STLE goes small on education
Edward P. Salek, CAE, Executive Director | TLT Headquarters Report November 2018
Trend spotters view micro learning as the future of professional development.
Members like STLE’s online Learning Pathways program because it allows them to advance at their own speed. Pathways includes Webinars, short courses, articles, in-person courses and book chapters.
© Can Stock Photo / diego_cervo
STLE is all about technical education. That’s why learning is designated as one of the three pillars of our value proposition: Connect, Learn, Achieve. As a result, STLE is considered the foremost provider of non-commercial technical education to the lubrication field.
What people learn through our organization will always be STLE’s primary consideration. But how people choose to learn continues to change for workers and needs careful consideration, according to experts in the field of professional development and education.
The ASAE Foundation, a nonprofit entity that provides future-oriented research for the association profession, has identified 46 drivers of change important to organizations like STLE. A portion of the research deals with content, learning and knowledge and looks at how this might affect how people will learn, network and gain new information in the future.
One of the predicted changes refers to a shifting preference for what’s known as micro learning. The report defines it as follows: “Workers will need to continually learn, but many want small, specific bursts of information tied to immediate job demands, available at a time of their choosing.” There’s an emphasis on content delivery systems becoming increasingly interactive, online and mobile.
STLE has already moved in that direction with the introduction in 2018 of the free 365 Mobile App. It can turn your mobile phone or tablet into a powerful micro learning delivery system. As the name implies, users can get access to the society’s vast selection of technical content just about anywhere or anytime the need arises.
A delayed flight or late appointment changes from an inconvenience into a micro learning opportunity to explore the latest issue of TLT or to pull out headphones and power through one of the hundreds of technical Webinars available on the 365 App. Go to
www.stle.org for more details and download instructions.
Another aspect of the trend deals with organization of information. According to the ASAE report, “Systems will be needed to identify the needed micro modules in a field of study, highlight prerequisites, track completion and incorporate the modules into sequences of certification. Sophisticated systems for learners to find and retrieve modules will also be required.”
STLE has created such a system and labeled it the Learning Pathways project. In simple terms, Learning Pathways is an online resource library for lubrication industry professionals to help align and target their education and career development needs. Pathways include educational resources that have been peer-reviewed and organized by topic area and level of expertise. Included are Webinars, short courses, articles, in-person courses and book chapters.
People who are already using this new resource like its flexibility (you can learn at your own pace anywhere you have a device that can access the Internet), its accessibility (online technical resources are available 24/7) and usefulness as a guide through the information needed for STLE certification.
For more information, see the Learning Pathways quick guide available at
www.stle.org.
While micro learning looks likely to grow in popularity, the report also points to some uncertainties that could become stumbling blocks to widespread adoption. One of these is the question of how to avoid poor teaching and make sure that information provided is credible and accurate.
For people in the tribology and lubricants industry, the solution is obvious. Go with a reliable source like STLE for your education. You’ll be getting curated content that’s peer reviewed by global experts. That’s a big deal, even if the education comes in a micro package.
You can reach Certified Association Executive Ed Salek at esalek@stle.org.