What is an office learning zone?

what is

an office learning zone?

Incorporating a dedicated learning zone in the office for training and development empowers employees to learn new skills. This is important as according to Gallup, 87% of millennials believe development is essential in a job. Similarly, LinkedIn found that 93% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their careers.

Learning zones demonstrate that learning is valued and encouraged, creating a positive working environment that supports the businesses’ growth. Not only does this encourage new talent to join the business, but it promotes business loyalty and boosts productivity too.

This space entwines development into everyday tasks, giving employees access to learning materials at any time. This also fosters autonomy as employees will be responsible for their own development rather than relying on their managers.

The learning zone can be used for: o Business announcements o Strategic planning o Onboarding new employees o Helping employees learn a software or skill o Internal and external presentations o Teamwork building o Webinars

Although it’s not a collaboration space, it does facilitate teamwork as employees can complete a training course together. Enabling group discussions can help employees retain knowledge and brainstorm ideas. It also minimises cost as employees won’t need to travel to training centres.

What does a learning zone look like? Everyone learns differently so it’s important to create a learning space that caters to all activities such as discussion, watching videos, presentations and team building. As the intention of the space will vary, implementing flexible and adaptable furniture and technology that can be moved are key. For example, teams may prefer to sit in a circle for group discussion whereas a U shape or rows of desks would be more beneficial for presentations.

Furthermore, for some team members, presenting and discussing can be daunting. The learning zone should cultivate a comfortable atmosphere where employees feel confident to share ideas and are unafraid to make mistakes.

Discussion and collaboration There should be a comfortable space to share ideas and different perspectives. This can be achieved through sofas or small tables and chairs arranged in a circle, so everyone is equal.

Self-development This may include shadowing a colleague, leading a new project, reading industry texts or mentoring others. Reading nooks and private desks with dividers are useful for employees that prefer to learn alone.

Team building Team building activities improve communication, problem-solving and team dynamics. Employees will likely have to move around so the space needs to be big enough for comfort and social distancing.

What technology is needed in a learning zone? For training videos, webinars and presentations, the learning zone requires Ultra-HD large format displays that feature anti-glare technology and superb viewing angles, ensuring that all employees are engaged.

These displays should be easy to connect to and navigate as employees won’t feel inspired to learn if the technology is a hassle. Employees should be able to connect, display and present to an audience straight away without worrying about the technology. Additionally, accessing a learning management system should be intuitive and user-friendly.

The learning zone is used for a variety of activities so the technology should support every situation. Accessories such as projectors, mounts, trolleys and HDMI extenders ensure maximum connectivity and accessibility.

Document solutions are also beneficial as employees may need to print out reading material, certificates or activity workbooks. As it may have to facilitate whole departments at once, the solutions should be efficient in high-demanding spaces.

The learning zone powers the business through constant learning and development. It encourages employees to invest in themselves and creates an empowering workforce that builds loyalty and productivity.