The Journey of Skills Development in the Digital Era
Skills are important. There’s no denying that. Some might say they even help to define us. Whether physical, mental or social, our skills often make us who are – and who we are is constantly evolving as we develop and grow within the fast-paced world around us.
In a professional sense, acquiring new skills is not only advantageous but necessary. Today’s workplaces are dynamic spaces that require multi-skilled individuals as opposed to those who only specialise in one particular field. Therefore, developing one’s skills is crucial in order to make the most out of present day opportunities – particularly those afforded to us by technology.
As new innovations and technologies emerge, the way that we conduct our lives continues to change. Of course, this means that our learning and development processes are changing too. Nowadays the way that learning professionals operate is vastly differently to what was practiced ten or even five years ago. Let’s examine these shifts a little more closely:
Moving towards blended learning solutions:
Up until now learning solutions were mostly delivered in “one hit” but the world is starting to realise the shortfalls of conveying information this way. Blended solutions – which factor in information that is distributed over a period of time – have a greater likelihood of achieving success. This method also helps blur the lines between formal and informal learning for greater impact.
Moving from onsite to online:
Face-to-face learning certainly has its advantages, but that’s not to say that onsite learning does not have its downfalls. Today, online courses are rapidly gaining popularity as online learning empowers individuals to access information regardless of geological constraints. It can also assist those with learning disabilities or social disorders to gain confidence and acquire qualifications within the privacy of their own homes or preferred learning environments. Naturally, studying online requires a certain level of computer skills which is now mandatory for many occupations and industries.
Moving from real time to flexi time:
Learning in real time can be challenging for individuals who are trying to balance multiple jobs or responsibilities. It’s also hard to scale. That said, times are changing and the move towards flexible learning times is heavily supported by new educational tools which enable learners to create their own timetables and learn at their own pace. Being in charge of one’s own schedule helps to improve one’s time management abilities and offers more flexibility which is ultimately empowering.
Embark on your own skills journey
Skills are valuable assets which can help you prosper not only in the workplace but in your everyday life. iLearn offers a number of online business courses to develop your professional and personal abilities. Browse our range of business skills courses today.