Integrating Learning & Doing Single-Portal Access to Instruction, Decision-Making Tools and Information Sharing

Safeguards agencies worldwide currently face the challenge of providing a large cadre of inexperienced inspectors with training and on-the-job support due to turn-over and retirements of experienced staff at a time of increasing safeguards demands and financial constraints. Traditionally, workplace learning and doing have been separated in time and space. Instruction typically takes place at the commencement of employment and at infrequent intervals often at locations that are physically removed from job sites. Learners are expected to remember and apply new knowledge and skills when they “return to work”. This paper identifies a means of supplementing traditional approaches to training and continuing support by providing a single on-line portal through which employees have access to reference materials, learning modules, diagnostic and decision-making tools, coaching, communications utilities and means to capture and share corporate memory. In this approach, the majority of learning consists of continuous doing and selfimprovement within the workplace, rather than study in a classroom environment. An integrated delivery approach of this kind could be harnessed by safeguards organizations to develop competencies, support career development, facilitate teamwork, assist succession planning and promote creativity in daily problem solving.