In times of the pandemic, there is always talk of a 'new normal'. This new normal not only includes working from home, web meetings and video conferencing, but also a new way of learning. Traditional knowledge transfer was already being questioned in the 1970s, but it was only with the advance of digitalization that terms such as 'flexible learning', 'digital learning', 'learning 4.0', 'agile learning', 'blended learning' and 'distance learning' found their way into the learning culture.
Siemens summarizes these terms, which are often used synonymously, under 'Future of Learning'. The starting point and objective of the new learning approach is to be able to offer learners flexible learning opportunities that meet their needs, promote personal responsibility in the learning process and thus ultimately ensure better, more sustainable and faster learning success.

Modular, consistent learning concept

Siemens understands the 'future of learning' to mean the blending of synchronous and asynchronous learning methods, i.e. the smooth transition from independent knowledge acquisition via webinars and guided live or face-to-face formats, for example. The use of digital channels has a number of advantages. Web-based training, tutorials and e-learning can be used by participants regardless of time and place. This increases learning efficiency and also saves travel time and costs.
The Digital Industry Academy Sitrain has a correspondingly consistent and modular structure. Siemens sees this as an ecosystem for knowledge transfer for digital industries. The portfolio consists of the knowledge database Sitrain open, the digital learning platform Sitrain access and Sitrain personal, the guided training, virtual or on-site. Depending on the nature of the knowledge to be imparted and the customer's wishes, the learning content is to be imparted in a blended learning approach using a mixture of all three pillars.

Practical content and virtual training environments

The digital platform enables learning and training in numerous industrial sectors. Siemens' own experts manage and continuously expand the modular knowledge offering. In addition, web-based training, tutorials and screencasts for every level of knowledge form the core of Sitrain access. Users can obtain further training here, particularly in the areas of process and discrete automation, drive technology and digitalization. The content is largely based on suggestions from pilot customers and thus corresponds to questions and challenges from real practice.

Putting what you have learned into practice is an important factor for learning success. The new 'Virtual Exercise Lab' cloud function complements the offering in this respect. Users can access a virtual training environment via their internet browser, which consists of engineering software such as TIA Portal, simulated hardware such as PLC SIM and even a virtual process model. This interface between VR (virtual reality) and the real world has another advantage in addition to rapid learning success: as users are in a protected environment in accordance with the 'sandbox approach', errors or experiments have no impact on the real system.

Securing and strengthening skills

In addition to the practical relevance, Sitrain access pursues a stringent concept: the modular and individually selectable learning content, so-called 'activities', are taught and repeated via tutorials and web-based training, for example. This is followed by regular assessment of what has been learned by means of comprehension questions and intermediate tests, so-called 'checkpoints'. In combination with transparent curricula and individual dashboard overviews, this approach ensures long-term learning success. In addition, entrepreneurs or managers can assign specific courses and learning content to their employees. This ensures a uniform, defined standard of knowledge within the company. Siemens provides answers to the requirements of an increasingly digital world with its digital self-learning offerings for its own automation solutions.

Sitrain access combines modern knowledge transfer with pedagogically effective methods and modular options in a variety of formats in order to strengthen and secure knowledge-based entrepreneurial skills.

The authors:

Alexander Brochier is Team Leader Marketing Sitrain at Siemens.

Philipp Rieckborn is Head of Digital Industry Academy at Siemens.

The article series

This series of articles about the digital learning platform Sitrain from Siemens describes the individual elements of the platform:

• Part 1: Sitrain open - the knowledge database
• Part 2: Sitrain access - the digital learning platform
• Part 3: Sitrain personal - guided training, virtual or on-site (to be published on May 31, 2021)

Part 4 of the article series is separate from the learning platform and describes how the Siemens Vizendo Virtual Training Solutions offering can be used to train employees individually based on a digital training environment.