Resources not courses for L&D

A simple approach for effective learning

Another quick post, this time on my thoughts around how a resources and not courses approach is the way of the future for L&D. First off, let me clarify that I’m not saying that we don’t need courses anymore, I’m looking at and providing my opinion on how we can reduce the number of courses and why moving to a model of providing resources first for learners at the point of need is instrumental in developing a workforce.

How many times have you heard a learner say they want to find out about X and they want to find out about it now and not wait to go on the next course in 3 weeks from now?

Courses are a fantastic resource for learners if structured and delivered in the right way, the main problem they present is that a learner has to wait until they can attend said course to obtain the knowledge they need to deal with the task at hand. In the 21st century with the technology now available and the way we access content in our personal lives, this just isn’t optimal. If you wanted to find out how to reboot your iPhone, you’d look on YouTube, and if you wanted a recipe you’d find a cookbook or ask Google – you would never wait to go on a course to obtain the knowledge to complete these tasks, so why should this be different in our working lives?.

This is where providing a macro learning platform that allows learners to access bite size resources that can be digested in 2-3mins is very powerful. Lots of learner data from a variety of organisations tell us that learners want to learn in the moment and have access to the content they want at the point of need.

Providing a library of resources to answer the most frequent and fundamental questions that your learners seek to complete a task at hand or be successful in their role is an impressive weapon in your arsenal. The resources must be simple to find and quick to digest with the sole purpose of providing an immediate answer to a query and allowing this to be implemented by a learner instantly.

A resources first approach isn’t about replacing mainstay courses, it’s about providing the content learners need, when they want and wherever they are, this supports the learning provided at a course to ensure the learner is confident in their new found knowledge or skill.

Your resources can be made available in the form of many medians including blogs, videos and articles. These can be hosted or linked to an LMS to ensure that the eco-system of learning within the business is maintained and learners knows what else is available to them beyond these resources to support their ongoing development.

Think about the popular themes and questions your learners ask about on a regular basis, how can you use resources to support these groups with learning at the point of need?