THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: THE TOP FIVE TRENDS IN DIGITAL LEARNING

Companies everywhere are getting ready for digital transformation – buying new solutions, improving database size, and more. But most companies are just throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks. In fact, one study found that while 80% of companies know that digital transformation is important, only 27% say they have defined a strategy to implement it.

Access to the latest technology is nearly universal – Big Data, cloud, the Internet of Things, machine learning, and business networks can be found at top companies and startups alike. The biggest opportunity your company has to win the digital transformation is already in the building: It’s your staff. And it seems that there’s plenty of room for your team to improve – according to a recent study carried out by Technical University of Munich (TUM), 83% of companies feel they are lacking the skills necessary for digital transformation.

So where do you start? SAP has been working to identify the best trends and developments in the world of learning to create innovative, effective tools. In preparation for the digital transformation, five trends stand above the rest for efficacy, simplicity, and – importantly – enjoyment. When learners are having fun, they are engaged and more likely to learn.

Self-serve learning:

For training to be effective, it needs to fit into the schedule of the learner, and not the other way around. People know when they work best – some want to wake up and start learning, others would rather stay up at night and work. When people can learn on their time frame, they are more likely to truly absorb information. Additionally, anytime access to learning means that when a user needs a resource they can get to it – instantly, and on any device.

Social learning:

In a traditional classroom setting, learners had access to only one expert and very little peer interaction. Even as learning moved online, students were only interacting with a module. Now, with social learning, they can ask questions, seek advice, or collaborate with experts and peer learners from around the world. Whether it’s inside or outside the corporation, social experiences enhance the learning process, and have the potential to bring great ideas into your company.

Gamification:

According to Gallup, less than one-third of U.S. workers are engaged in their jobs. Once learners have easy access to learning tools and online support, how do you get them engaged and excited about learning? Gamification has taken the lead as the most innovative way to keep learners motivated and learning with badges and points – adding a competitive edge to education. Learners collect “wins” as they continue to learn and grow their skills.

Microlearning:

Day-long learning can not only be a strain on a learner’s attention, it can really hurt productivity in the office. With microlearning, lessons are broken down into smaller pieces, mirroring how we consume information in our daily lives and reducing disruptions in the workplace. Information is concisely divided into individual units, so that each sessions stands on its own while building knowledge over time. 

Individualization:

Companies no longer have 50 people performing the same task. Jobs are now as individualized as the skills and knowledge of the people doing them, so shouldn’t learning follow suit? Individualization creates learning that is more effective and adaptive to the knowledge and progress of the learner. This means that across your company, learners can progress at their own pace while the overall knowledge base grows.

The knowledge economy is the driving force in the digital transformation. Is your company using these trends and the best solutions to grow the learning infrastructure at your organization? Learn more about how knowledge is fueling the digital transformation and how learning solutions from SAP are using the best technology to support your company’s goals.

Read more about the top five trends in digital learning and how knowledge fuels digital transformation in the Whitepaper: ‘Knowledge Fuels Digital Transformation – Digital Transformation Revolutionizes Learning’ and this blog post by Dr. Bernd Welz, Head of Scale, Enablement & Transformation, SAP SE in SAP Business Trends.

Or learn about the SAP Education Network for Digital Transformation, an initiative to engage and prepare executives and professionals to lead their organizations to become digital enterprises in collaboration with academia and partners.

Source: Preparing For The Digital Transformation: The Top Five Trends In Digital Learning
Complementary Source: Skills for Digital Transformation - Research Report 2015
Complementary Source: Knowledge Fuels Digital Transformation – Digital Transformation Revolutionizes Learning
Complementary Source: Infosheet: Skills Essential for Digital Transformation
Complementary Source: Driving Value and Performance with Certification from SAP