Like many people, you may be considering levelling up or supersizing your skillset in order to keep up with an increasingly fast-moving world. While this is absolutely a great idea you might be put off by the thought of hours spent in a classroom or having to get to grips with hyper-speed TikTok tutors and time-sucking gamification processes. If that’s the case, we’ll stop you right there - the good news is that adult learners like you are now turning to micro-courses which offer bite-sized education in easy-to-digest chunks; meaning that your learning enhances your life rather than taking it over.
Graduation marks a milestone, not the finish line of learning
So you’ve graduated - well done you - but learning doesn’t, and shouldn’t, end there. In a world that doesn’t stand still, neither should your education if you don’t want to get left behind and, in fact, a recent Gallup poll reported that a shocking
47% of employees feel that a lack of skills is stopping them from achieving their goals. Today, forward thinking employers know that their strength lies in their people - and that people power comes from continuous learning. These savvy businesses are making sure that their staff are the cream of the crop by offering low-stress micro-courses to upskill employees and keep them engaged and invested in the business in a rapidly evolving environment.
Affordable, accessible and actually useful
OK, I know what you’re thinking - this stuff’s going to be expensive right? Nope. The great thing about micro-learning is that all you need is a good wifi connection; no classrooms, no overpaid lecturers and, most importantly, no downtime.
From vital IT skills to cracking communication skills, the range of courses is as wide and varied as your pain points without the hefty price tag of traditional education. Accessible to all, these courses can be particularly empowering for those who aren’t starting out with the benefit of formal or further education and those looking to switch careers while still keeping the bills paid.
Yes, security is a thing - but let’s not panic
“But, the internet is a minefield of cybercrime isn’t it?” I hear ya and, yes, the digital world does have its risks but these are not insurmountable. Cybersecurity is a lot simpler than you might think and protecting your learning space is often about common sense. You wouldn’t leave the house in the morning without locking your doors and making sure that the windows are shut and the same goes for your internet use. This is all about employers and employees, course providers and students working together to minimise the risk of crime such as
School phishing.
The reality is that the cyber crooks are getting more sophisticated and reports show that ransomware has snaked its way into 79% of educational institutions in the last twelve months; so what to do? Security should be everybody’s responsibility and this works by:
- Teaching users about the red flags they need to look out for such as fake login pages
- Using two-factor authentication (a nuisance? Yes. Effective? Absolutely)
- Running simulations of scams to demonstrate the dangers
- Keeping systems updated to keep the door slammed shut on hackers
- Taking security into account when choosing a platform
- Having a rock solid back-up plan in place should a problem occur
- Monitoring unusual activity like logins happening at weird times or unusual locations
- Keeping access confined to those who actually need it
Evolving technology demands evolving protections
Learning within a digital space can be a bit like a game of cops and robbers - Every advance in technology for students is matched step for step by the baddies, making security more of a challenge. For education providers and employers, this means investing in proper encryption and monitoring as well as making adaptive security processes part of the teaching process.
The dream team of improved security plus more informed learners is the best way to keep your assets protected and ensure that students are confident and supported every step of the way
The power of small, impactful moments
So, here’s a fact for you - according to LinkedIn’s research, employees who spend just 1% of their working week on learning new stuff are 30% more likely to become high performers. Pretty impressive right? This is the beauty of micro-courses; by offering fuss-free learning that can be completed during a lunch break or even on the train home, employees can take control of their own professional future - one manageable chunk at a time.
There’s absolutely no doubt that there are
too many benefits to ignore when it comes to professional online business training and these include value for money, accessibility and a more enjoyable way of packing skills under your belt; from upgraded technical know-how to discovering the latest marketing techniques. As we’ve mentioned, any time spent online brings with it inherent risk but this can be managed through proactive security protocols such as secure login processes, encrypted platforms and better overall digital awareness.
Empowered education goes hand in hand with security
Micro-courses are fast becoming the intelligent choice for adult learning and offer freedom and flexibility as well as more options than traditional learning. As long as providers and learners work together to keep those doors and windows locked, skill-building through this relaxed and enjoyable method can take students and employees on a journey towards a more successful future.
If you'd like to learn more about what we provide, why not take a look at how we can help?
Boost your skills with our market-leading online courses at super-low prices.
