Improved Mobile Access To Cater To Learning Needs Of Multigenerational Workforce

Today, major driving forces behind technological changes are the Millennials looking for different ways to connect and deliver innovation using social media and mobile learning tools. Modern workplace comprises of five generations including Baby Boomers working with Millennials, Generation X supporting Traditionalists and Generation Z filling the positions of organizational workforce. Every generation has its own learning style & preference, based on their varied learning methods and workplace culture.

Why Choose Mobile Learning for Multigenerational Workforce?

The key factor that millennials consider in a new job is e-learning at workplace. Instead of seeking training on workplace efficiency, flexibility and culture, what millennials want is to analyze whether they made an optimum employer choice or not. As work-cycles evolve, skill competency and workforce development becomes a priority. Today, majority of the organizations are investing in effective e-learning solutions to help them dominate in the world of continuous learning to engage and retain millennials. A few reasons why mobile learning is effective for multigenerational employees include the following:

● Number of smartphone users is on the rise

Today, everyone owns a smartphone and many people even have access to multiple mobile devices. So, accessing e-learning courses across devices that you already own is a financially efficient approach. It aids learners to experience an added value of responsibility as training is simply in their hands, which they do at their own pace of time and location.

● Availability of mobile apps

The mobile app revolution has left a tremendous impact on small as well as large enterprises by reducing costs and improving efficiency of overall learning processes. For instance, if a small business wants to host trainings, then mobile access can be an optimal choice. Mobile learning is significant when it comes to remote workforce training, which allows trainers to convey information with just few swipes on a smartphone.

● Personalization

Undoubtedly, mobile learning caters to the customized needs of individual learners and organizations. Some of the major benefits include:

► Better engagement of learners with the content.

► Facilitates the process of chunking content into short and crisp bites.

► Supports knowledge reinforcement to support continuous learning.

The above discussed elements of mobile learning allow a multigenerational workforce to learn at their own pace for an experience tailored to their custom needs. Whether the existing workforce comprises of Baby Boomers, Millennials or others, it is important to deliver innovative mobile learning services for all. Certainly, the use of mobile apps for multigenerational workforce training is the key to organizational success, because it is cost-effective, reliable and tailored to individual learning needs.

Extending Learning Management System For Increased Productivity And Excellence

Most organizations try to arrange instructor-led training sessions for their external partners on a regular basis, this approach often falters on many levels. Instructor-led trainings can be arranged sporadically, as per the availability of trainers, learners as well as required resources like classrooms and other equipment. This leads to large gap in the skill as well as knowledge competency among the external partners. 

The trainings do not have a uniform efficacy as most organizations employ external trainers to do the job. With varying expertise, the efficacy of the trainer led session also varies. Moreover, there is no real measure of training efficacy to understand how much the learners have understood and the areas which need special attention. The learning content itself is also not updated reducing the relevance of training. Together, all these factors result in a high attrition rate and low morale among the external partners – a cause for concern for the organization.

Here is how an external learning management system can create increased sales and show better results through continuous training:

• Whether to deliver sales presentations or create as well as submit reports, the external partners are adept at using hand-held tablets. The extended learning solution has to be accessible to them on their hand-held tablets. Being multi-device compatible, the extended LMS can be customized and made available to the learners for all their learning needs.

• The extended learning program should start with an initial online test and gap analysis, where the competency of the learner was gauged. Accordingly, a learning plan can be created as per the profile of the learner with suitable courses assigned for online learning as well as classroom sessions. The learners can view allocated courses available to him or her as per the learners’ role in the organization. Thus learning is customized as per individual need. This helps learner gain relevant knowledge, something that can be used instantly on the course of work.
  
• The cycle of continuous learning should be suitably strengthened by periodic assessments - both online as well as offline. This provides a suitable push for learning and encouraged learners to aspire for better scores and come up as winners. In addition, certificates can also be issued for chosen courses. This provides a sense of achievement for the learners. The certificates can be made time-sensitive to assure that there is perceivable knowledge retention and learners have the opportunity to refresh as well as revise from time to time.

• The extended LMS should be able to track a variety of data and create logical as well as relevant reports that can provide a lot of pertinent information on the effectiveness of the training initiative. The reports should churn out as per the requirement of the administrator – as per chosen criteria of department, region, area, job title, dealers and so on.

With extended LMS, the external workforce is able to learn better techniques and skills, increase work satisfaction and provided better sales figures as well.

Reference: ExtendedLearning Networks can be supported by E-Learning – An Effective Case