Learning and Development (L&D) is rapidly evolving, with technology playing a pivotal role in shaping its trajectory. At the recent ATD24 conference, Tom Stone, a Senior Research Analyst for the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp), shared the latest research findings regarding L&D technology and artificial intelligence (AI). Let’s dive into the key takeaways from the discussions and presentations.
The State of L&D Technology
Stone indicated that i4cp is a research company that works with high-performance organizations. High performance focuses on revenue growth, market share, profitability, and customer satisfaction. They are looking for answers to these two questions:
- What are these companies doing better than other companies?
- What are the “next” practices?
I found the learning culture index that Stone showed to be quite interesting. High-performing organizations also have a strong learning culture. Key attributes include learning as an organizational value, an expectation of active knowledge sharing, and learning as part of hiring and continual performance.
High-performing companies use L&D Technologies to support compliance training, onboarding, knowledge acquisition, and skill development. Most companies are expected to increase spending on L&D technologies during the upcoming fiscal year. Primary spending will focus on learning management systems, digital learning libraries, and authoring tools. There is also an increase in spending on performance support tools and generative AI as they support L&D.
Understanding the Landscape
Stone shed light on the current landscape of L&D technology, highlighting key trends and challenges organizations face. Some key insights include:
- Diverse Tools: Companies utilize various tools, from Learning Management Systems (LMS) to digital content creation platforms. However, the goal for most companies is to reduce the technology stack.
- Vendor Preferences: Certain vendors, such as Articulate and Captivate, stand out as leaders in the field, offering robust features and capabilities.
- Impact of COVID-19: The pandemic accelerated the shift towards virtual learning environments, emphasizing the importance of platforms like Zoom and Teams.
Learning Management Systems
Two of the key findings that Stone addressed focused on learning management systems. Companies recognized the importance of an LMS and valued theirs, but they were not necessarily satisfied with the overall performance.
An analysis of LMS strengths and weaknesses revealed valuable insights, including:
- Strengths: E-learning videos emerged as a strength, facilitating compliance training and skill development. LMS can also provide notification and serve as a communication tool. It can distribute learning transcripts. Most importantly, it can deliver learner content.
- Room for Improvement: Areas such as content searching and multi-language support highlighted opportunities for enhancement.
The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in L&D
AI’s role in L&D is expanding, with organizations leveraging it for various purposes. Key findings include:
- Automation and Augmentation: AI automates mundane tasks while augmenting human capabilities, increasing efficiency and productivity.
- Personalization: AI enables personalized learning pathways, catering to individual needs and preferences.
- Skill Gap Analysis: AI assists in identifying skill gaps within organizations facilitating targeted training interventions.
Use Cases and Implications
Stone explored diverse use cases of AI in L&D, underscoring its potential impact on organizational performance. Notable examples include:
- Adaptive Learning: AI-powered adaptive learning platforms tailor content to learners’ proficiency levels, ensuring optimal engagement and comprehension.
- Career Journey Mapping: AI assists employees in mapping out their career trajectories identifying growth opportunities and skill development pathways.
Stone encouraged us to deconstruct job descriptions to identify skills and roles impacted by generative AI. He shared this article to provide ideas: “How Generative AI Will Forever Change the Role of Instructional Designers.”
Recommendations for Organizations
Based on the research findings, several recommendations emerged for organizations looking to enhance their L&D initiatives:
- Investment Strategy: Develop a multi-year investment strategy focusing on key areas such as microlearning and generative AI.
- Culture Alignment: Align technology adoption with organizational culture, fostering a learning-centric environment.
- Evaluation and Improvement: Continuously evaluate L&D technology effectiveness, identifying areas for improvement and innovation.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, the future of L&D technology appears promising, driven by advancements in AI and other emerging technologies. Organizations that embrace these innovations stand to gain a competitive edge in talent development and performance enhancement.
Photo by fauxels and photo by Julia M Cameron
