Learntec 2024 – Characterized by AI

After the rainy days, Learntec took place at summer temperatures. The atmosphere among the visitors was just as sunny. The lectures were well attended. Breaks, food trucks, sun loungers and hammocks invited people to relax and exchange ideas.  

AI was very present — from robotic dogs to learning companions

Artificial intelligence has become an integral part of it. Nevertheless, it was a surprise to see AI already so present at Learntec. AI has been present in many different ways: From a robotic dog to SILC, the Smart Interactive Learning Companion.

SILC — the talking learning companion

For example, SILC was presented, a learning avatar and chatbot that both speaks and writes.

There are many ways to train SILC. It generates its knowledge, for example, from chat logs, notes, transcripts, but also from interviews. This allows employees who leave the company to conduct interviews with SILC. SILC stores the knowledge and automatically generates a variety of knowledge tests and nuggets from it. In this way, knowledge is passed on in companies after employees have left.

Individual continuing education plan thanks to AI

AI to match learning content to knowledge gaps and thus expand employee competence profiles: The speakers illustrated exactly how this works using the example of a basketball player. First, a profile is created: What must the player be able to do? This is followed by a skills assessment: What can the player already do? What else can't he do? The assessment is then evaluated, compared with the profile and an individual training plan is created.

Our learning experience platform used by Commerzbank and Rewe

We from Haufe Akademie were also on site with two customers. Commerzbank and Rewe both use our LXP. Both stage lectures were well attended. The Q&A sessions that followed showed the great interest of the audience.

Learn what YOU want with CliX

Commerzbank invites its employees to learn independently with the appeal: “Learn what YOU want!” Artur Buchmüller from Commerzbank compared the change from passive to active learning culture with the difference between passenger and sole driver: “If you were a passenger for 20 years, you don't want to drive the same car yourself all at once. Unless you get a great new car.” Die LXP, or CliX, as it is called at Commerzbank, is the new learning car for employees.

In addition, employees can decide for themselves what they want to learn and which skills they want to improve. For this, they have 8 hours of digital learning per quarter with the LXP available.

CliX says it all: thanks to SSO, employees can access the LXP and can start learning right away.

Learning from and with each other: LXP at Rewe Digital

At Rewe Digital, do you think of electronic shopping or online shopping? They're off the mark. Rewe Digital is Rewe's digital infrastructure. The IT environment is very dynamic. The IT experts are always on their toes to be able to react quickly. Rewe Digital was therefore looking for a learning platform that focused on the needs of IT experts.

The authoring tool of LXP makes sharing knowledge extremely easy. Thanks to the intuitive and simple operation, IT experts can share their knowledge quickly and efficiently and create new learning content. True to the motto: Anyone who can explain and share new knowledge themselves has really internalized it.

Rewe Digital uses the LXP for example for the technical onboarding of new employees. As well as for technical coaching. IT experts show their colleagues how to develop programs together as a team.

Classics were also present: microlearnings and cyber security

In addition to all the new features, there were also classics at Learntec. For example, a presentation using a Lego duck showed how diverse microlearnings can be created, combined and supplemented by yourself. A learning journey is as easy as putting together a playlist on Spotify.

Cybersecurity is still underestimated in companies. A highlight here was the use case with a fake email address from Sparkasse München. The highlight: the first “a” was a Cyrillic “a”, while the second “a” was a Latin one. Anyone who doesn't look here a second, third or even fourth time is sure to overlook this mistake. It is therefore always worthwhile to invest in cybersecurity and train employees: Almost all serious cyber attacks start with employees.

AI makes things easier, but people will not become unnecessary

The presentations at Learntec showed the wide range of uses of AI. At the same time, it also became clear that the human component is essential and people must always check the quality of the results.

AI can do a lot of things, but not quality control. Employees must further develop their expertise. And position yourself well in future skills such as data literacy and change management. Not to forget: always with a pinch of curiosity.

The tasks of personnel development have also changed. Nowadays, PE is more of a coach and learning companion. In addition, PE also needs different skills than before:

• Marketing skills to bring learning content to employees
• Media design skills to design content to hold attention
• Project Management Skills

Managers are the key to a successful learning culture

Many of the experts on site also saw managers as particularly challenged. Every good change requires reliable support from and trust in the manager. Communication is the be-all and end-all here.

Basti Koch also addressed the special role of managers, sparks, and Kristina Enderle da Silva, New Learning, in her sparks Fireside chat on. Psychological safety is an essential factor for a successful learning culture. Employees must trust their managers in order to be able to say: I don't know, show me. Or: I can't do that, I want to learn.

Conclusion: Learning technology integrates AI; the human component remains essential

Learntec has shown that AI can be used in a variety of ways. At the same time, it became clear that AI cannot replace humans, only complement them. Let's look forward to the next Learntec. Will we still be visiting them in person? Or will our avatars or holograms already be on site?