#EdTech – Learning and Technology, Side By Side

The way we communicate has changed drastically over the last ten years.

Gone are the days of looking for 10p for the phone box…

Now, in a time when technology has become embedded into our everyday lives and many of us rely on it for a multitude of reasons, where it is evolving at a speed some fear we can’t keep up with, we should be looking to evolve alongside it and take advantage of the power it holds.

We can’t become complacent when we know how to do something because new tech will result in constant changes so we need to accept that we will be constantly learning. We can also utilise digital equipment and tech to grow and strengthen our own minds instead of relying on the storage of media to maintain information.

Many are concerned that the form of communication, specifically that of personal human interaction, is dwindling as a consequence of digital going from strength to strength.

Actually ‘The Future of Jobs Report’ by the World Economic Forum has identified the top 10 skills required for a 2020 workforce and interestingly none of them are technical skills.

It is accepted now that most people are comfortable using tech and it is embedded into their daily lives. The top 10 skills required include coordinating with others, emotional intelligence and negotiation; all of which require effective communication skills.

Creativity will become one of the top three skills workers will need. With the avalanche of new products, new tech and new ways of working, workers are going to have to become more creative in order to benefit from these changes.

Surely it would make more sense to focus on improving the set of communication skills that will be even more essential in the future rather than continuing to exercise what was essential to learn when we were at school? A new era should always be preparing for the next.

It is important to acknowledge the way the world is now and adapt ready for the future; not only to equip the future generations of employees with the best skills to enhance their work, but to allow for further discoveries and ground-breaking results. We should encourage working with tech, rather than against it but make sure future workforce has the relevant skillset to flourish around it.

Whereas once we were using essays to analyse and evaluate what we had learnt in education or written reports in our jobs, with vloggers and YouTube stars now at a peak, what if we jumped on the bandwagon of using videos to express ourselves?

Video diaries for example would allow the learner to communicate their thoughts and ideas in verbal speech rather than written text, demonstrating and sharpening their ability to articulate their words as if they were presenting. A key skill for the future.

A video diary is a much more efficient way of showing how a learner is putting what they have learned into practise and, from an auditing perspective, it is much more transparent therefore proving the impact of learning.

Do you want to write a 1000-word essay comparing and contrasting leadership styles with examples of when you have utilised these styles? I don’t and I’m far too old to be a millennial!

Touching on the leadership styles essay, surely with a skills gap in leadership and management surely the priority should be on teaching the learner about leadership styles in the most engaging way and then setting them off with a project to put what they have learnt into practice and reporting back through video; a perfect way to prove the impact of learning and demonstrate to EPAO’s the new skills, knowledge and behaviours of the learner; a perfect reflection tool too and also a way to practise and improve their communication skills.

Using technology provides an alternative way to support tutors instantly but not result in them losing jobs. A way that fits around the needs of businesses whilst supporting them to become more efficient through improved employee skill-set and standardisation across the organisation. Imagine if on top of this the learner had a positive and empowering experience too. Too much blue sky thinking? Surely, it’s what we should always be aiming for?

Other sectors looking to fill gaps and be progressive are turning to technology for the answer. If education is responsible for filling gaps across all sectors surely adopting and applying technology could have benefits for us too?

Day by day technology is making our lives faster and easier. It now has such a huge influence on our lives that we would struggle without it. The way we work and the way we communicate has drastically changed in a relatively short period of time so surely the way we learn should change too?

It is proven that visual content produces much higher levels of engagement than text-only content and that’s simply because our attention is drawn far more to visuals. Visual communication can inform us of the exact same information as a written sentence, but the majority of us respond better to a creative image or video with a stronger chance of retaining the information.

It’s not a question of if video is being used in businesses, it’s a question of when your business is going to take advantage of it.

Things like internal communications via video and eLearning, sales enablement, onboarding, training, and video product demonstrations are setting companies apart from their competitors, and ultimately, enhancing business and driving success. Pretty soon, video is going to be the only form of communication people are going to want in the workplace

LearnBox provides an alternative way of learning and we believe in moving with the rapid growth of tech. Our high quality and engaging films interact with the users and adapt to their pace; there’s no pressure or time limit, the learner is in full control of the process. Our platform has unlimited storage (including for video diaries), a webinar function and solid reporting and communication functions between all stakeholders.

LearnBox has a forward-thinking attitude and an eagerness to deliver results. We’re determined to convince those afraid of change that the future of communication and tech can be an effective relationship, one that benefits everyone.

We have strong partnerships with forward thinking and innovative End Point Assessment Organisations and training organisations who agree that the impact of relevant learning is the most important thing.

At LearnBox, we disrupt the notion of tradition, and instead pave way for innovation and progression. We Engage, Entertain and Educate.

Lucy Dunleavy, Managing Director, LearnBox