microlearning and bite-sized content, which allows learners to absorb information in smaller, more manageable chunks (Zetlitz & Heivoll, 2023). Smaller learning sessions offer the right amount of information necessary for learners to achieve a specific training objective, making microlearning valuable in business contexts. Research has shown that microlearning can improve knowledge retention by as much as 80% while improving learners’ engagement by 50% (Olmstead, 2021).

Microlearning is a way for Training and Development teams to get creative with their learning content and can take the form of in-app tooltips or walkthroughs, short videos, daily tasks, and more. This type of content is also easier to repurpose and refresh and Training and Development teams can incentivize the completion of microlearning content by gamifying employee education and training tasks (Olmstead, 2021).

Gamification

Gamification, simply put, is the application of certain gaming techniques into the employee training program. It is widely known that recognition and rewards motivate employees to perform better at their workplace. Gaming usually involves competitive behavior, where players try to aim for the highest score. Therefore, enterprises want to create a competitive environment at work to boost employees’ productivity (Neendoor , 2023).

Gamification method mainly focuses on the design part to accomplish learner objectives in lesser time. Game based learning may be particularly useful for skill building as it can provide necessary practice opportunities and feedback at the same time that it is fun, engaging, and motivating to learners (Bezhovski & Poorani, 2016).

 

Mobile Learning

Mobile learning refers to the process of online learning via personal mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets or laptops. This training method empowers learning on the go, enabling users to access content whenever and wherever they want. Mobile learning content comes in a variety of forms, such as podcasts, videos, quizzes or eLearning courses that help increase engagement and boost learning retention (Olmstead, 2021).

 

Experiential Learning

Experiential training is nothing but learning by doing. Employees are presented with real world situations that actually apply to their job. Simulations training and role play are prime examples of experiential learning, where employees have to work upon hypothetical yet real-world scenarios and come up with a logical solution to mitigate problems. This type of training allows for critical analysis and quick thinking. Learning from mistakes as well as successful attempts helps in improving the learners’ skills and abilities. Therefore, experiential learning is a trend that many organizations will be leveraging to bridge the gap between theory and practice (Neendoor , 2023).

 

Conclusion

With the advent of new technologies and a changing workforce, businesses need to pay attention to the latest trends in Training and Development so that their employees can stay up to date. There are many Training and Development Trends and organization can prioritize which among these trends will be more beneficial for the organization and implement them accordingly. Moreover, developing an effective employee training program will have a positive and long-term impact on employee productivity and will help to meet business goals.

References

Anon., 2023. Innovation Training. [Online]
Available at: https://www.innovationtraining.org/trends-in-training-development/
[Accessed 12 December 2023].

Bezhovski, Z. & Poorani, S., 2016. The Evolution of E-Learning and New Trends. Information and Knowledge Management, Volume 6 (3), pp. 50-57.

Neendoor , S., 2023. Kitaboo. [Online]
Available at: https://kitaboo.com/top-trends-corporate-training-and-development/
[Accessed 12 December 2023].

Olmstead, L., 2021. Whatfix Blog. [Online]
Available at: https://whatfix.com/blog/learning-development-trends/
[Accessed 13 December 2023].

Zetlitz, M. & Heivoll, A., 2023. eLearning Industry. [Online]
Available at: https://elearningindustry.com/key-corporate-learning-trends-in-2023
[Accessed 12 December 2023].