st

Corporate Learning in the 21

Century

The Role of Corporate Academies &

Universities

By Kevin Wheeler

Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

Corporate Education Today

Based on:
Manufacturing-world mindset
Mass production models of learning

Focused on. . .
increasing the number of managers
personal development.
classes and formal education.
telling employees what they should study.
Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

The Transformation Underway

20th Century
Focus on:
-Personal development
-Tactical improvements
-Supervisory skills
-Compliance

Delivery primarily:
-Formal classes
-Instructor led
-Highly structured e-learning
-Prescriptive

21th Century
Focus on:
-Organizational development
-Strategic improvements
-Communication
-Innovation

Delivery primarily:
-Informal tools and methods
-Student led
-Games, simulations
-Exploration

Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

What Gen Y is Teaching Us About

Learning
Interactivity & Involvement
Internet- Do it Yourself
Instant fulllment
Video/gaming are core to delivery

Increased Feedback
Multi-way communication is replacing one-way.
Personal, customized answers and messages.
Authenticity is key to acceptance.

Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

What Gen Y is Teaching Us About

Learning
Invisibility of Technology

From TV to Internet to Mobile Phones

Technology is central to learning

Expectation for Innovation/progress

Fast paced change/variety
Short assignment/projects

Flexibility a virtue

Assemble diverse pieces to make your own unique

solution
A bit here, a bit there cohesion and depth come later

Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

Tomorrows Corporate Education

An informal, multi-dimensional, lightly
structured process of seeking out needed
information.
A process of trading knowledge or
information.
Crowdsourced learning collaboration.

Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

The 21st Century CU

Tightly coupled to strategic goals of the
organization.
Provides discovery-based, self-directed
learning goals.
Moves away from bricks and mortar and
formal courses.
Oers resources, coaches, guidance

Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

The 21st Century CU

A process/structure/framework that is
constantly in ux as needs change.
Uses pull, not push by creating an
environment for the free exchange of
ideas.
Fosters informal learning.

Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

Informal Learning

Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

Formal vs. Informal

Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

Tools that Foster Informal

Learning

Websites
Search tools
Videos
Collaboration
software
Social Networks
Blogs

Podcasts
Instant Messaging/
Texting
Story telling
Simulations/Avatars
Games

Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

Models that Foster Informal

Learning
Apprenticeships
Communities of Practice
Communities of Interest
Reinvention of craft and
apprenticeships
Collaborative virtual work and
knowledge sharing

Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

Characteristics
Blended work/learn
Gives responsibility and control to the
learner
Re-emergence of apprenticeships
Virtual/anywhere/anytime
Based on networks and the Internet
Instructors (at best) are guides, mentors
and provocateurs.
Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

Kevin Wheeler
Future of Talent Institute
kwheeler@futureoftalent.org

Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute