Workforce Development Executives Tackle Challenges Presented by New World of Work

<p>During three days of executive-level sessions, they discussed the challenges of delivering development to widely dispersed and diverse global audiences and shared new techniques and tools for doing it more effectively. </p>

<p>“Once again, inspiring keynote presentations highlighted the conference and provided attendees with actionable strategies they could apply in their own organizations,” said Mike Prokopeak, senior vice president and editorial director of MediaTec Publishing Inc., which publishes Chief Learning Officer magazine. “One universal takeaway was the importance of closing the gap between the content and delivery of learning and employees’ unique learning styles, preferences and motivations. Customizing learning experiences is rapidly becoming a critical imperative for any enterprise feeling the far-reaching effects of today’s new business realities.”</p>

<p>Day two of the Symposium, for example, opened with a keynote presentation from Elliott Masie, founder and president of The MASIE Center, a highly regarded think tank focused on how organizations can better support learning and knowledge. A futurist, analyst, researcher and thought leader on the topics of corporate learning, business collaboration and emerging technologies, Masie led Symposium attendees in an interactive “conversation” charting new trends and learning directions in the corporate environment for 2013 and beyond.</p>
 
<p>Contrasting the passive approach of the past&mdash;scheduled events and traditional classroom learning&mdash;with today’s myriad options for when, how and on what device people access content, he urged workforce development practitioners to use new technologies to create more personalized learning experiences that suit individual situations and meet individual needs, as well as corporate objectives.</p>

<p>Reinforcing this approach, keynote speaker Tamara J. Erickson, author of <em>What’s Next, Gen X?</em>, emphasized the importance of understanding what fundamentally motivates people&mdash;and how it varies by generation and geography&mdash;when structuring learning programs. She said getting to the root of the issue requires an understanding of the type of environment different groups of learners were raised in and what external factors&mdash;social, economic, political and cultural&mdash;may have influenced them and shaped their view of life and work.</p>

<p>Prokopeak and the magazine’s editors used the theme “Home on the Range: Learning for a Globalized Workforce” to craft the CLO Symposium program. The high-level agenda also featured panel discussions, workshops and “feet on the ground” presentations by L&D practitioners who are deploying best practices for making learning more accessible and effective at their organizations.</p>

<p>Learning industry executives who were unable to attend the live event in Austin can access all the workshops, keynotes, panel discussions and presentations they missed by attending the Spring 2013 CLO Symposium: Virtual Edition online, April 15-18, via Human Capital Media Television (HCM-TV). Registration for this free virtual event is now open at <a href=”http://clomedia.com/events/view/spring-2013-clo-symposium-virtual-edition” target=”_blank”>clomedia.com/events/view/spring-2013-clo-symposium-virtual-edition</a>. </p>
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<p><strong>ABOUT MEDIATEC</strong>
<br />MediaTec Publishing Inc. is a leading integrated media company serving the human capital, management and workforce development industries. The company’s Human Capital Media (HCM) Group publishes Chief Learning Officer, Diversity Executive, Talent Management and Workforce Management magazines. The HCM Group also operates two widely referenced online industry resources, HumanCapitalMedia.com and Workforce.com. MediaTec leverages its award-winning editorial content with innovative integrated media products, including targeted newsletters, webinars, interactive websites, special print and online supplements, resource guides, industry research and benchmarking, a vendor directory as well as conferences that bring together international audiences to network and discuss leading-edge strategy and best practices in the industry. MediaTec partners with recognized industry experts and provides thought-provoking feature articles, news, opinions and insights through its award-winning publications, events and e-media and gives readers the business intelligence and knowledge they need to succeed in new and changing markets. </p>

<p><strong>Contact: </strong>
<br />Norm Kamikow
<br />President and Editor in Chief
<br />MediaTec Publishing Inc.
<br />312-676-9900
<br />Norm@mediatecpub.com</p>
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