How Do We Adapt to the Digital

Age?

Jeff Oxenford

joxenford@Comcast.net

Related projects

WaterRF Project #4663, Workforce Skills of the

Future

AWWA-TEC - Review of Operator Licensing

Requirements Across the United States

2

Goal

Start the discussion

How will changing technology and workforce

impact what we do as trainers?

3

Outline

1. Technology changes

2. Workforce changes

3. Training changes

4. Impacts on operator certification

Discuss

How will changing technology and workforce

impact what we do as trainers?

4

Technology change

5

FAST FASTER

Drivers

6

Technology/

data

Retirements/

new workforce

Customer expectations/

individuality Globalization/

climate change

Data is key

Large amount of data being produced

Ability to collect, share, and manage this data

Ability to act on this data

Decreased time to get data to the operator - a lot

of data, anywhere, anytime.

7

New terminology

Internet of things (IoT) - Smart devices

Big data

Data lake/ data integration

Cloud computing

Platform

8

Machine learning – patterns and anomalies in

data - performance of assets

Decision support systems – help operators make

decisions

Situational awareness – better understand the

system

Predictive analytics, condition based

monitoring– Can predict that an event is coming

9

Examples of Technologies

Robotic monitoring system

Remote facilities operation

On-line analysis and continuous monitors

Automated feed and dose equipment

AMI and meter management systems

Hydraulic models, pump control

Mobile workforce management

Customer information systems

Cloud access to all documents and forms

10

Ability to work with data - Data Scientist/ data

analyst

More technical background/ Less technical

background

Understand what the data is telling you

Machine tells you what you need to do

From meter reader to meter technician

New skills

How would changes in

technology impact training?

12

2. Workforce changes

13

a. Changing demographics

Digital natives

Work environment more important than salary

Liquid workforce – Change jobs every 3-5 years

Preferences for customization, collaboration,

instant gratification, individuality, …

Older workforce, living longer, delaying

retirement

14

b. Position shortages – SCADA,

trades, IT

Competition for skills

Availability

Employer of choice?

Pay

Lack of talented people

15

c. Hiring practices

Challenge working with civil service and unions

Long hiring process

Need to keep job descriptions current

Multi-skilled workers

16

d. Mobile workforce management

Tracking and scheduling

Field data entry and management

Customer service professionals - average call

times, number of screens visited, etc.

Health and safety

Fitbits…

17

e. Changing role of the manager to deal

with IT staff and new generation

Blue collar to white collar

18

f . Will we lose the ability to operate

manually?

Loss of tribal knowledge with operators retiring

New generation – More digital trust, but will

they have the intuitive feel/sense?

With automation, will less knowledgeable/ more

dependent employees be hired?

19

How does the changing

workforce impact training?

3. Changing training tools and

approached

Changing training

Different skill sets (troubleshooting, analytical

decision skills, math, and spreadsheet

backgrounds)

Rapid technology change

Vendor training – Upfront, mid course …

Time to learn vs time outdated

22

On-demand

Anytime (24-7)

Anywhere

When needed

Customizable

Scenario-based/ competency-based

New concepts in training

Webcasts

E-learning

Video

Microlearning

Blended learning

Augmented reality

Virtual reality

Simulation

Emerging Technologies

E-Learning

Video/ microlearning

Blending of on-line tools and in person interaction

Provide background before the student walks into

the class

Examples:

Red Cross CPR

US Track & Field

Blended learning

How could we use blended learning to teach

about Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)?

Question

Simulation

Maritime & Industrial Training Center, Delgado Community College

Maritime & Industrial Training Center, Delgado Community College

Maritime & Industrial Training Center, Delgado Community College

Simulation at Louisiana State

University Health Sciences Center

Simulation at Louisiana State

University Health Sciences Center

Maritime & Industrial Training Center, Delgado Community College

Maritime & Industrial Training Center, Delgado Community College

How can simulation be used in the water

industry?

Question?

Gamification

From Monica Cornetti at Innovations in Training, 2017

Gamification

Gamification

Regulatory Jeopardy

View of a physical, real-world environment

"augmented" by computer-generated or extracted

real-world sensory input such as sound, video,

graphics, or GPS data

Augmented reality

Virtual reality

4. Impacts on operator certification

In the future – more automation

and use of digital technologies

Challenge – Skill change - from manual operation to

interpreting data and troubleshooting problems

Question?

Will more education than a high school degree or

GED be required?

46

Rapid change

Rapid technology change. Just learn how to use

the technology and its out of date.

Question

How can the NTK criteria and testing requirements

keep pace with changing technology?

47

Millennial generation

Millennials tend to change jobs every 3-5 years.

Mobile and like to find new challenges.

Questions?

Impact on on-the-job training model?

Impact of sequential certification?

Reciprocity requirements and ability to move

across state lines?

48

Butt-in-the-seat time

Shift in training to blended, on-demand, and

customized learning. Micro learning.

Question - How can continuing education model

account for outcome based learning vs time based?

49

Consider issues such as:

Impact on need-to-know criteria

Reciprocity

Training design

Testing and certification

Discussion – How will changing

technology and workforce impact

what we do as trainers?

Questions and comments

Jeff Oxenford

joxenford@comcast.net

(720) 353-4242

51