Changing the way we learn post pandemic

I think we can all agree that the norms of life have changed during this pandemic. What was normal life yesterday is sure isn't today!

Our workplace has changed significantly to protect those we love and care for. But with this brought interesting problems. Not bad problems but actual problems that we can solve by being innovative.

I want to talk about learning, especially that of the workplace.

The pandemic has showed two things when it comes to learning. Now I have worked within Learning and Development for over 20 years globally and I have had the privilege to have seen the evolution of learning over those years from a more classroom base environment to a more tech savvy way of learning. This in itself brings its new and exciting problems. The one thing I have always been an advocate of is return on investment. Any manager who send a member of staff on any form of learning wants to see that return in their peoples performance. But the investment we need to look at is how we invest in the Learning to make sure that happens. Firstly, companies who have invested in learning during this pandemic will not only allow their people to thrive and remain motivated in some of the most challenging working moments in our life but will also see the rewards on the bottom line once we come out the other end.

Sadly, there are companies who have done the opposite. In my life time I dont think Ive seen so many of my fellow professionals losing their jobs. I see this alot and have experianced this first hand where the learning departments are the "nice to have" and are expendable. This again has shown to be true within the pandemic. Instead of seeing the benefit of learning during this difficult time and the effects it can have on their people, they see it as negative number on the bottom line rather than a those who understand how the ripple effect of learning can have on the future business.

How do we get return on investment during a pandemic?

From my own experience those companies that are looking to future proof their learning by investing in the right technology only become more successful because they allow the business to change with the generations of people. What was relevant 20 years ago isn't always right for 2021. This is where we look at what tech is available to us to allow us to keep learning and moving forward. There are always a barrier to the success of this and that is IT. You may want to invest in new learning solutions but the IT infrastructure wont allow it. I know myself that I was asked to have a Google survey removed from our learning website because it broke IT rules. But when asked is there an alternative way I can do this the answer was no. IT is struggling to catch up because of years of poor investment.

I don't want to shift the blame fully onto IT departments but in todays world of cyber security overkill we can come against serious barriers on progression. But this is where the learning and IT departments have to work together to make it real. We live in a world that is more remote and the workplace is becoming alittle more deserted to keep us safe. This in turn brings its onw IT logistcal issues and rightly so. When we leave the secruity setting of the office we are more open to cyber attacks at home. So to build a secure platform for learning you need the right tech. Thats a capable laptop or desktop, a secure password protected platform, clear cyber protection software and so much more. That in itself is a major investment on top of the learning solutions you offer such as virtual classroom learning, elearning or other online based learning programmes.

So if we build such a platform how do we gain ROI? Well this comes from how you engage your people. Creating content that is rich and engaging and allows the person to think differently and change and innovate the way the work is critical. It also needs to be timely. Learning in a more remote venue means the need for learning to be time concious. We do not have the benefit of classroom for 6 hours or so. Which is highly interactive instead we have to rely on any content created is more engaging over a more bitesize manor.

We wont see the investment return for sometime but it will happen if we create an engaging post course platform where the learner continues to learn not just from the learning but from their peers. The 70/20/10 rule can be used so well here because despite working remotely involving peers keeps connection going and stops our people feeling isolated. That is a physical return on investment for the wellbeing of our people. A happy, healthy, connected team will thrive and perform.

Wellbeing isn't a dirty word...

Looking after the wellbeing of our people during this pandemic is the most important aspect of anything we do within learning. Learning can be hugely motivational but we live world that is driving us further apart and connection is critical to the health of our people.

If we think about a year ago we could sit inside a classroom enviroment and connect with people we may have never connected with before. The classroom is such a wonderful place to learn.

The benefits of this learning environment are:

- Enhances creative thinking

- Builds networking skills

- Promotes collaborative learning

- and even a career builder

But in this pandemic we cannot safely do this and the risks to the wellbeing of our people is too high. But we can still have the same benefits of the enviroment in a more virutal world. There are many wonderful conference systems that can bring in these benefits to life with tools such as:

- Quizzes

- Whiteboards, just like a flip chart

- Screen sharing

- Hands up to ask questions

- Break out groups and much more

The tools are there to help but the content must be engaging and allow for peer to peer learning. That post learning process is so important in making sure our people are talking as if they would on a lunch break or by the coffee machine in the office. This enhances our ability to stay connected in a world that is becoming unconnected.

But I am introvert!

So am I and the pandemic has allowed me to be the introvert I always wanted to be. I joke, I miss people!!!

But yes people are introverted and connection isn't important to them but learning alone is. They may need that time to think and process and thats fine. That is where whatever content we offer is offered to all learning types. Offering a wide range of learning such as virtual learning and online learning that is engaging and allows the end user to want more is the way forward. They only way you create this demand is creating a programme that allows for continuous learning.

Learning is so important in our life. It helped us ride a bike, clean our teeth, draw a picture, bake a cake, drive a car without learning from others non of this would happen.

Learning shouldn't be a privilege it should be accessible to all.

Check out my learning website for how we are trying to help those gain access to the learning regardless of whatever background you come from.

We donate to charites that help children and young adults seek help to get advantages that they may not get through learning.

You can check this out at our DO MORE site.

Next week we will discuss how people fear failure.

Keep Safe!