eLearning Hava Haberfeld WW Documentation and Training Development Manager, Creo May 2005

Topics  eLearning for techies  What is it? Difference between methods, platforms, and tools  eLearning development: methods and tools  CBT, WBT  Do-it-in-house, rapid eLearning  Blended learning  Web collaboration, live eLearning (webinars)  EPSS, wizards, simulations, games, videos  eLearning platforms  LMS, LCMS  Internet training portals  Closed content and technology training systems  eLearning buzzwords  Informal knowledge exchange  Best practices for translation

eLearning for techies  eLearning: “Any intentional learning activity delivered via interactive electronic media”  Typical audiences: customers or end users of hi-tech products and service or sales personnel supporting and selling these products  Difference between methodologies, platforms, and tools ­Methodologies: CBT, WBT, rapid eLearning, blended learning, and more ­Platforms: LMS, LCMS, training portals, and more ­Tools: Flash, Shockwave, RoboDemo, Captivate, and more

eLearning development: CBT  CBT (computer-based training) is a standalone course on CD- ROM; CBTs were first developed in the early 90s.  Courses were interactive, with branching, simulations, feedback, videos, and animation.  Development was expensive and time consuming, and courses were hard to upgrade.

eLearning development: WBT  WBT (Web-based training, or eLearning): Learning can be conducted “anywhere, anytime” as long as a browser-based Web connection is available.  Longer shelf life: Updates can be implemented once on a server instead of at each training location.  Downside: Bandwidth is a limitation to media richness (streaming video).  Wait time denigrates the learning experience.

eLearning development: Rapid eLearning  Do-it-in-house, or rapid eLearning: a small amount of off-the-shelf courseware and a large amount of custom- developed software that is 100% specific to the organization  Examples: ­In-house workshops ­Videotapes ­Printed training materials ­Presentations converted to online format

eLearning development: Blended learning  A combination of delivery methods that leverage the strength of each method for every content type  A complete package that can include self-paced and classroom learning; live Web-based classrooms; videotapes; one-on-one coaching; and more

eLearning development: Webinars  Live eLearning and Web collaboration: Experts share their knowledge: ­Live session: synchronous ­Recorded session: asynchronous  Examples include live distance classes, virtual seminars or webinars, meeting communities of practice, and so on.

eLearning development: EPSS, wizards, simulations, games  EPSS: electronic performance support systems  Wizards and context-sensitive online help  Simulations, learning games, videos

eLearning platforms: LMS  LMS (learning management system): a solution for delivering training to many locations and enabling learner evaluation  Student administration and data reporting system: off the shelf or created in house  Automated administration of CBTs and Web-based training: ­Launching and tracking of courses ­Reports ­Online collaboration consisting of discussions, chat rooms, news and document posting, and so on

eLearning platforms: Downside of LMS  LMSs don’t do what was expected!  Not plug and play—industry standards are too loose (SCORM, AICC).  ROI of LMS implementation is difficult to calculate.  Administration that LMS provides is too generic; in most cases, it needs further customization.

eLearning platforms: LMS, LCMS, VCS

eLearning platforms: LCMS  Authoring tools are usually linked to an LMS system.  Testing and follow-up of learner’s performance are embedded in the training program.

eLearning platforms: Internet training portals  Internet training portals: one-stop shops for e-commerce of courseware both online and offline  Vertically focused portals, or vortals: offer their own content (corporate “universities,” McGraw-Hill, SkillSoft, DigitalThink, and so forth)  Downside: Massive eLearning content is not designed to serve specific business needs, and instructional quality is poor.

eLearning platforms: closed content & technology systems  Available as packaged content with customization (customer logos on external portal interface)  May be more economical and efficient than developing complete in-house systems  Must be performance-driven and shaped around business- critical requirements

eLearning buzzwords  Learning organizations: Represent a move from learning as reactive, isolated events to learning as a sustainable, proactive process in the organization  Knowledge management: Uses internal knowledge in all forms to sustain the learning career of every employee  Both trends imply a closer link with HR for job definitions, compensation, career paths, and certification.

eLearning buzzwords: Informal knowledge exchange  Part of the knowledge management trend: training without trainers through informal knowledge exchange  Knowledge from organization’s experts collected in documents; resulting knowledge base is indexed and structured  Expert systems for capturing the tacit knowledge in an organization

Best practices for translation  Use Unicode-supporting tools such as HTML, XML, Captivate, Flash MX 2004, and Shockwave.  Store text in external database or XML files to be read into the WBT during runtime; this method facilitates translation and management.  Avoid text within graphics.  Keep clean, organized, and updated scripts for all WBTs.  Leave extra space for character-consuming languages such as German and Spanish.  Outsource large translation jobs to established vendors, which provide experts to address the many specific issues in each language.