Upskilling is the key to success in the rapid changing world of work. One way to prepare the workforce for the future is using the learning pathways technique.
Learning pathways are goal-oriented steps of instructional experiences designed to foster growth. When learning paths are designed thoughtfully, it will reduce analysis paralysis and time waste.

Learning pathways

Learning pathways are an efficient way to overcome skills gaps within an organization, making the best use of an existing talent pool without the hassle of recruiting and hiring. Well-designed learning pathways cut through the noise by offering a clear series of steps to help employees reach their goals. It leads learners so that they know where they're going and are eager to get there.

The rise of learning pathways

Learning pathways can be an effective tool for unlocking the untapped potential of the talent already existing within the organisation. When L&D ensure to offer a variety of learning pathways to choose from in an on-demand format, it gives employees agency in their professional development. In this low-pressure environment, all members of an organisation can take ownership of improving their skillsets.

Designing learning pathways

<ul><li>Select high-quality resources. L&D teams should know the best-in-class content providers.</li><li>Include a mix of content, such as articles, videos, podcasts, and infographics. </li><li>Building learning scaffolds. </li><li>Communicate relevance. People are more motivated when learning is highly relevant to them.</li><li>Keep learners motivated by celebrating milestones.</li><li>Promote new learning pathways. Prepare promotional materials that convey the value of the pathway.</li></ul>

Best practices for designing learning pathways

L&D teams should stay in the know on what is the best-in-class content providers. YouTube and TikTok offers millions of videos with basic to advanced lessons on every imaginable skillset. Learners have developed expectations of what constitutes premium quality content.

Select high-quality resources

There are several ways to deliver content, such as articles, videos, podcasts, and infographics. Offering content in a variety of formats caters to a wide range of learning preferences and will keep learners engaged for longer.

Include a mix of content

People only remember information if they understand how it fits into a scaffold of prior knowledge. Learning pathways can help employees build on previous knowledge when it is offered in a microlearning format, short, incremental bursts that allow learners to take breaks and easily return to the information.

Build learning scaffolds

People are more motivated when learning is highly relevant to them and when they understand what they will gain from it.
At the beginning of the pathway, ensure that learners know what they will accomplish throughout the path. Relevance can be linked to job tasks and business objectives.

Communicate relevance

Designers of learning pathways can incorporate ways to celebrate learners' milestones.
For example, learners might receive a digital badge or downloadable certificate they can add to their resumes and include on LinkedIn or a professional portfolio when completing a course.

Keep learners motivated

After developing a learning pathway, launch it by sending out organization-wide emails and preparing promotional materials that shows the value of the pathway.
Share what opportunities could result from mastering the skill.

Promote new learning pathways

Learning pathways can prepare employees to take on greater responsibility, qualify for a new role, or cultivate better habits to improve their performance.

Learning pathways are goal-oriented sequences of instructional experiences designed to foster growth.

Stashed ideas

How to use learning pathways to close skills gaps

The global youth employment crisis has implications for social stability and equality that exceed anything we have experienced in our history.1.3 billion youth are about to attempt to enter the workforce. As more entry-level jobs are automated, businesses and policymakers need to work together to ensure young people have the skills they need.

The global youth employment crisis

<ul><li>36% of CEOs said they were focused on improving productivity through technology and automation.</li><li>Nearly one-quarter of youth ages 18 to 24 stopped working during the pandemic, and many others had their hours and income slashed, likely because they were working in highly affected sectors.</li><li>Four high-impact actions governments and businesses can take to reverse the trend.</li></ul>

Jobs historically held by the young are at risk of being automated

<ul><li>Build a pipeline of workers suitably trained for the future labor market that requires both digital and relational skills.</li><li>National skills maps should include standardized definitions and methods that measure whether or not a skill has been learned.</li><li>Leverage corporate training outside of corporations.</li><li>By pairing elements from best-of-class corporate programs with a government-led national policy framework, stakeholders can jointly help establish a high-quality national skills development program that is germane to national and local populations and efficiently achieves scale.</li></ul>

Understand what skills your organization or country needs

Creating a global or national verification system enables employers to identify the most useful skills for their current employees and set up new hires for success by indicating what additional training they should consider.A national system built on a technology platform such as a distributed ledger or Blockchain will help employees track and store their skill base and provide employers with a trusted and easily verifiable assessment method.

Build a national digital skills verification trust

Insight, access, and trustThese are informational problems that can be addressed by concerted, large-scale investments in skill mapping, measurement, verification, prediction, and development enginesThe means for building out these platforms are all at hand, and much promising work has already started

Philanthropic investments and layouts help, but do not address the core problem

As more entry-level jobs are automated, businesses and policymakers need to work together to ensure young people have the skills they need.

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How to use learning pathways to close skills gaps

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#skillsgap

IDEAS ABOUT #skillsgap

How to use learning pathways to close skills gaps

4 Ways to Bridge the Global Skills Gap

It's time to

READ

LIKE

A PRO!

Bite-sized knowledge
to upgrade
your career