In today’s rapidly changing workplace, strong learning programs are key to supporting employee development. In a new report from Udemy, Making Learning Work For Everyone: A Leader’s Guide to Understanding The 5 Learner Profiles, the company provides insight for companies on how they can implement personalized learning tracks suited to each of their employees’ different motivations and modes of learning.
Devoted Learner (18%): Self-directed and self-motivated, devoted learners pursue learning independently. They have an insatiable curiosity, and you will often see them exploring ways to learn more. This type of learner thrives in an environment that includes all types and styles of learning resources. Success for devoted learners is defined by the vast amount of knowledge they have accumulated.
Social Learner (23%): Social learners are goal-oriented and extrinsically motivated by recognition, teamwork etc. Their strengths emerge when they are put in group learning settings where there is a lot of interaction with peers and being inspired by one another. Feedback is highly valued to help motivate them through the competitive aspects of learning. Their results are driven by their connections and visible success.
Confident Learner (24%): Confident learners are proactive and they see challenges face-to-face. They will seek out learning environments in which they are challenged with difficult tasks and complex problems to solve. These learners are very self-sufficient and they view success in terms of how well they can overcome barriers to mastery. Confident learners perform better in environments that support independence and critical thought.
Emerging Learners (19%): Emerging learners are gaining confidence and like things to be very clear in the direction they should take. They thrive with specific direction and reinforcement as they explore fresh learning opportunities. For emerging learners, success is a function of their own growth and the baby steps they take regularly. They need stable environments with constant support and positive feedback to build their sense of self-efficacy, in-turn sharpening their skills.
Practical Learners (16%): These learners prefer comfort and structure as opposed to challenges. They like to consume information that is more cut and dried, things they can go back to work the next day and apply directly to their jobs. Practical learners learn about real-world applications and define success by how useful they are in their day-to-day tasks. This type of learner tends to do well in structured environments with crisp, plain (practical) and “use as you learn” resources.
By understanding these learning styles and the unique traits associated with each, employers can design training to fit individual learning styles and preferences. In this way, devoted learners along with social, confident, emerging, and practical learners in different roles, can help foster a naturally inclusive learning environment that is bound to breed higher productivity. This not only supports the growth of individuals but also helps foster strong and agile organizations.
Lin Grensing-Pophal is a Contributing Editor at HR Daily Advisor.
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