Janet McGreevy

E-Learning

E-Learning

“My boss just asked me to lead an e-learning initiative, get us started with online training…where do I start?” What is e-learning? What are the current trends? What’s coming on the horizon? How do we know what we need, whether we have the right resources?

How do we manage e-learning? Get learners signed up, track events? How do we engage online learners, get them to use the tools?

What tools and technologies do we need? What should we use?  How do we assess our investment? And, what about tracking what learners have really learned—how do we assess that? What have others done with e-learning? Is anyone inour industry sector using e-learning?

E-Learning

What is e-Learning?

• Online learningElectronic learning– The “e” indicates electronic or web-based

• May also be called web-based training, distance education, distance learning, distance

training– “Distance learning” normally refers to all forms of learning at a distance

• Combining multiple media techniques—CD-ROM, PowerPoint, streaming audio or video,

animation, hyperlinks—to create learning options

• Use of Internet technology to provide delivery of training & professional development

opportunities

• Bridges the distance between instructor & learner

E-Learning

What is e-Learning?

• Has an objective(s) & structure

• Includes measurement of learning

• United States Distance Learning Association: Acquisition of knowledge & skills through

mediated information & instruction

• American Society for Training & Development: Delivery of content via the Internet,

intranet-extranet, audio & video, satellite broadcast, interactive TV and CD-ROM

E-Learning

e-Learning Trends• Distributed audience

– Crosses organizations & national borders anywhere, any time

• Multiple technology tools & delivery models

• Designed with accessibility in mind

• More & more peer interactionsocial, i.e. MySpace, Facebook

• Communities of practice—informal knowledge sharing, peer-to-peer

• Modular or “chunked” learning– Learning objectsDigital resources that can be reused to support learning. A chunk

of distinct knowledge.

• Often short development timeline

• Assessment built-in, both for learner & learning itself

E-Learning

Next…

• Simulations–Often used today in the U.S. military & medical fields–Create a context-based, immersive learning experience

• Virtual worlds3D visual effects, lifelike interaction figures

–Second Life http://secondlife.com/

E-Learning

How do we know what we need?Needs assessment begins the process

ADDIE Model: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation & Evaluation

E-Learning

Needs AssessmentAssess the organizational context, the tasks performed, the learner

• What is our relationship with the learners? Are they our employees? Our students?

Our customers?

• What performance does happen? What should happen? What should learners know and be able to

do?

• What current competencies do learners posses? What is their skill level?• What organizational goals, strategic plans, projects, etc will learners need to be able to

successfully address, today and in the future ?

• What technology changes or external environment challenges (new laws, changing politics and

economics, etc) will learners need to address?

• Talk to learners, leaders, customers, SMEs, market leaders

• Look at performance appraisals, job descriptions, student

curriculums, audit report exceptions, job observations, work samples

E-learning

Needs AssessmentKnow what your learners need to learn, why they need to learn it and how much

leadership support e-learning has, then asses your current environment:

• Hardware & software–Focus on your requirements to develop & deploy the e-learning approach for your needs–It may be prudent to think in terms of phased development & implementation–Today you may not need instant messaging or a large portal, but think about the future too

• In-house skills vs. outsourcing–May includeweb site development, project management, flavors of HTML, Java,

PHP, database management, video/audio creation & editing–Depending on complexity, outsourcing to content aggregators, hosting or ASP firms,

other e-learning technology providers may make the best sense

E-Learning

Managing e-LearningTaken from “The evolution of the Learning Content Management System” by Shelley R. Robbins, April 2002

Generic content librariesPermits self-study using web-based, basic topics. Eliminates need for CD-ROM & hardcopy publications

as resources.

Learning Management System (LMS)Manages many admin functions; enables planning, tracking of learning & learner accomplishments for all

learning events (online, class, etc). Can provide catalogue of learning events & resources. Does not

offer way to easily create & deploy internally developed learning resources. Focus is on managing learners.

Learning Content Management System (LCMS)More robust; enables SMEs to create & deliver content. Supports flexible course design & ease of use

for nontech SMES. Provides admin functions such as enrollment, timing, etc. Facilitates certification &

tracking for learners. Supports collaboration & communications. Designed to interface with enterprise

applications. Offers measurement & results reporting. Focus is on learning content.

E-Learning

How do I get learners engaged with e-Learning?From “Ten Tips for Getting Learners to Take E-Courses”

• Help learners select courses

• Provide a tool for rating and recommending courses

• Offer a certificate or certification

• Offer a “frequent learner program”

• Offer rewards to managers who support e-learning

• Develop an online ad or guided tour

• Offer live demos

• Promote e-courses in organizational communications

• Provide excellent learner support

• Use more than one technique to engage learners

E-Learning

e-Learning Tools & Delivery• Blogs

• Podcasts

• Video

• Wikis

• RSS

• Simulations

• Social bookmarking & social networks

• Virtual environments—such as Second Life

Based in part on chart presented at ASTD TechKnowledge conference in session SU eLearning 2.0, Tony Karrer, Phd

Technology History

E-Learning

Note: timeframes approximate

e-Learning 1.0Circa early 1990s to mid-1990s

e-Learning 1.3 Circa mid-1990s to early 2000s

e-Learning 2.0 Circa 2000 to current

Primary Tools & Tech

Authoring tools, limited LMS, topical courseware

Better LMS, evolved to LCMS, discussion groups, intranet, email

Wikis, RSS, search, social networking, bookmarking, mash-ups

Approach Top-down, one-way Still top-down, but with some collaboration

More bottom-up, learner-driven, peer learning collaboration

Learning Timing Tendency—outside of regular work

In between work—“work it in if you can”

During work; encouraged as a key tool to effective job performance

Delivery Timing At one time, single sitting

In pieces, item by item When you need it, integrated information

Content Creation Organization—“here’s what we want you to know”

Developed solely by SME; “here’s what I think you need to know”

More collaborative effort between firm, SME, learner and peer network

E-Learning

Suggested Resourceshttp://www.astd.org/

http://www.learningcircuits.org/

http://www.usdla.org/

http://www.cedma.org/src/index.php

http://www.elearnmag.org/

http://www.intranetjournal.com/

http://www.webmonkey.com/

http://www.umuc.edu/ade/

http://kmmag.com/

http://www.trainingzone.co.uk/zones/elearningzone/

E-Learning

Recommend Reading

• Holden, Jolly T., PhD. February 2006, 2nd Ed. Westfall, Phillip, J.L., PhD. An instructional media

selection guide for distance learning. United States Distance Learning Association.

• Kapp, Karl. July 14, 2003. How long does it take? Estimation methods for developing

e-Learning. Learning Circuits.

• Humphress, Rick. January 16, 2004. Is e-Learning worth it? Part 2 costs. Draft 3.0.

E-Learning

Resources Used• Allen, Michael W. February 2008. Designing outside the box. T&D. 30-33.

• Carlinger, Saul. January 2008. Ten tips for getting learners to take e-courses. Learning Circuits. www.learningcircuits.org/0108_carlinger.htm

• Clark, Ruth Colvin. 1994. Developing technical training. Buzzards Bay Press. Phoenix.

• Karrer, Tony (PhD). ASTD TechLearning conference, June 2007. Session SU – eLearning 2.0.

• Pophal-Grensing, Lin. May 2002. Learning online: benefits and pitfalls of e-Learning. Society for Human Resource Management; Information Center.

• Roy, Michael. October 2004. Learning objects. Educause Evolving Technologies Committee. Wesleyan University.

• Miller, Janice A., Osinski, Diana M. July 2002. Training needs assessment. Society for Human Resource Management ; Information Center.

• Sauve, Eric. ASTD TechLearning conference, June 2007. Session SU215 – Communities of Practice as Learning and KM Knowledge.

• Stolovith, Harold D., Keeps, Erica J. (editors). 1992. Handbook of Human Performance Technology. Jossey-Bass Publishers. San Francisco. 513-527.

• Weiss, Ruth Palombo. (2002) A field guide to e-learning standards. ASTD. [e-document]