As learning professionals, we understand that the development of workplace skills happens primarily beyond the classroom or eLearning course. It happens through on-the-job experience and reflection on that experience. A key to the success of on-the-job learning is the quality of coaching by managers and others. The problem is that most managers do not provide effective coaching and feedback when it is needed. This is because they don’t have time, skills, or knowledge to coach effectively, or they consider it too cumbersome to do. How can we leverage mobile technology to support the coaching process?

In this session, you’ll see how an organization used mobile devices to enable short, frequent, asynchronous, targeted coaching interactions – “micro-coaching.” They developed a structured on-the-job learning path that was deployed on their smartphones. Learners used their smartphones’ sensors (camera, audio and video recorder, and GPS) to capture evidence of work at each step along their learning path and submit it to their designated coaches. When their coaches got an email notification that they received a submission, they reviewed it and provided written or recorded audio feedback that was sent back to the employees. The coaches were provided with performance support on their mobile devices in the form of coaching guides, checklists, and success criteria to ensure that the coaching and feedback was very targeted, focused, and accurate. You’ll see the results of a pilot study of the effectiveness of the technology-supported micro-coaching process and

hear lessons learned that you can apply to your organization.

• You’ll get ideas and design guidelines for building an effective micro-coaching process that provides managers the support and guidance they need to easily and effectively coach their employees.
• You see how mobile technology can be used to support and optimize the on-the-job learning process.