Workplace learning needs bespoke solutions
Tailor-made solutions to workplace learning better reflect the needs of the workforce in today’s companies. Recent research has shown that upskilling and learning in the workplace is vital if Britain is to compete with an increasingly talented workforce in emerging countries. Elearning can play a key role in this.
Key findings of the research from the Teaching and Learning Research Programme included:
Generic solutions rarely meet exactly the needs of a particular company. As Reach Further has found when talking to clients, companies are aware that there are a lot of learning materials available but a customised solution is needed for each workplace and each worker. A better approach is to offer personalised advice on learning and situating the learning very practically in the actual workplace and work experience of the learner(s).
The pressure of external regulation is a catalyst for increased learning, and training employees in compliance is an opportunity to introduce a raft of opportunities for staff to improve their skills and knowledge and to work together to externalise “intrinsic knowledge” – to make available to everyone in the company the knowledge that is in a limited number of people’s heads.
A focus on qualifications such as NVQs and diplomas is out of kilter with the needs of employers and industry who want workers with relevant skills and training which generic qualifications do not necessarily offer.
Finally, employers need help to create more effective learning environments – this means both a learning culture in the organisation and the technical and skills infrastructure to support learning. Reach Further’s learning environments are welcomed because they are simple to use (eg., the Moodle virtual learning environment, open source (therefore free and inexpensive), and eco-friendly and time-saving (no travelling or hiring of conference facilities). Our learning strategies are also very practical through providing collaborative, flexible and adaptable learning opportunities as part of communities of expertise. Learning technologies can be harnessed to make technology enhanced learning opportunities available right on the employee’s desk in the workplace.
Originally published at reachfurther.com