Digital Learning here to stay

Digital Learning – No longer emerging … Here to stay.

Global disasters have been known to become crucial turning points in our history for the evolution of forward-thinking technology and convenience. The famous saying, that links back to thousands of years to Plato, shows us that “necessity is the mother of invention”.

This year we have seen some of the fastest advancements of technology in the workplace than ever before, all out of necessity. EdTech has been at the forefront of this technology evolution with a projected 8 billion dollar investment, globally, by 2021 and an estimated 1.7 billion of that in the Australian market. The first part of 2020 saw a little known video conferencing technology application, Zoom, become a household name in a matter of weeks. Such is the landscape for digital learning.

While employers have managed to get the majority of workers to provide business continuity from home, the use of different systems, application and technology has now, seven months later, forced people to trust in, and rely on, technology and infrastructure.

The same is said for digital learning environments. What used to be viewed as a 'link to mandatory training' is now a powerful tool for learning and development within organisations.

"The 2018 LinkedIn Workforce Learning Report found that a whopping 93 percent of employees say they would stay at an organisation if it invested in their career."

The 2020 global pandemic has forced many of us In fact, one of the main reasons for employee business owners to rethink our entire business retention is an organisation's investment into model. It has rearranged the way we interact with professional development and the progression of people on a social and professional level and their workers. created unimaginable challenges in terms of logistics, forward planning and managing our staff. The 2018 LinkedIn Workforce Learning Report While traditional classroom learning has suffered, say they would stay longer at an organisation if it digital learning and EdTech resources have come invested in their career. into their own. The pandemic has pushed more courses and learning online. A change that was long Digital learning is becoming an increasingly popular overdue. way for businesses to access a scalable solution that The trajectory of traditional education was on a organisations to reach employees in any location. gradual curve to transition into the digital space, This form of education can be considered dynamic. however, the recent global need for remote life has For example, online learning courses have the given that curve a shot of adrenaline and forced opportunity to iterate, in real time, as business and rapid adaptation and fundamental change forever! industry landscape shifts.

Digital learning and remote working have become the default in 2020. Businesses with no remote capacity have had to adapt and pivot to survive during this time. Coincidentally, making learning more accessible that ultimately benefits organisations and employees.

So how do we make the most of this technology evolution that is unfolding around us?

Although formal learning and education remains essential for some highly skilled professions, there is a very strong market for informal learning to boost professional development and learning on the job.

As an organisation, the best way to take advantage of digital learning in your workplace is to embrace micro-credentials. This includes ‘gamification/badging’ and certification through short-sharp programs, in an intuitive online environment, accessible on any device at any time.

So why would employees do employer lead training in their own time? Many employees see workplace training as an opportunity to grow their skills and invest in their professional future. found that a whopping 93 per cent of employees meets the needs of large or global ClarityEdu is a Learning Experience Design company that creates people-centered digital learning experiences based on the learning needs of employees, the learning styles of each individual and desired learning outcomes for the organisation.

This means finding the most engaging, appealing and cost-effective solution when it comes to learning and development for your staff. We achieve this through planning and discussions with your organisation to tailor the learning experience to each individual, and organisational needs.

Education doesn’t have to be a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Reading books and sitting tests is appropriate in some formats but there are so many other ways we can learn.

By designing your learning experience you can access a calculated mixture of text, video, imagery, infographics and bite-sized information. All accessible across multiple devices and with a

community of other learners. “Education doesn’t have to be a ‘one size fits all’ approach.”

Courses can also support individuals at different and Certified Complaint Handling Excellence learning levels through flexible environments. This (CCHE). includes self-paced learning or even a 'blended' option for a face-to-face support structure via Organisations have found this option saves on webinars, virtual classrooms and social communities costs, keeps knowledge up-to-date and offers within the learning environment to foster industry credibility via the CSIA branded connection. certificates. It also benefits employees as they Over the past 10 years, I have seen more and more investment into their professional development. companies move towards the blended learning Which, as mentioned earlier, makes you an option and the ‘Stackable Learning Model’, where employer of choice! building their own programs by ‘stacking’ other skills-based programs together and creating a ClarityEdu have partnered with CSIA to rebuild bespoke product that suits the exact needs of the their traditional classroom learning style into a organisation. They are seeing the value of more easily accessible digital learning product that certifications and noticing the costs savings even best suits the needs of both your organisation, and more. your employees.

CSIA Online offers the Stackable Learning Model through its range of products in the Customer Service Certification space. Organisations can easily build a robust customer service learning experience that includes programs such as Certified Customer Service Excellence (CCSE), Certified Customer Service Leader (CCSL) develop new skills and knowledge and it is an But don’t take my word for it, why don’t you head over to csiaonline.co and have a look for yourself?

Aaron Hines, Director, Clarity Education