Learning and development are elements of the main strategy used in organizations within the framework of human resource development. This is an area that stems from the constant desire of businesses and organizations to improve employee performance and efficiency in the workplace. We are talking about the training, development, and development of human resources in different parts of the world. Many people, including those who implement such strategies, often confuse learning and development, and some even consider these activities to be interchangeable. However, there are subtle differences between learning and development that will be highlighted in this article.
Learning
Learning is a process that increases our knowledge. We keep learning new things all our lives, whether it’s learning to walk, cycle, swim, dance, skate, climb or even learn new concepts in different subjects. or new languages. We can learn from books, teachers, peers, parents, or even strangers. You can learn from animals, inanimate objects, and nature. In an organization, managers aim to educate their employees. Thus, learning is an important part of training in any organization at all levels of employees.
Learning takes place at any age and one learns, when placed in a new situation, to be meaningful and to be more comfortable. Any change in behavior resulting from a new experience is considered learning. We could learn the new skills described above or learn games or languages.
Development
The development consists of mastering skills and integrating these skills into behaviors to transform them into habits. You get a person to sit in a classroom and try to impart knowledge on how to fly an airplane. Yes, you can make him understand the different parts of an airplane and the theory of how it works, in addition to describing how and what to do to fly an airplane, but unless the person gets some hands-on training and flies- even in different situations, he cannot develop as a pilot. Development is about action, not the knowledge-based skills that go through learning.
In the process of development, practice is more important than learning in enabling individuals to incorporate new skills as habits. Development is a process that takes place after learning but requires constant practice and development to transform newly acquired skills into behaviors or habits.
Development is also a bodily process that describes the growth of our thinking and problem-solving skills. This development is close to the biological development that takes place with age and is almost complete when we are young or in adolescence.
What is the difference between learning and development?
• Learning and development is an area that has become an integral part of human resource management in organizations. It is about improving the performance and behavior of employees of organizations.
• A change in behavior resulting from training or experience is referred to as learning.
• Learning is essentially about educating employees, while development is about getting employees to incorporate new skills into their behavior as a habit.
• Practice and development allow development while training is what matters for learning
