Pathways to Performance and Success 1 Applying New Approaches to Developing the Talent Dr. Sharon Fratta-Hill

Pathways to Performance and Success 2 Migration of Distance Learning Pedagogy Correspondence – Independent Study Telephone communication Audio tapes Television broadcasts Satellite Broadcast Videoconferencing Web based

Pathways to Performance and Success 3 Challenges The “New” government worker The Enhanced Technology Workplace Training dollar restrictions for traditional training Fast to market with a different approach – Instructor Centered and Participant Interactive

Pathways to Performance and Success 4 What were we thinking? What worked for adult students who are federal employees? –It must be either very flexible so that he/she can move at their own pace or The course must be short enough to complete within a period where an employee could be excused from their office duties. –Exact skill outcomes must be obtained on completion of the course.

Pathways to Performance and Success 5 What Did Not Work? Federal employees did not sign up for Blackboard based, instructor led courses because: –The teacher was not available when they needed to ask their questions. –Too much reading and preparation was required to be able to complete activities. –Students were used to face to face training and the lack of personal attention caused distress.

Pathways to Performance and Success 6 How Could We Make the Course Interactive? Choose a platform that allows students to chat or interact with the teacher in a real time collaborative manner. –Top platforms: Adobe Connect (Formally Macromedia Breeze) Centra –Many other private vendors have less expensive software that allows video and audio streaming.

Pathways to Performance and Success 7 What Course Formats are We Developing? Synchronous –Our instructional designers put together Powerpoints and activities to be shared during the live sessions. –Our design staff works with a strictly adjunct staff to train them how to lecture in a live classroom effectively. –A help desk employee monitors all live sessions to act as an assistant for students who have issues working online. –Students may instant message the teacher, help desk assistant or other students during the session to ask questions. –Students may raise their hands to ask questions and the audio is streamed to all participants, if the teacher permits this.

Pathways to Performance and Success 8 Asynchronous Powerpoints covering the content are developed and synched with audio or audio and video Activities are placed in the classroom portion of the module Instructor monitors the class during open enrollment period. –He/she assesses progress and answers questions Some courses are hybrids which require the student to come to a single face to face session.

Pathways to Performance and Success 9 Let’s Take a Look Asynchronous Training –gsconnect.grad.usda.gov/prcoursegsconnect.grad.usda.gov/prcourse Synchronous Training –gconnect.grad.usda.govgconnect.grad.usda.gov

Pathways to Performance and Success 10 Summary Student/teacher interaction is required to create a meaningful course. New platforms like Adobe Connect and Centra make it easy to offer live video and audio streaming over the internet. Start up can be accomplished with a limited in- house staff. –Or consider contracting with a training agency that can create custom courses which meet your business or agency’s needs.

Pathways to Performance and Success 11 Do you have more questions? Contact –Sharon Fratta-Hill, PhD

Pathways to Performance and Success 12 Search through our resources at