Misconceptions

Growing up, I watched The Terminator, a cyborg assassin from 2029 sent to stop the birth of the one human who could save us from Skynet, an artificial intelligence and neural network-based computer system that developed into a superintelligent being. As a child, I thought it was just a really cool movie. Computers do what we tell them to do, right? There’s no reason to fear that computers will surpass human intelligence and eventually exterminate humanity. Artificial intelligence and advanced technology are common themes in movies, our daily lives, and the workplace. Terminator is an extreme and unrealistic example of the risks associated with technology. However, engagement, increased productivity, and retention are benefits of using technology in corporate training.

A Need for Change

The average adult’s attention span can range from 10 to 20 minutes, depending on their level of interest (Galindo, 2024). How effective are training seminars that last hours or extend over several days? We complete our annual training each year. It contains the same information as the prior year but with a current date. If you ask what we learned, you will see many blank faces. Workers lose productivity, financial resources are expended, and the only thing gained is the ability to mark a box indicating that annual training is complete. There was training, but no learning took place. New hires are challenged to retain information about company policy, procedures, and technical skills necessary to perform their jobs. Onboarding can be overwhelming for even the most enthusiastic new hires, especially if the information is not delivered in a suitable format.

Embracing Technology

One of the cornerstones of fundamental learning is interaction with people and relevant content. Interactive technology is revolutionizing education, and corporate training has numerous advantages (Richardson, 2024). Gamification, interactive exercises, media, video conferencing, and group projects should be used to promote engagement and maintain the learners’ interest. Equipping workers with the know-how and abilities necessary for their jobs boosts output and increases job satisfaction, lowering attrition and strengthening an organization’s bottom line.

References

Galindo, I. (2024, June 3). How to keep Learners Engaged – Columbia Theological Seminary. Columbia Theological Seminary. https://www.ctsnet.edu/how-to-keep-learners-engaged/#:~:text=If%20they%20don’t%20pay,the%20learning%20is%20taking%20place

Richardson, K. E. (2024, August 23). Enhancing corporate training with technology. Purdue University College of Education. https://education.purdue.edu/2024/01/enhancing-corporate-training-with-technology/