Archive for September, 2008

Show #011: E-Learning

Published by Karen Wormwell on 7 September, 2008 in E-Learning. 1 Comment

This month’s show is all about e-learning and three experts in the area, talk about how to get the best out of this growing method of learning.

To listen to the podcast, click the grey arrow below.

 
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Kirklees Council were one of the early adopters of e-learning some 7 years ago. Chris Allan is Senior Training and Development Officer at the Council and he talks to me about how they have gone from a standing start to winning awards.

His advice to anyone considering e-learning is:

  • E-LEARNING IS NOT CHEAP - it’s  a long term plan and is more about effectiveness rather than efficiencies and savings

  • GET OUT AND TALK TO PEOPLE - who are already doing this, they will give you advice and products

  • DON’T REINVENT THE WHEEL - most people have already done what you are thinking of doing

  • TALK TO MORE CUSTOMERS, THAN PROVIDERS OF SOFTWARE - find out what the customers think

  • FUNDING CAN BE DIFFICULT - a brilliant way to fund e-learning is to get a slice from everyone’s budget, everytime someone buys a pc, they pay a little extra for the e-learning programmes

  • BE PREPARED TO EXPERIMENT - and play!

Chris is happy to talk to anyone who would like to find out more about his work and you can contact him directly by email at chris.allan@kirklees.gov.uk

To play Chris’s quick video message, click in the middle of screen below.

One decision that moved Kirklees a big step forward with their e-learning programme, was when they partnered with the Learning Pool. Created in 2002 by the IDeA, the Learning Pool became independent in 2006 and over 86% of councils in England and Wales now use their services.

Mary McKenna, Learning Pool Director, believes the key benefits of e-learning to an organisation are:  

  • IT’S AVAILABLE FOR ACCESS 24/7

  • ENABLES ORGANISATIONS TO TRAIN A LOT OF PEOPLE VERY QUICKLY

  • DELIVERS CONSISTANT MESSAGES

  • CAN BE BROKEN DOWN INTO BITE-SIZED CHUNKS

  • CAN BE USED FOR JUST-IN-TIME LEARINING

  • CAN EVIDENCE AND RECORD THAT TRAINING HAS TAKEN PLACE AND A CERTAIN PASS SCORE HAS BEEN OBTAINED

Other considerations are:

  • IT WORKS BEST AS PART OF A BLENDED PROGRAMME

  • ANYONE WHO IS COMFORTABLE WITH A KEYBOARD AND MOUSE WILL BE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS TYPE OF LEARNING

  • THE MORE INTERACTIVE THE PROGRAMME, THE BETTER THE RESULTS

If your interested in finding out more about the Learning Pool, go to their website at www.learningpool.com or call them on 0207 101 9383.

To play Mary’s quick video message, click in the middle of screen below.

Martyn Sloman is the CIPD advisor on Learning and Development as well as author, lecturer and conference speaker on the subject.  For him, the fundamental principle to remember is, ‘it’s all about learning’ and we have to ask ourselves “how do people learn and how can technology, accelerate, mediate, support and direct that sort of learning?” 

He also tells us that 50% of the workforce now regard the pc as an essential tool for their job and e-learning is an easy way of giving people easy access to information and collaborative tools, BUT it is only part of the mix and part of the solution. Learner preferences are always going to be to learn something by having it demonstrated and on any survey, e-learning will always be way down the list.

ln addition, a recent CIPD Learning and Development Survey highlights:

  • 57% OF RESPONDENTS ARE USING E-LEARNING IN THEIR ORGANISATIONS

  • OF THOSE THAT AREN’T, 25% PLAN TO DO SO OVER THE NEXT YEAR

  • E-LEARNING IS AVAILABLE TO 60% OF THE EMPLOYEE POPULATION OF RESPONDENT ORGANISTIONS, BUT ONLY 30% TAKE IT UP

This highlights that there are still issues with the appropriateness and effectiveness of what’s on offer. To help ensure that e-learning is as effective as it can be, the CIPD have developed a set of Best Practice Principles, which are:

  • START WITH THE LEARNER - recognise the legacy the learner brings to the organisation

  • ENSURE PROGRAMMES ARE RELEVENT - this drives out resistance 

  • NEVER PUT ANYTHING ON THE WEB UNLESS YOU’RE PREPARED TO SUPPORT IT APPROPRIATELY - don’t put something up and leave it

  • THINK ABOUT HOW TO EMBED IT INTO THE ORGANISATION  - what other support people need and who the key intermediaries are, i.e. line managers 

When implementing an e-learning strategy, Martyn’s advice is to think about:

  • RELEVENCE - what are the key things people need to learn on their job

  • LEARNER PREFERENCE - where are they coming from, how motivated are they, how technologically savvy are they and how do they choose to get their information

For more information on learning and development, the CIPD produce a number of useful factsheets that can be downloaded free at www.cipd.co.uk/factsheets They are also undertaking a major research study into web 2.0 networking and more information on this as well as some interesting cases studies can be found at www.cipd.co.uk/helpingpeoplelearn 

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