Organisational learning and development (L&D) is a crucial process for any organisation that wants to stay competitive, innovative and agile in today's fast-changing world. L&D professionals are responsible for designing, delivering and evaluating learning interventions that help employees acquire new skills, knowledge and behaviours that align with the organisation's goals and values.
However, L&D is not an easy task. It requires constant research, analysis, creativity and adaptation to meet the diverse and evolving needs of learners and stakeholders. To succeed in this role, L&D professionals need to have access to a variety of resources that can support them in their work and help them grow as practitioners.
In this blog post, we will share with you 10 must-have resources for organisational L&D professionals. These resources cover different aspects of L&D, such as instructional design, learning technologies, evaluation methods, professional development and more. They are not meant to be exhaustive or definitive, but rather to provide you with some inspiration and guidance for your own L&D journey.
1. The Association for Talent Development (ATD)
The ATD is the world's largest association dedicated to the field of talent development, which encompasses L&D, human resources, performance improvement and more. The ATD offers a wealth of resources for L&D professionals, such as publications, webinars, podcasts, conferences, courses, certifications and awards. The ATD also has a network of chapters and communities of practice that allow you to connect with other L&D professionals in your area or interest group. You can join the ATD as a member or access some of their resources for free on their website.
2. The E-Learning Guild
The eLearning Guild is a community of practice for e-learning professionals who design, develop and manage e-learning solutions. The eLearning Guild provides access to a variety of resources, such as research reports, white papers, webinars, online events, blogs, podcasts and newsletters. The eLearning Guild also organises the Learning Solutions Conference & Expo, the DevLearn Conference & Expo and the Realities360 Conference & Expo, which are some of the leading events in the e-learning industry. You can join the eLearning Guild as a member or access some of their resources for free on their website.
3. The Learning Performance Institute (LPI)
The LPI is a global body for learning professionals that aims to raise the standards and quality of learning provision across all sectors. The LPI offers a range of services and resources for L&D professionals, such as accreditation programmes, consultancy services, benchmarking tools, awards and recognition schemes and events. The LPI also publishes the Learning & Development Magazine (L&D), which is a quarterly publication that covers the latest trends and best practices in L&D. You can join the LPI as a member or access some of their resources for free on their website.
4. The Kirkpatrick Model
The Kirkpatrick Model is one of the most widely used and recognised models for evaluating the effectiveness of learning interventions. It was developed by Donald Kirkpatrick in the 1950s and consists of four levels of evaluation: reaction, learning, behaviour and results. The Kirkpatrick Model provides a framework for measuring not only what learners learn from an intervention, but also how they apply it in their work and how it impacts the organisation's performance. You can learn more about the Kirkpatrick Model on their website, where you can also find books, articles, webinars, podcasts and certification programmes.
5. The ADDIE Model
The ADDIE Model is one of the most commonly used models for designing and developing learning interventions. It was developed by various authors in the 1970s and stands for analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation. The ADDIE Model provides a systematic and iterative process for creating effective and efficient learning solutions that meet the needs of learners and stakeholders. You can find many resources on the ADDIE Model online, such as books, articles, videos and courses.
6. The 70:20:10 Model
The 70:20:10 Model is a learning framework that suggests that people learn best from a combination of different sources: 70% from experience (doing), 20% from exposure (observing) and 10% from education (formal training). It was developed by Morgan McCall,
Robert Eichinger and Michael Lombardo in the 1980s based on their research on successful managers. The 70:20:10 Model helps L&D professionals design learning solutions that leverage different types of learning opportunities and maximise transfer of learning to performance. You can find more information on the 70:20:10 Model on their website.
7. The Bloom's Taxonomy
The Bloom's Taxonomy is a classification system for learning objectives that was created by Benjamin Bloom and his colleagues in the 1950s. It consists of six levels of cognitive skills: remember, understand, apply, analyse, evaluate and create. The Bloom's Taxonomy helps L&D professionals define the learning outcomes and assessment criteria for their learning interventions. It also helps learners understand the expectations and requirements of their learning activities. You can find many resources on the Bloom's Taxonomy online, such as books, articles, videos and courses.
8. The Agile Learning Design
The Agile Learning Design is a methodology for designing and developing learning solutions that is inspired by the agile software development approach. It involves working in short iterations, collaborating with stakeholders, testing and refining prototypes, and delivering value incrementally. The Agile Learning Design helps L&D professionals create learning solutions that are responsive to changing needs, feedback and data. It also helps learners engage in active and iterative learning experiences that are relevant and meaningful. You can learn more about the Agile Learning Design on their website, where you can also find books, articles, webinars and courses.
9. The Learning Styles
The Learning Styles are a theory that suggests that people have different preferences for how they learn and process information. There are many models of learning styles, such as the VARK model (visual, auditory, reading/writing and kinesthetic), the Kolb's model (concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualisation and active experimentation) and the Honey and Mumford's model (activist, reflector, theorist and pragmatist). The Learning Styles help L&D professionals understand the diversity of learners and tailor their learning solutions to suit different preferences and needs. They also help learners identify their own strengths and weaknesses as learners and choose the most suitable learning strategies for themselves. You can find many resources on the Learning Styles online, such as books, articles, quizzes and tools.
10. The Social Learning Theory
The Social Learning Theory is a theory that explains how people learn from observing and interacting with others. It was developed by Albert Bandura in the 1970s and is based on four processes: attention, retention, reproduction and motivation. The Social Learning Theory helps L&D professionals design learning solutions that foster social interaction, collaboration and feedback among learners and others. It also helps learners develop their social skills, self-efficacy and self-regulation through modelling, imitation and reinforcement. You can find more information on the Social Learning Theory online, such as books, articles, videos and courses.
Comments