Tablet computers, smart phones, and mobile technology in general is permeating our personal and professional lives. These devices have made working professionals more productive on the go, but they also have the side effect of making many of us less focused and less able to sustain prolonged attention to any one task. With this in mind, many learning professionals are beginning to favor shorter learning exercises and courses over the more traditional full-length courses in order to ensure learners are fully engaged for the entirety of the learning exercise. Chief Learning Officer magazine recently released an article relating to this “bite sized” approach to learning.
As working professionals become more adept at multitasking, attention spans are likely to continue decreasing, and learning professionals must be ready to adapt their learning programs in order to cope with this new reality. Shortening learning courses and allowing professionals to access learning materials on their schedule are two ways in which learning can continue to offer value to companies and employees alike.
Related book summaries in the BBS library: Tailored Learning, Hold On, You Lost Me!, The Mobile Learning Edge
In 2000, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) was competing in a medical technology market that was much different from the one it had grown up in. The current market was fully globalized, and regulations were changing significantly, along with customer buying patterns. Company executives realized that many people in the company were unsure of BD’s direction. In response, BD revamped its learning and development infrastructure. In Leaders as Teachers, Edward Betof examines the leaders-as-teachers program and the benefits it can bring to a company, such as aligning the learning function with the organization’s goals, serving as a catalyst for leadership development, strengthening the organization’s culture, and promoting change.
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