Introduction

We live in both a knowledge-based and skill-based world. We know this. Yet our training does not address both aspects equally. And until it does, we are needlessly sacrificing quality, safety, and performance. There is more we can do.

Technology to Support Training

There are four components required for comprehensive and effective training: Knowledge learning, knowledge assessment, skill training, and skill assessment. It turns out that one of these four components has been left behind.

In the last decade or so, we have become highly proficient at knowledge learning and assessment. Technology has helped significantly by making knowledge acquisition available online, anywhere and at any time. Likewise, technology has provided the ability to assess knowledge and, more importantly, use the data from those assessments to pinpoint gaps in knowledge, as well as strengths and weaknesses in our training programs.

Similarly, videos, simulation technology, A/R and V/R have advanced the state of the art in skill training. Videos and simulated environments allow learners to observe skills, and to experience an immense variety of situations, over and over, helping to perfect their skills in a way that is highly complementary to hands-on experience.

But what about skill assessment? Assessing skill proficiency for individuals and / or teams is critically important in nearly every field. Yet skill assessment is typically paper-based and highly subjective, limiting our ability to utilize the data to identify workforce trends or risks. Additionally, it requires significant expertise on behalf of the assessor which limits opportunities for assessment. We are working to change this.

Assessing Skills

SkillGrader is an enterprise application meant to easily and objectively assess skills performed by teams or individuals. It was initially developed as a collaboration between Marine Learning Systems and the training and assessment experts at our largest customer, the Carnival Group of cruise lines to help answer the question: does our workforce perform their skills according to company best-practice?

It can be used to assess any observable skill, regardless of the complexity, whether during training or while performed on the job. All results are stored in a database providing access to broad workforce skill insights as assessment data accumulates over time. Overall, it is meant to greatly increase opportunities for the simple and objective assessment of skills, and to produce both immediate and long-term actionable reports.

SkillGrader has been proven in the maritime industry, a demanding, skill-based, compliance-focused, safety-critical environment. We are now looking to apply this technology in a wide variety of other areas. For example: customer service, first responders, healthcare, higher education and training, manufacturing, plant operations, the trades, … anywhere observable skills are performed.

Conclusion

There is no question that the success of nearly every organization is deeply dependent on the skills of its workforce. Therefore, it is time to get serious about making skill assessment a central part of our training. Please help us realize our global vision of a more skilled workforce.

If you are interested in trying out SkillGrader to assess members of your workforce, we would love to hear from you.