The E-Learning Revolution Chapter 10

The Nature & Methodology of E-learning Programs Defining E-Learning: 1.Instructional content or learning experiences delivered or enabled by electronic technology 2.Learning that is delivered, enabled or mediated by electronic technology, for the explicit purpose of training in organizations.

Justifying E-learning Strategic reasons for implementing web-based e-learning include: 1.Developing a global workforce 2.Responding to shorter product development cycles 3.Managing flat organizations 4.Adjusting to needs of employees 5.Enabling a contingent workforce 6.Retaining valuable workers 7.Increasing productivity & profitability

Justifying E-learning Tactical justifications for adopting web-based e-learning: 1.Reducing travel & related costs 2.Enabling learning anytime and at any place 3.Providing just-in-time learning 4.Leveraging the existing infrastructure 5.Enabling delivery that is independent of a platform 6.Providing tools for tracking and record keeping 7.Making updates easy

Justifying E-learning Table 10.1 page 302

Justifying E-learning Four essential characteristics required from a successful E-learning program 1.A technically robust delivery platform 2.An intuitive user interface 3.Online coaching support 4.A high level of interactivity

E-learning content The ten different product types include: 1.Courses from universities and other institutions of higher & further education 2.Courses and study material from commercial providers of conventional face-to-face training programs 3.Converted CD-ROM or text based material from commercial providers 4.Original content created for online delivery 5.Software to allow interactivity between learners- virtual classrooms 6.Customized learning websites including discussion forums, chatrooms, and contact between instructors and learners.

E-learning content 7. Learning management systems with varying degrees of functionality 8. Integration services provided by outside consultants and specialist providers 9. External hosts who will provide all content and a learning management system 10.Bespoke e-learning packages specially created for individual organizations

E-learning content Common issues with e-learning content include: 1.Integrating sound and video within web-delivered material is problematic 2.Material that is designed to look good in one browser may be unattractive on another 3.Under-estimating the time required to complete a project 4.Linking a learning programme into a learning management system 5.Reliable provision of support is not easy to organize and provide

E-learning content Blended Learning: Any combination of delivery methods is a blended learning solution, such as an instructor-led session coupled with take-home workbooks Best practices in blended learning 1.Create a structured core curriculum of learning activities tranferred via different delivery methods 2.Support an environment in which people can learn in small chunks 3.Create a system through which people can learn informally 4.Provide an information management repository 5.Provide comprehensive set of tools 6.Build a shared development environment

Learning Management Systems Intended to manage a range of learning activities including those that are not delivered online LMS are expensive For the individual, An LMS is about access, planning and feedback about progress Learners can use catalogue feature to select courses with the advice from tutors Courses consists of modules, blocks of learning material, video lectures, chat discussions and so on. LMS should have feedback on their progress,while managers can monitor this on an individual, department or organization

Organizational learning centres Learning centres have a wide range of titles- learning resource centre, learning centre and open learning centre are common in-company terms and learning workshops, resource centre and open access centre, in further and higher education. Learning centres fulfill two important functions 1.The provision of learning resources 2.A Place to study and learn The additional functions would be: 1.Being more fully integrated with corporate learning strategies 2.Providing a base for facilities such as desktop conferencing, video-conferencing and internet access 3.Changing structure with more use of small-scale or satellite centres to spread resources throughout an enterprise.

Organizational learning centres Table 10.4 page 324