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Steve Finch
Thinqi Ambassador
What does modern learning
look like?
If you were asked to present your vision of
modern learning, what journey would you
take in order to gain a greater understanding
of the subject? Would you order books online
or pop down to the library? Would you
discuss your views with a colleague or ask an
expert?
Chances are you'd fire up a browser on your
computer or mobile device (if you're not
reading this on your mobile already), tap the
term quickly into a search engine and scroll
through the relevant articles. It comes as no
surprise then that research by Google has
shown that 70% of employees will now use
search engines to learn what they need for
their jobs. Also, a staggering 91% of
smartphone users will turn to their devices for
ideas when completing a task.
Think about how many times you use your
phone in a day and the things you do outside
of texting and calling. Social media, e-books,
websites and apps are all there, providing a
wealth of information at your fingertips. In
recent years, technology has completely
transformed the way we learn.
What do modern learners need?
With those illuminating figures in mind, this
paints a pretty clear picture about what
modern learners expect in the digital age.
Fast-paced workplaces of today don't
accommodate the old framework of formal,
classroom-based learning as effectively as
before. Learners don't want to sit through an
hour of 'chalk and talk' style learning while
their workload continues to pile up.
Research by Deloitte reveals that a mere 1%
of a typical working week, is all the time
available to employees for training and
development. It is therefore neither time or
cost-efficient for businesses to pull workers
into the classroom for face-to-face training for
large periods of time.
Instead, today's employees need learning
that's accessible and available whenever and
wherever they need it. Take millennials, for
example - who, according to research by
PwC, will make up 50% of the global
workforce by 2020. It is this generation of
workers that is far more likely to:
• Turn to YouTube to learn how to do
something rather than consult a book
• Learn a new skill for work, such as a
language, via an app such as Duolingo
• Use cloud-based collaborative tools such
as Slack to communicate with colleagues
• Carry out work-based qualification
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