In the modern workplace, new technologies are changing how we communicate, learn, and get things done hrtech news. These technologies are forcing talent development (TD) professionals to embrace, test, and adopt them to advance their careers and the performance of employees and the organizations they serve. ATD’s 2020 Trends in Learning Technology, a new volume by ATD Press, provides a glimpse into several popular trends and gives insight into how they can be used to impact human performance in organizations hrtech.
“As a talent development professional, it’s important to stay current on new technologies and to constantly assess what can be useful for your TD function, but it can be challenging to do that,” says Justin Brusino, editor of this book and director of content for ATD. “There’s a lot of noise and hype out there. We wanted to produce a book that could be a quick guide for TD professionals to review the potential and limitations on some of these new technologies, trends, and ideas.”
ATD’s 2020 Trends in Learning Technology includes chapters by seven technology experts who examine a different trend and look at what impact each has had and might have in the future:
- Microlearning by Shannon Tipton
- Podcasting by Mike Lentz
- User Experience Design by Becca Wilson
- xAPI by Sarah Mercier and Sean Putman
- Artificial Intelligence by JD Dillon
- Augmented and Virtual Reality by Destery Hildenbrand.
Capping off the volume is a chapter on talent development’s role in the changing, technology-driven business landscape by Brandon Carson.
“While this book focuses on technology, it’s important to remember that technology is only a tool,” says Brusino. “It’s fun and exciting, but without a purpose, technology is meaningless. Fortunately, the best uses of technology can bring us even closer as humans—by putting us in someone else’s shoes through virtual reality, making content more accessible to all, or enabling workers to achieve their best potential through effective learning. The theme of this book may be technology, but the element that ties all the technology together is people.”
TD professionals must continually assess their technology toolbox. Given the pace of change and disruption, a regular review and evaluation of new technologies is a best practice. ATD’s 2020 Trends in Learning Technology is a timely resource for today’s future-focused professionals.
