The learning and development needs for each industry are continuously evolving. At times it may seem almost impossible for your L&D department to keep up with the latest learning  technology and upskilling techniques. However, there are several L&D trends that are withstanding the test of time and continuing to be effective for employee development.
 

5 L&D Trends Every Company Should Know

If you’re looking for the best ways to improve your organization’s learning and development, these are the trends you should be aware of…

1. Gamification 

Gamification uses game-based methods to engage learners and drive results. And it’s not just about playing games and winning fun badges. Gamification focuses on engaging learners with the relevant and necessary content needed to upskill your workforce. 

An innovative learning experience platform that features gamification capabilities will allow you to seamlessly include this L&D trend in your learning program. Gamification will enable you to  motivate employees to progress through the program, while rewarding them each step of the way.   

2. Mobile learning capabilities

Mobile learning is an obvious progression in L&D trends. This is especially true when you consider how much time we spend on our mobile devices. Organizations that implement learning platforms that are accessible through a mobile app, like ICOG, ensure their employees can access information from anywhere at any time.

Mobile learning also enables employers to easily track their employees’ progress and collect valuable L&D data. They can access information to determine how long employees spend on each page of a course or how many times they come back to complete a particular module. Having this information at your fingertips is extremely beneficial for any L&D leader. 

3. Social Learning

Social learning is the process of learning from the experience and expertise of others. It’s no surprise that this particular L&D trend has accelerated with the continuous growth of social media. The most obvious benefit of social learning is that it enables your employees to become a part of a network of like-minded professionals working together to achieve similar goals. 

While participating in social learning, employees will use social media to post questions or ideas they have about a specific project or task. This allows others in their field to respond with answers, suggestions or ideas on how they’ve solved similar problems in the past. Social learning also promotes innovation as people can share various resources to extend your employees’ L&D efforts.  

4. Microlearning

Microlearning is an important learning and development trend because it allows employees to digest information at their own pace. This unique learning technique involves breaking down information into smaller chunks and delivering it in a variety of digital formats. These formats include short videos, articles, quizzes and other interactive elements. This makes it easier for learners to consume the content when they have time. 

Most companies today operate in a fast-moving environment where change happens constantly and rapidly. This makes microlearning especially important as it allows employees to learn in the moment, when they need it most. Giving employees access to technology that houses readily-available content allows them to put their new skills into practice without delay or confusion. This makes it possible for employees to learn new skills without having to sacrifice their productivity at work.

5. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Immersive technologies

AI is changing how we learn. This innovative technology gives organizations the opportunity to deliver a personalized learning experience by providing more relevant content and more personalized curricula. It also allows companies to collect and analyze data on employee engagement and performance, which allows leaders to make data-driven decisions about how much development an employee needs or when a promotion should be made.

On the other hand, immersive technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are changing how we develop employees. VR was initially a tool for training employees on specific tasks or equipment as employees can practice skills in a safe environment before performing them in real life situations. It's only recently that companies have started using it for additional upskilling like communication and leadership.