May 2015 – EVALS.NET

The Future of Learning Development

We live in a world where technology plays an important role in our everyday lives. We are either on a computer, tablet, or smartphone for a good part of the day. This interaction with technology is only going to increase in the future. These technologies are being utilized by organizations to train their employees in an interactive learning environment. 91% of learning development leaders think learning technologies should enable a quicker response to changing business conditions and organizational change. [1] Technology will not only create a better way to disseminate information to employees through training, but it will improve an organization’s overall working conditions and enable positive change.

In 2015 98% of organizations are predicted to use E-Learning courses as part of their learning strategy. [2]
By 2016 98% of organizations are predicted to use video as part of their digital learning strategy. [2]

These statistics are important for organizations to ensure that they have the right learning development staff in place to incorporate these new technologies. Unfortunately many organizations are finding that their learning development teams are not qualified to implement these new technologies. According to the Worldwide Mobile Learning Market three out of five organizations cannot implement a technology enabled learning strategy due to lack of skills. [1]

Only 49% of organizations have the Instructional Design skills they need. [1]
Only 28% of organizations have a Learning Development staff confident in using new media in learning design. [1]
Only 31% have staff who are capable of developing digital content in-house. [1]

This lack of skilled staff is the reason organizations need to hire the right individuals to head their learning development departments, so they can implement a technology enabled learning strategy. This will enable their employees to receive the highest quality training possible and give them the ability to enhance the business conditions and implement organizational changes in an effective and timely manner. Make sure your organization is ahead of the curve and ready to meet the needs of your employees and customers by adopting these new technologies.

The Ambient insight 2012-2017 Worldwide Mobile Learning Market – Executive Report.
The Ambient insight 2012-2017 Worldwide Mobile Learning Market – Longitudinal Trends.

EVALS Attends the SMUD/APPA Lineman Rodeo

The APPA Lineworkers Rodeo is the ultimate venue for utility workers to showcase their skills and knowledge. This year it was hosted by SMUD, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, and held at Gibson Ranch on May 16th. Journeyman and apprentice lineworkers competed in 10 separate events such as the Hurtman Rescue, Deadend Transfer, and 4kV Crossarm Changeout. However, the Rodeo is not all about the competition, it also helps bring Lineworkers together in order to attend training courses and practice safety, exactly what EVALS prides itself on.

EVALS partnership with SMUD has brought forth a new era in the use of our product, enabling utility companies to train their employees in a more efficient manner. We were honored to share booth space with them at the Rodeo and meet some great attendees from all over the world. Many of those that visited us in the booth saw great value in EVALS as they too are searching for ways to bring technology to training in the utility industry. EVALS is proud to be a partner in the courses offered by SMUD Power Academy (SPA) as they bring their world class training to other utility districts and happily take us along with them. SMUD recently completed its two-week Climbing School using the EVALS platform, customized to their needs, and it was a great success for students and instructors.

We would like to thank all parties involved, including SMUD, SPA, APPA, and those of you who stopped by the booth.

www.SMUD.org

www.publicpower.org

Thank You FDIC

Attending The World’s Largest Firefighter Training Conference and Exhibition, FDIC, in Indianapolis was an experience I won’t soon forget. Having never been to FDIC or the city of Indianapolis before, I really didn’t know what to expect. I am happy to say, I was overly pleased by both.

My first interaction with the people of Indianapolis was my Uber driver who gave me a bit of a history lesson during our ride into town. Along the drive he pointed out spots of interest, fun things to do and how 2016 will be the 200 year anniversary of the city. As excited as this fella seemed to be with his city, he was equally excited to share with me how there was going to be over 30,000 firefighters in town for a fire fighting conference. I was incredibly honored knowing I was one of those 30,000.

The purpose of our trip to FDIC was to showcase the EVALS Training Platform within the Wolfpack Solutions exhibit booth space. Having done this earlier in the year at the Firehouse World Conference, I was excited knowing our booth would be staffed by dedicated, passionate people who collectively create a vibe that is contagious. All of the companies in the Wolfpack booth are firefighter owned, providing solutions, made by firefighters for the Fire Service!

Between booth set up on day one and booth tear down on day five were three incredible days of exhibit hall madness. I stood beside an incredible group of people, sharing innovative, industry-changing, products to some of the most influential members of the Fire Service.

We discovered that the frustrations we experience on the West Coast are no different on the East. We all want to be the best firefighters we can, we want our training solutions to be beneficial for all members of the organization, we want to leverage technology, but also get back onto the drill-ground and out of the office (away from check-box training).

The buzz we created in Indianapolis has followed us home and the past few weeks have been busy with follow-up and training for our new clients.

I’d like to thank FDIC, the City of Indianapolis and the whole group within the Wolfpack Solutions booth for making our first FDIC conference such a memorable and successful one. We look forward to what the future holds!