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COVID-19 Is Accelerating the Digital Blending of Working and Learning

edsurge | June 20, 2020

In the last few months the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world and triggered an economic plunge in the U.S. that is now officially a recession. Even before this crisis, concerns were rising about a potential loss of jobs and the rising demand for digital skills due to technologies such as automation and AI. Now that potential is even greater, since historically recessions tend to accelerate automation and the long-term loss of jobs in routine occupations. And because of social distancing, we find ourselves living in world that is even more digital–and the evidence of that shift is all around us. Knowledge work has moved online as professionals work remotely. E-commerce purchases of all types have surged. Restaurants have rapidly shifted to online and mobile ordering, and are speeding up the deployment of digital kiosks that replace human workers. Retailers such as The Gap are accelerating the adoption of robots in their warehouses.

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Nowadays, we see many organizations blending their instructor-led trainings with e-learning. What makes blended learning so popular and effective? Blended learning allows employees to learn from geographically dispersed locations, at their own pace, and gives them an opportunity to interact with their peers during virtual training sessions.

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Online Safety in the Age of Digital Learning

prnewswire | September 02, 2020

From video-based lessons to browsing their favorite websites, children in 2020 have different levels of experience with technology. Regardless of their expertise, prepare to discuss online safety with them. Consider the following tips from USAGov when teaching kids about staying safe online.Talk to Kids About Their Online Activity: Don't wait for your kids to come to you. Use everyday events like news stories or tv shows to start conversations about online safety. Get to know the websites your kids are using and who they are in touch with online. Encourage them to talk to you if they feel threatened or uncomfortable.

Elana Noetzel Joins O'Donnell Learn to Lead Learning Design Product Development

O'Donnell Learn | June 24, 2020

Elana Noetzel is taking on the role of Vice President of Learning Design Product Development, a newly created position at leading design firm, O'Donnell Learn.Noetzel's first initiative is leading the development of LX Accelerate, a suite of new technology-based services, currently underway at O'Donnell Learn. Begun in response to internal market research, industry trends and client insights, LX Accelerate will help higher education institutions build momentum around transforming online and blended learning experiences."While O'Donnell Learn didn't develop LX Accelerate in response to COVID-19 [development began in mid-2019], the crisis certainly highlighted the need for it," Noetzel shares. "Faculty were tasked with quickly moving their courses to the virtual environment and most have no training. Their expertise is in their field of study. LX Accelerate provides the tools for higher ed institutions to support and empower their faculty to create engaging, effective learning experiences around their expertise."Noetzel's 20-year career spans many facets of education, including academic and online publishing, content development, instructional design and product development. Most recently, she leveraged her expertise as Senior Director Web Strategy and Business for education and technology company, Cengage. Prior, Noetzel co-founded learning platform Cafe Learn, where she led instructional design and product development.

AI Will Define Education in the Post-Pandemic Era

IBM | June 01, 2020

In the last two months, the COVID-19 outbreak has forced at least 124,000 U.S. public and private schools in the United States to close under stay-at-home orders, requiring over 55 million students and educators to adopt digital learning as the new normal.Digital learning, also known as e-learning, is not new. Many high school and college students take academic courses online. Even for younger students and continuous learners, private online learning has been a trend for years through mobile tutoring apps and digital learning platforms. Still, that doesn’t mean digital learning is the same now as it was when it started – and it won’t be the same after the coronavirus pandemic is over, thanks to the incorporation of artificial intelligence.