Made to measure: An adaptive learning approach for the energy transition
Editor's note: This article first appeared in the 2023 Executive Perspectives Special Report, which published within the November/December 2023 issue of Offshore magazine.
By Marco Vanin, RelyOn Nutec UK
As the industry moves toward a greener energy mix, news of increasingly wide skills gaps are filling the headlines. With the UK government even stepping in to support, there’s no denying the issue at hand. But companies don't need to follow the same pattern. As the energy sector adapts, the industry must evolve how it trains its workforces.
An adaptive approach brings the advantages of consistent training standards, while combining different types of training methods, such as classroom instruction, on-the-job training and eLearning, to tailor the perfect fit for each individual member of the workforce, ensuring the highest levels of safety and competence, while also getting more out of corporate training budgets.
By incorporating numerous training methods into their programs, tailored to delegates’ individual needs and experience, all areas of the energy industry can create a more holistic and effective way of training their employees—quickly filling the growing skills gap.
Alterations to eLearning of the past
For years, and even more so in a post-pandemic world, eLearning has been a popular tool in a company’s arsenal for ensuring the competency of its workforce for its basic safety training. However, traditional eLearning has not kept up with the technological advances of today’s world. Its inflexible approach means that it can leave gaps and doesn’t best complement classroom and practical training.
To maximize the true potential of learning via a computer-based training (CBT) platform, companies must look for a more data-led and individualized approach, infusing eLearning platforms with computing power and modern tech algorithms to build on the foundations of eLearning, but with even more power and purpose.
Not only this, but a revised attitude to eLearning allows users to future-proof themselves for new demographics in an evolving industry. With a generational shift on the horizon, businesses must understand the differences in how a new, younger workforce will best digest information.
Lining up the parts
By taking an adaptive approach, learning is tailored to individual needs and, when bolstered with its "real-world" counterpart, this leads to higher engagement and enhanced retention of knowledge.
The data and analytics from adaptive learning also means that trainees receive real-time feedback. No need to wait around while a teacher gets their red pen out; learners can immediately identify areas where they may need more practice or clarification from an instructor.
By taking an adaptive approach, businesses and self-funded learners can reduce the cost of training, which has often been a barrier to entry. By eliminating the need for face-to-face training and reducing the amount of time spent on training, cost-effective training can be delivered, without scrimping on quality.
A success story
Since its adoption at Massachusetts Maritime Academy in June 2021, RelyOn Nutec UK's adaptive approach has been proven to reduce time to mastery by up to 50%. An adaptive learning platform not only allows businesses to cut the time spent on theoretical training, but it also highlights knowledge gaps and eliminates memory decay by collecting in-depth data on each delegate’s actual knowledge compared to their perceived knowledge. These insights are fed back to the learner, their instructor and the training provider to offer a transparent view of the delegate’s level of awareness and competence for any given topic.
A data-led approach means training providers can continually assess and update the content of their courses, basing material and teaching styles on evidence of past student performance.
Bespoke training for a better future
Overall, adaptive learning can be an effective training method for hazardous industries by providing personalized training to enhance safety and improve job performance. The historic approach to eLearning isn’t fit to serve a diverse and blossoming workforce, but with a revitalized, data-led proposal to consider, the energy industry can transform how it trains now and in the future.
