Training Package
Understand technological development in learning and development.
🎬 Contains VideosExplore how learning technologies and digital collaboration reshape L&D, and develop the judgement to assess their benefits, manage risks and adapt professional practice.
£3.00 per learner
Restricted package
Understand technological development in learning and development. is only available to approved organisations. Please contact Micro Learn Online for access.
Contact Micro Learn OnlineAbout this package
This package examines how technological development has changed the design and delivery of learning and development (L&D), from scheduled training events to connected learning platforms and resources available during work. It asks learners to judge technologies by their contribution to workplace learning rather than their novelty. The content considers how e-learning, learning management systems (LMS) and learning experience platforms (LXP) affect accessibility, flexibility, personalisation and learning effectiveness. Learners explore how open online courses, freely available resources and professional networks extend learning beyond an organisation’s own provision. Digital collaboration through communities, discussion forums, social media, webinars and virtual classrooms is considered in relation to participation, peer learning and knowledge sharing. The package also examines smartphones and microlearning as ways of providing help at the point of need. Virtual and augmented reality introduce opportunities for simulated practice and guidance in real settings, while artificial intelligence, including tools such as ChatGPT, raises questions about adaptive experiences, generated content and checking quality. A substantial part of the package addresses the risks of technology-based learning for organisations and learners. Topics include whole-life costs, suitability for learning needs, obsolescence, data protection, cyber security and staff misuse of information. Learners consider how to maintain proportionate oversight, secure management and learner support, and implement accessible systems. Ethical bring-your-own-device arrangements are examined alongside practical barriers such as shared equipment, digital confidence, self-direction and time for workplace learning. Risk mitigation includes policies, clear responsibilities, technical support, drop-in sessions and knowledge sharing. The final part focuses on the changing responsibilities of L&D professionals. It distinguishes short-lived knowledge of particular tools from capabilities that remain useful across technologies, and considers the shift towards performance consulting and stakeholder negotiation. Expectations of remote availability, security responsibilities and practitioner wellbeing are also addressed. The learning outcomes bring these strands together through risk mitigation and professional development planning, supporting informed, ethical and sustainable decisions about technology in L&D.
Who it’s for
This package suits L&D practitioners, learning designers and those studying L&D who need to evaluate technology choices and their implications for workplace learning. It is particularly relevant to people involved in planning digital learning, supporting learners or adapting their professional practice.
What’s covered
From scheduled training to connected learning platforms
Examines the move from classroom-centred events and standalone resources towards connected digital learning. Considers how platforms, people and workplace activities can support ongoing study, practice and access to help.
Open resources and social networks
Explores how MOOCs, openly available materials and professional networks bring external expertise into employee learning. Considers the implications for selecting resources, adapting materials where permitted and supporting peer knowledge sharing.
Smartphones and microlearning in the flow of work
Looks at how portable devices shorten the gap between encountering a workplace problem and finding learning support. Examines small-screen design and narrowly focused learning that fits around tasks.
Virtual and augmented reality
Distinguishes immersive virtual environments from digital information added to real-world settings. Evaluates their contribution to experiential learning, simulated practice and workplace performance.
Artificial intelligence and adaptive learning
Explores how AI can interpret responses, estimate learning needs and generate material during learning. Considers how this differs from predetermined rules and why designers need to check the accuracy and educational value of system outputs.
Financial value, learning suitability and obsolescence
Examines the risk of investing in technology that does not deliver the required workplace improvement or becomes unsuitable before its costs are recovered. Introduces whole-life costs and the assessment of learning needs, likelihood of failure and consequences.
Learner data, cyber security and staff misuse
Considers risks arising from unnecessary data collection, external attacks and inappropriate use of legitimate access. Examines personal information held in learning systems and the need for controls suited to each type of risk.
L&D oversight and stakeholder buy-in
Explores how to maintain quality and accountability when employees, platforms and external sources all contribute to learning. Considers proportionate quality assurance, responsibility for problems and support from managers and learners.
Accessible implementation and learner participation
Examines system access, integration, assistive technology and ethical bring-your-own-device arrangements. Connects these implementation issues with learners’ access to equipment, digital skills, self-direction, available time and personal-life boundaries.
Keeping professional capabilities current
Distinguishes knowledge tied to individual products from capabilities that transfer across technologies. Considers how changing tools affect development priorities and the need to review established working practices.
Changing roles, relationships and remote availability
Explores the shift from producing and delivering courses towards diagnosing performance needs and coordinating learning provision. Examines stakeholder negotiation, responsibility for educational quality and expectations of constant availability.
Practitioner security responsibilities and wellbeing
Examines the security responsibilities L&D practitioners can reasonably hold and when concerns require authorised specialists. Considers the wellbeing risks of prolonged and changing technology use and their implications for professional practice.
Learning outcomes
By completing this package, learners can:
- Compare past, present and emerging learning technologies, including e-learning, LMS and LXP platforms, MOOCs, mobile microlearning, virtual and augmented reality, and artificial intelligence, in terms of their capabilities and applications in L&D.
- Evaluate how technological development has changed the design and delivery of L&D over time, using examples to judge its effects on accessibility, flexibility, personalisation and learning effectiveness.
- Analyse how digital collaboration through learning communities, discussion forums, social media, webinars and virtual classrooms has changed learner participation, peer learning and knowledge sharing.
- Assess organisational risks and implementation challenges associated with technology-based learning, including cost-benefit, suitability for learning needs, obsolescence, system ownership, stakeholder buy-in and reduced control over learning processes.
- Evaluate data protection, cyber security and ethical risks associated with technology-based learning, including hacking, staff misuse, learner data collection and bring-your-own-device arrangements.
- Assess challenges technology-based learning presents for learners, including digital skills requirements, self-direction, access to devices and systems, time for workplace learning, accessibility and effects on personal life.
- Develop a risk mitigation plan for a technology-based learning initiative that specifies policies, risk assessment measures, responsibilities and learner support, including drop-in sessions and knowledge sharing.
- Assess how emerging learning technologies change the role of L&D professionals, including skills requirements, learning design responsibilities, stakeholder relationships, remote availability, security and wellbeing.
- Formulate a professional development plan that prioritises the skills and working practices L&D professionals need to adopt emerging technologies effectively, ethically and sustainably.
What’s included
A deployable SCORM package with practical learning content, ready for your LMS.
How it works
Add access, upload the package to your LMS, and pay per learner who uses it.
Frequently asked questions
Which learning technologies does the package cover?
It covers e-learning, LMS and LXP platforms, MOOCs, open resources, online communities, social networks, webinars, virtual classrooms, smartphones and microlearning. It also examines virtual and augmented reality and artificial intelligence, including tools such as ChatGPT.
Does the package address the risks of using technology for learning?
Yes. It examines financial value, obsolescence, suitability for learning needs, data protection, cyber security, staff misuse and stakeholder commitment. Learner risks include access barriers, digital skills, self-direction, limited workplace learning time and effects on personal life.
How does the package relate to the changing role of L&D professionals?
It considers changing skills requirements, performance consulting, learning design and stakeholder relationships. It also addresses remote availability, the limits of practitioners’ security responsibilities and wellbeing in digitally intensive work.
How is the package delivered?
The Micro Learn Online e-learning package is uploaded to your organisation’s own LMS, where learners access the content. It contains no video.
Does the package support practical planning?
Yes. Its learning outcomes include developing a risk mitigation plan with policies, responsibilities and learner support, and formulating a professional development plan for adopting emerging learning technologies effectively, ethically and sustainably.