Digital Upskill: Improving Your Technology Skills
2020-11-03
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1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
2If you asked me to name the top life lessons of 2020, my list would likely include these words: Technology skills are a necessity.
3For the past eight months, many people have been working online from home.
4This kind of work requires a higher level of computer skills than ever before.
5Now, there is even a term for it: "Digital upskilling."
6Patricia Miller works for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Tampa, Florida.
7She signed up for the company's "Digital Accelerators" program.
8The training is designed to strengthen the high-tech skills of PwC's workforce.
9Miller told Reuters news agency that before taking the class, she did not know how to write computer code.
10The program helped Miller to upgrade her digital skills.
11For example, she learned a coding language called Python.
12Miller once worked in human resource and project management.
13The training helped her to become a leader in the office's information technology (IT) operations team.
14"And now every time I get to use my coding skills like Python," Miller said, "I do a little happy dance."
15Digital upskilling is not new. However, the COVID-19 health crisis has led to big changes and made this happen even faster.
16Gianni Giacomelli is chief innovation officer at Genpact, a New York-based business that advises companies on business operations.
17He also is head of innovation design at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Collective Intelligence Design Lab.
18Giacomelli says that since the COVID-19 pandemic started, many businesses have been fast-tracking their use of digital technologies.
19"They are enabling people to learn wherever they are, whenever they want, on any device," he noted.
20A company can be more successful or earn higher profits if their employees are "up to speed" on the latest technologies.
21But what tech skills are we talking about?
22This past summer, the career website LinkedIn looked at job openings for in-demand work-related skills.
23Most of the skills were technology related.
24Working with Microsoft, LinkedIn has set up free training for in-demand jobs.
25These include positions as a computer software developer, digital marketing representative and IT administrator.
26But it is not just the technology industry that must digital upskill.
27"Before, there used to be tech jobs and non-tech jobs. Now there are just 'jobs'," said Joe Atkinson.
28He is PwC's chief products and technology officer.
29He added that everyone needs to be at ease when using technology.
30Experts offer a few suggestions on how companies should support digital upskilling.
31However, these guidelines can also be helpful for individuals and families.
32For many people, learning just does not get done because the work can seem so massive, even frightening.
33Breaking larger learning goals into smaller tasks, or projects, can help.
34"If you ask an employee to find six hours for a learning effort, that's really hard," said Atkinson.
35"But if you ask them to find 15 minutes -- that's a lot easier.
36He calls it a "bite-size approach."
37And he thinks it can make a big difference.
38For some businesses, having an employee learn a digital skill alone on a computer might be a good idea.
39However, it may not help the company as a whole.
40Instead, Genpact's Giacomelli suggests that companies think about the whole company and how employees interact with each other.
41"Create opportunities for employees to source knowledge and learn from each other," he said.
42This idea can be likened to how many families operate.
43Does someone in the family have knowledge the others do not?
44Create a way to share it.
45Create an ongoing learning habit
46Technology can change very quickly.
47For example, the coding language Patricia Miller learned, Python, might be out of date in a few years.
48So, experts urge you to find ways to always keep learning and improving your technology skills.
49And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo.
1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. 2If you asked me to name the top life lessons of 2020, my list would likely include these words: Technology skills are a necessity. 3For the past eight months, many people have been working online from home. This kind of work requires a higher level of computer skills than ever before. 4Now, there is even a term for it: "Digital upskilling." 5Patricia Miller works for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Tampa, Florida. She signed up for the company's "Digital Accelerators" program. The training is designed to strengthen the high-tech skills of PwC's workforce. 6Miller told Reuters news agency that before taking the class, she did not know how to write computer code. The program helped Miller to upgrade her digital skills. For example, she learned a coding language called Python. 7Miller once worked in human resource and project management. The training helped her to become a leader in the office's information technology (IT) operations team. 8"And now every time I get to use my coding skills like Python," Miller said, "I do a little happy dance." 9Digital upskilling is not new. However, the COVID-19 health crisis has led to big changes and made this happen even faster. 10Gianni Giacomelli is chief innovation officer at Genpact, a New York-based business that advises companies on business operations. He also is head of innovation design at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Collective Intelligence Design Lab. 11Giacomelli says that since the COVID-19 pandemic started, many businesses have been fast-tracking their use of digital technologies. 12"They are enabling people to learn wherever they are, whenever they want, on any device," he noted. 13A company can be more successful or earn higher profits if their employees are "up to speed" on the latest technologies. 14But what tech skills are we talking about? 15This past summer, the career website LinkedIn looked at job openings for in-demand work-related skills. Most of the skills were technology related. 16Working with Microsoft, LinkedIn has set up free training for in-demand jobs. These include positions as a computer software developer, digital marketing representative and IT administrator. 17But it is not just the technology industry that must digital upskill. 18"Before, there used to be tech jobs and non-tech jobs. Now there are just 'jobs'," said Joe Atkinson. He is PwC's chief products and technology officer. He added that everyone needs to be at ease when using technology. 19Experts offer a few suggestions on how companies should support digital upskilling. However, these guidelines can also be helpful for individuals and families. 20Think small 21For many people, learning just does not get done because the work can seem so massive, even frightening. Breaking larger learning goals into smaller tasks, or projects, can help. 22"If you ask an employee to find six hours for a learning effort, that's really hard," said Atkinson. "But if you ask them to find 15 minutes -- that's a lot easier. 23He calls it a "bite-size approach." And he thinks it can make a big difference. 24Think as a group 25For some businesses, having an employee learn a digital skill alone on a computer might be a good idea. However, it may not help the company as a whole. 26Instead, Genpact's Giacomelli suggests that companies think about the whole company and how employees interact with each other. 27"Create opportunities for employees to source knowledge and learn from each other," he said. 28This idea can be likened to how many families operate. Does someone in the family have knowledge the others do not? Create a way to share it. 29Create an ongoing learning habit 30Technology can change very quickly. 31For example, the coding language Patricia Miller learned, Python, might be out of date in a few years. So, experts urge you to find ways to always keep learning and improving your technology skills. 32And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo. 33Nacho Doce reported this story for the Reuters News Agency. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 34_______________________________________________________________ 35Words in This Story 36lesson - n. something learned through experience 37digital - adj. using or characterized by computer technology 38accelerator - adj. a substance that speeds a chemical reaction 39management - n. the act or art of managing : the conducting or supervising of something (such as a business) 40code - n. a set of instructions for a computer 41upgrade - n. to raise or improve the grade of : such as 42innovation - n. a new idea, method, or device 43fast-tracking - adj. to speed up the processing, production, or construction of in order to meet a goal 44opportunity - n. a good chance for advancement or progress