As most no doubt agree, in the design and development of any training strategy, it is important to understand the learner profiles that will be impacted by a fundamental change such as a technological implementation. This knowledge helps determine the right blend for the training system. One aspect of the learner’s profile that is often overlooked is the generation they fall under.
As Lesley Darling observes in her insightful article ‘Learning: Generation does matter!', as instructors and designers of instruction, we need to be sensitive not just to the learning styles and cultures of our learner audience, but also to such fundamental differences as career experience and generational gaps within the workforce. More specifically, the age groups that the learners fall under will have a significant impact on their needs and expectations with regard to their learning experience. Each generation possesses its own unique characteristics that need to be taken into account.
So in which generation(s) does your learner audience fall under? Which one is more predominent? And how will this aspect be addresed in your training strategy?
This article is available online at Element K in the Columns section: Learning: Generation does matter!,
by Lesley Darling Chief Learning Officer at Element K.
