Statement of Future Ideas
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of new American high school graduates who go to college appears to be declining. With that in mind, training and development for adult learners, particularly the millennials and post -millennials, needs to be adjusted to accommodate their level of experience and education. As Instructional Designers, we must address the following questions in the development of learning experiences:
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Are the learning objectives clearly outlined?
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Is the material concise and engaging?
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Are the expectations clearly communicated?
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Were real world situations included?
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Did the exercises incorporate the tools and experiences that are familiar to the learners?
Prior to my knowledge obtained as a student at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi studying Instructional Design and Educational Technology, I would have not asked or considered these questions. It has been very exciting learning about some of the tools and resources that are used in K-12 education. I propose leveraging some of these resources for use in corporate America to help bridge the gap between grade school and the workplace. We often label Millennials as inattentive and unmotivated. I feel the design of training, use of technology and the overall communication methods need to change to accommodate the changing workforce.
My future ideas for learning would be to utilize more micro-learning. This will allow the learners to obtain and digest the information in chunks. This will ensure the learners have an uninterrupted learning experience and a clear grasp of one concept before introducing another. In addition to micro-learning, I would incorporate a “gaming” feel into instruction. For example, having the learners select an avatar during an e-learning event will peak interest and provide a familiar environment. I will also incorporate some type of reward or challenge.
Millennials also enjoy real world experiences. I would incorporate scenario-based questions in lieu of the standard multiple choice or fill in the blank. Virtual reality is also a tool I would use in various types of training to keep the learner’s interest.
In conclusion, it is important that we as Instructional Designers incorporate new tools and technology in learning and development. The new workforce is not intrigued by the lecture and test methods that we have become accustomed to delivering. We must be more innovative and forward thinking. Understanding the dynamics of how information is taught in the K-12 environment can offer insight on how Millennials and Post-Millennials learn. We should leverage this information to build more engaging learning experiences that can be utilized in adult learning.