How COVID Has Changed Training in the Workplace

 

The webinar examined how the pandemic disrupted traditional training methods and forced organizations to adapt rapidly. Hosted by David Wentworth from Brandon Hall Group and David Proegler from Latitude, the session provided insights into how companies pivoted their learning strategies and what lessons were learned.

Key Takeaways
Rapid Adaptation to COVID’s Impact on Training
    1. Organizations experienced chaos as the pandemic upended traditional in-person training. Training operations shifted to virtual formats, with varying degrees of success.
    2. Examples of Adaptation: Technical trainers set up remote solutions from their homes, rapidly adopting tools like Zoom and WebEx to continue instruction. Many companies condensed long, in-person training into shorter virtual sessions.
Challenges and Opportunities in Remote Training
    1. Technology Shift: Virtual meeting tools (e.g., Zoom) became the primary medium, but their limitations, such as “Zoom fatigue” and difficulty replicating hands-on learning, emerged.
    2. Content Reevaluation: Organizations learned that traditional ILT (Instructor-Led Training) content often failed when directly transferred to virtual formats. Redesigning for virtual delivery led to better engagement and outcomes.
    3. Hands-on training for industries like automotive repair or medical equipment still required physical presence. Some organizations used regional training experts for on-site guidance.
Broader Access and Engagement
    1. The switch to virtual learning enabled greater participation, as geographic and time barriers were removed.
    2. Companies expanded their training audiences, incorporating more staff and partners than ever before, which improved engagement and knowledge retention.
Financial and Operational Impacts
    1. Reduced costs: Savings on travel and facility use made virtual training more cost-effective.
    2. Sustained Adoption: Many organizations plan to retain virtual components even post-pandemic to leverage cost savings and efficiency.
New Tools and Modalities
    1. A blended learning approach emerged, integrating asynchronous tools (e.g., e-learning, microlearning) with synchronous virtual classes.
    2. Companies began exploring advanced technologies like virtual and augmented reality (e.g., Ford’s VR training for the Mustang E) to replicate hands-on experiences remotely.
Elevated Role of Training and Development
    1. Despite budget constraints, learning functions gained strategic importance, becoming central to organizational resilience and adaptation.
    2. 75% of companies reported their learning functions emerged stronger from the pandemic, with greater reliance on digital solutions to support ongoing and future needs.
Recommendations
  1. Retain Virtual Learning: Continue leveraging virtual meeting tools and e-learning as part of a blended learning approach to reach broader audiences cost-effectively.
  2. Reevaluate Content: Adapt training materials for specific delivery methods to optimize learner engagement and outcomes.
  3. Invest in Technology: Explore emerging tools like AR/VR to bridge gaps in hands-on training scenarios.
  4. Embrace Flexibility: Maintain the agility developed during the pandemic to respond effectively to future disruptions.

This session highlighted how organizations can evolve their training strategies to meet the challenges of a post-pandemic world, emphasizing adaptability, strategic use of technology, and the value of blended learning approaches.