Why Learning Bursts?

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In today’s world in the midst of a recession companies have trimmed their labor forces while keeping or expanding the same level of service and product offerings. This places stress on an already task saturated workforce who simply cannot afford time away from the job for training. Couple that with new skills and capabilities needed to meet market demands along with reduced training budgets and the need for a different and cost effective way to deliver training has risen.

Learning Bursts puts the needs of the participant first. While many employees can no longer afford days away from the job for training they can find 20 minutes a day to learn something new related to their job. They need it on their schedule not that of the training department. They want "bursts" of training to be independent of each other - don't require them to wade through dozens of learning experiences to get to the one they need.

The Benefits from Learning Bursts

The advantages of using Learning Bursts within corporate training plans/curricula are:

• Mobile - learning can be taken anywhere and not tied to a computer or the Internet. The 2 components of a Learning Burst are an audio segment (in mp3 format) and a workbook chapter (in a pdf or e-reader format). Once they download the course materials to their personal device, learners are untethered from the computer and can take training when and where they want to. Some examples of how students take Learning Bursts: (1) listen to audio each night while doing the dishes then read the workbook on the couch when the children have gone to bed, (2) in the morning while on the treadmill, or (3) listen to audio segment while walking between meetings on a large campus then reading the workbook chapter during the afternoon coffee break.
• Flexible and focused - Learning Bursts are designed as a single topic per burst. Learning Bursts are designed so that they can be taken in any order - each burst is a standalone "micro" course. With a single topic the learner focuses in on that one thing to master thus allowing them to narrow their attention and concentrate on that topic.
• No new technology is needed - Learning Bursts use mp3, pdf, and Java files (for simulations). There are numerous free (open source) software for developing each of these formats. In terms of delivery, all mobile and computer devices can play/view these formats. There is no need to invest in a sophisticated Learning Management System. Learning Burst files run on any device and operating system making it easy to distribute and support.
• Cheaper than classroom training - travel, facility costs, food, printing materials, etc. are all eliminated making Learning Bursts an attractive alternative.