What training and development professionals need to realize at this point is the need to transform and imbibe a creative attitude towards current tasks. To ensure the maintenance of quality of change tasked upon Training & Development, there is a need to try out ideas and concepts that are adaptive and may be disruptive without fear.
As training and development professionals scrambled to adapt, we see the need to address the way that we design and deliver courses and the way that instructors interact with participants. Instructor-led training has been the standard for so long that we saw a need to reskill in order to become proficient with remote meeting and training platforms. Nowadays Instructors can no longer approach students with close physical proximity, so they will need to work to be more engaging.
“Virtual training should always be direct and straight to the point to keep and engage learners and keep their attention”
Embracing New Technologies
Training professionals have typically been at the forefront of embracing new technologies. In a post-COVID-19 workplace, it will be even more important for them to do so. It’s time to focus on technology.
General pointers to access your organisation’s readiness:
• Does your organization have collaboration tools that will enable you to reach staff learners whom you can no longer gather in a classroom?
• Can you take advantage of a continuous professional development and learning system?
• Can your technology enable learners to receive feedback and take assessments?
Then, consider your content:
• Is it interactive?
• Does it meet the stated learning objective?
The training and development field is evolving. Adaptation is necessary for our survival.
Contributor – Gbenga Okunade (Programmes & Business Development Manager, Credo Consults Ltd
Reference(s) – Keenan McBride, Training and Development in a Post-COVID-19 Workplace (2020)
