Top Trends from L&D Conferences - Spring 2023
I had the opportunity to attend Learning Solutions and Advancing Learning conferences in the last month and heard from a number of L&D professionals and educators. Here are three key themes that learning/content designers should keep top of mind in our work in the foreseeable future.
AI, of course
There are a number of different AI tools available to the public to support all kinds of workstreams, from text, image, and video production to the creation of full microlearning courses and everything in between. The general consensus from learning professionals is that AI has exciting capabilities to cut down on mundane, manual tasks and create more time for exciting, creative work where human potential shines, but data and privacy is a major concern.
In the K12 and higher ed. spaces, there is concern about students cheating but that this shouldn’t deter educators from bringing AI into the classroom. Instead, we need to teach students how and when to use it appropriately, and the risks/pitfalls associated with using AI, particularly ChatGPT.
According to the World Economic Forum, AI and tech literacy are an ‘on the rise’ skills and will become increasingly important in the next few years as it pertains to the future of work. It is our responsibility as education professionals to ensure our learners are equipped with these skills of tomorrow. If we hide from AI, we (and our learners) will get left behind. Embrace your distrust and use it to find the limitations and bias within AI, so you can empower others with that awareness.
The Importance of Authentic Assessment and Developing Real World Skills.
Continuing with the theme of ensuring learners are prepared for the needs of the workforce, there is significant discussion on how to better align educational assessments with on the job skills and use of knowledge. There is emphasis on minimizing the disconnect between learning and the realities of work. Capstone projects, case studies, simulations, scenario-based questions, and project-based tasks are on the rise as they better enable learners to apply their learning in authentic and meaningful ways. Along with this comes the reframing of feedback as a tool to support continuous improvement.
Putting the Learner at the Center of the Experience: Just-In-Time and Participatory Learning.
We’re all busy humans, and the amount of content for us to consume or skills for us to acquire seems to be growing at an exponential rate. So, it becomes critical that learning best serves the needs of the learner, when and where they want it most. With this comes:
- Adaptive learning, so we can meet learners at their skill level and scaffold at individual rates. This makes mastery of learning more attainable for everyone.
- Microlearning and microcredentials, so learners can hone in on specific knowledge gaps and skill deficiencies, rather than waste time on what they already know.
- Searchable learning, so learners can quickly reference specific materials, especially as an aid when completing tasks outside of the learning environment.
- Communities of Practice, so learners can collectively improve their practice, benefit from one another's experiences, and embed knowledge in practice.