Friday
Dec311999
SPECIAL REPORT: The "e" in e-learning stands for "E"xperience
December 31, 1999
SPECIAL REPORT: The "e" in e-learning stands for "E"xperience
(We are tracking the explosion of the phrase "e-learning", as an expanded
term for digital and on-line training. At TechLearn '99
(http://www.techlearn.com) , I will advocate that the "e" in e-learning
should reflect the "E"xperience of the learner. Here is a short article on
the subject.)
The "e" in e-learning stands for "E"xperience
By: Elliott Masie, The MASIE Center
Business is adding the letter "e" in front of a lot of words in the last
year of the 1900's. e-commerce, e-business, e-shopping, e-transactions,
and now e-learning. The "e" has come to stand for a Digital Age and internet
focused transformation of a business process. "e" literally means the
"electronic" personification of a commerce, shopping or learning. But, it
also means modern, internet age, "venture capital friendly" and on-line.
"e-learning" is a great phrase, as it is a wider tent then just on-line
learning, web-based training, CBT, technology assisted, distance learning
or other phrases. We have a unique opportunity, as the term spreads to
vendor press releases, trade show signage and new venture business plans, to
define what the "e" REALLY should stand for.
I believe and will advocate the we can use the term "e-learning" to reflect
the both the technology and the EXPERIENCE of learning in this new age.
EXPERIENCE is an essential component of e-learning, for it is where the
VALUE lies. If we don't focus on the EXPERIENCE dimension of learning, we
run the risk of mistaking the publishing of information for learning and
training. Just taking a course outline and putting it into HTML is not
the best of e-learning. That is really only just about delivering reading
through the network. The EXPERIENCE side of e-learning would address
factors including:
- Engagement: How will we get the learner fully engaged?
- Curiosity: How will we harness the power of curiosity and exploration?
- Simulation and Practice: How can we give the learner powerful simulation
and practice opportunities?
- Remediation: How can we provide remedial and extending learning content?
- Coaching: How can we provide human and digital coaching for learners?
- Peer Learning: How can we build communities that will allow for the
SOCIAL DIMENSIONS of learning on-line? How can we harness peer learning?
- Action Learning: How can we build projects that will trigger action
learning and align with workplace challenges?
- Performance Support: How can we create e-learning programs that linger
and are of on-the-job performance support value to the learner and
organization?
- Intensity: How can we create high intensity, memorable learning
experiences?
- Assessment and Feedback: How can we help the learner to gain a better
sense of their own knowledge and gaps? How can the organization better
manage human capital through the use of e-learning?
- Teaching Culture: How can e-learning increase the amount of TEACHING
that occurs in the organization, triggering high value moments of teaching
throughout the workday?
Notice how I didn't include technology functions in the above list. The
exciting thing about ordering a book through e-commerce is not the HTML
that displays the booksite in my browser. It is the EXPERIENCE of ordering the
book that is different. I can see hundreds of thousands of books. I can
read reviews of the author. I can hear from other readers. I can see
links to similar books. Someday, I will be able to preview the text. The key to
e-book ordering is the EXPERIENCE of me, the buyer.
Likewise, the conversation must move rapidly from the "cool" aspect of
using technology to deliver content, conduct training transactions, have virtual
classrooms and build digital collaboration environments. We stipulate
that, with joy. Now, let's start the conversation about the EXPERIENCE of
the learner. Let's make sure that we don't "downshift" from a high
intensity classroom experience to a boring on-line learning moment. We can
and will do better. The "e"-learning that I am dreaming about has the
intensity of an airplane simulator, the support of an email from a trusted
mentor, the engagement of a great novel and creates the experience of
learning that makes a learner say WOW. The WOW is about their connection
with knowledge, not about the technology. The "e" is the power of the
EXPERIENCE - let us invent and create it!
(Join us at TechLearn '99 as we launch the "e-learning Initiative" - an
industry wide coalition of training managers and e-learning suppliers -
focused on advocating and defining this emerging field.) TechLearn '99 is
held in Orlando, FL from Oct 31 to Nov 3rd - http://www.techlearn.com for
information and registration.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(We are tracking the explosion of the phrase "e-learning", as an expanded
term for digital and on-line training. At TechLearn '99
(http://www.techlearn.com) , I will advocate that the "e" in e-learning
should reflect the "E"xperience of the learner. Here is a short article on
the subject.)
The "e" in e-learning stands for "E"xperience
By: Elliott Masie, The MASIE Center
Business is adding the letter "e" in front of a lot of words in the last
year of the 1900's. e-commerce, e-business, e-shopping, e-transactions,
and now e-learning. The "e" has come to stand for a Digital Age and internet
focused transformation of a business process. "e" literally means the
"electronic" personification of a commerce, shopping or learning. But, it
also means modern, internet age, "venture capital friendly" and on-line.
"e-learning" is a great phrase, as it is a wider tent then just on-line
learning, web-based training, CBT, technology assisted, distance learning
or other phrases. We have a unique opportunity, as the term spreads to
vendor press releases, trade show signage and new venture business plans, to
define what the "e" REALLY should stand for.
I believe and will advocate the we can use the term "e-learning" to reflect
the both the technology and the EXPERIENCE of learning in this new age.
EXPERIENCE is an essential component of e-learning, for it is where the
VALUE lies. If we don't focus on the EXPERIENCE dimension of learning, we
run the risk of mistaking the publishing of information for learning and
training. Just taking a course outline and putting it into HTML is not
the best of e-learning. That is really only just about delivering reading
through the network. The EXPERIENCE side of e-learning would address
factors including:
- Engagement: How will we get the learner fully engaged?
- Curiosity: How will we harness the power of curiosity and exploration?
- Simulation and Practice: How can we give the learner powerful simulation
and practice opportunities?
- Remediation: How can we provide remedial and extending learning content?
- Coaching: How can we provide human and digital coaching for learners?
- Peer Learning: How can we build communities that will allow for the
SOCIAL DIMENSIONS of learning on-line? How can we harness peer learning?
- Action Learning: How can we build projects that will trigger action
learning and align with workplace challenges?
- Performance Support: How can we create e-learning programs that linger
and are of on-the-job performance support value to the learner and
organization?
- Intensity: How can we create high intensity, memorable learning
experiences?
- Assessment and Feedback: How can we help the learner to gain a better
sense of their own knowledge and gaps? How can the organization better
manage human capital through the use of e-learning?
- Teaching Culture: How can e-learning increase the amount of TEACHING
that occurs in the organization, triggering high value moments of teaching
throughout the workday?
Notice how I didn't include technology functions in the above list. The
exciting thing about ordering a book through e-commerce is not the HTML
that displays the booksite in my browser. It is the EXPERIENCE of ordering the
book that is different. I can see hundreds of thousands of books. I can
read reviews of the author. I can hear from other readers. I can see
links to similar books. Someday, I will be able to preview the text. The key to
e-book ordering is the EXPERIENCE of me, the buyer.
Likewise, the conversation must move rapidly from the "cool" aspect of
using technology to deliver content, conduct training transactions, have virtual
classrooms and build digital collaboration environments. We stipulate
that, with joy. Now, let's start the conversation about the EXPERIENCE of
the learner. Let's make sure that we don't "downshift" from a high
intensity classroom experience to a boring on-line learning moment. We can
and will do better. The "e"-learning that I am dreaming about has the
intensity of an airplane simulator, the support of an email from a trusted
mentor, the engagement of a great novel and creates the experience of
learning that makes a learner say WOW. The WOW is about their connection
with knowledge, not about the technology. The "e" is the power of the
EXPERIENCE - let us invent and create it!
(Join us at TechLearn '99 as we launch the "e-learning Initiative" - an
industry wide coalition of training managers and e-learning suppliers -
focused on advocating and defining this emerging field.) TechLearn '99 is
held in Orlando, FL from Oct 31 to Nov 3rd - http://www.techlearn.com for
information and registration.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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