Technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), and sophisticated analytics are offering training and development professionals new opportunities for delivering personalized training that continues to incorporate methods known to improve the learner experience, according to CompTIA’s “Workforce and Learning Trends 2020” report.
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It refers to this “new blend of familiar learning and certification methods with some technological twists” as the “New Traditional” training model.
Top Trends
CompTIA surveyed 400 HR and learning and development (L&D) professionals to see how technology is impacting their training programs. It also spoke with experts in technology workforce development and scanned authoritative publications on training trends to produce the report. Key findings include:
- The pace of change requires agility on many fronts.
- L&D increasingly shapes strategic direction, but resources don’t always follow.
- A soft skills gap is bringing a new focus on challenges and solutions.
- Subject matter experts remain core to the learning experience.
- Talent shortages push the reskilling and upskilling envelope.
- L&D aspires to create seamless, blended experiences learners expect.
These inputs offer an interesting mix of new concerns and opportunities related to technology, as well as timeless issues (like the soft skills gap) that L&D professionals have faced for some time now.
As L&D pros find themselves faced with both opportunities and challenges related to applying new technologies to their training development and delivery methods, they’re both experimenting with and considering multiple options, according to this report.
Experimenting and Considering New Approaches to Learning
CompTIA asked respondents to indicate which emerging technologies and new approaches to learning they were currently using and which were on their radar.
The top items currently in use include:
- Enhanced training, such as multimedia, gamification, etc. (49%)
- Smart assessments to evaluate hard or soft skills (45%)
- Remote workforce management platforms (44%)
- Mobile apps for staff to engage with HR systems (44%)
The top items on their radars or being actively explored included:
- Next-gen learning management systems (LMSs) (47%)
- AI applied to talent management systems (47%)
- AI applied to administrative systems (45%)
- AR/VR to create virtual training environments (44%)
As training and HR professionals continue to consider the implications of new technologies, there are two key impacts they will need to consider and balance: employee acceptance and adoption of these options and their impact on transfer of learning and improved ability to meet organizational goals and objectives.