Corporate learning is moving away from formal classroom-based models towards more informal learning approaches. The future of corporate education will involve self-directed, discovery-based learning through tools, coaches and collaboration. Learning will be a process of exchanging knowledge between employees using crowdsourcing and informal networks. Corporate universities will act as frameworks that foster informal learning through communities of practice and interest rather than traditional courses.

1. Corporate
Learning
in
the
21st
Century
The
Role
of
Corporate
Academies
&
Universities
By
Kevin
Wheeler
© Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

2. 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

3. The
Transformation
Underway
20th Century 21th Century
Focus on: Focus on:
-Personal development -Organizational development
-Tactical improvements -Strategic improvements
-Supervisory skills -Communication
-Compliance -Innovation
Delivery primarily: Delivery primarily:
-Formal classes -Informal tools and methods
-Instructor led -Student led
-Highly structured e-learning -Games, simulations
-Prescriptive -Exploration
© Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

4. What
Gen
Y
is
Teaching
Us
About
Learning
• Interactivity
&
Involvement
– Internet-­‐
Do
it
Yourself
– Instant
fulfillment
– 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

5. 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

6. Tomorrow’s
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

7. 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.
– Offers
resources,
coaches,
guidance
© Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

8. The
21st
Century
CU
• A
process/structure/framework
that
is
constantly
in
flux
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

9. Informal
Learning
© Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

10. Formal
vs.
Informal
© Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

11. Tools
that
Foster
Informal
Learning
• Websites
• Podcasts
• Search
tools
• Instant
Messaging/
• Videos
Texting
• Collaboration
• Story
telling
software
• Simulations/Avatars
• Social
Networks
• Games
• Blogs
© Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute

12. 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

13. 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

14. Kevin
Wheeler
Future
of
Talent
Institute
kwheeler@futureoftalent.org
© Copyright, 2012 Future of Talent Institute