The Centre for Performance Development has released the results of their Learning & Skills 2011 survey – which was held both at the event and online. Read more about it on the survey page on their website. The survey asked people to put blue or orange m&ms in various jars representing the L&D activities they expected to do more or less in 2011. Blue for more and Orange for less. Scientific isn’t it!
Results Summary
| SUBJECT | MORE OF | LESS OF |
| e-learning & Mobile Learning | 87% | 13% |
| 2-3 Days Classroom Based courses | 27% | 73% |
| Informal Learning | 78% | 22% |
| Management Development Programmes | 73% | 27% |
| Coaching & Mentoring | 77% | 23% |
| Bite Size Sessions | 78% | 22% |
More eLearning, mobile learning
With L&D budgets still shrinking this does not come as a surprise. However, I hope the respondents realize that good quality engaging elearning requires an upfront investment. Over a period of time it works out to be more cost effective but won’t always be saving you dollars in the first year. Other measures to manage this situation are apparently to do more coaching by line managers and more in-house programs. We believe mobile learning tools can help in achieving this very effectively.
Less classroom training
I think though reduced budgets have an impact on this – it is also because of the changing nature of work, training, and learning. We will continue to see training becoming more just-in-time, bite sized, even integrated within the work. As classroom training will diminish.
While I agree there is a place for facilitated group learning I don’t think it can be done ONLY in a classroom setting. Technology can help in reducing costs and must be used in the mix. This CLO survey says Classroom Training is Still King but the proportion of use is declining as most respondents in US are also looking to do more technology assisted learning.
What’s your view on this?
