Monday
May142001
203 - e-Learning Perspective: Blended as Multi-Method; e-Learning Tip: Technical vs. Content Support; e-Learning Concern: The Day After The LMS; Learning Executive Focus: Better Targets for ROI; The Hype Level of e-Learning
May 14, 2001
1. e-Learning Perspective: Blended as Multi-Method - The use of Blended
Learning is the quiet little secret about e-Learning. Almost every
organization that we visit is doing more Blended Learning than the
industry is talking about. By Blended, I am referring to Multi-Method
Learning. The use of more than one strategy or delivery system for
learning. If we look at ourselves as a learners, we are all natural
multi-method learners. We take a classroom based course and we spend
minutes to talking to peers outside the classroom about the content. We
read a book and then we talk to our family or colleagues about it. We
take an on-line class only to find that we are picking up the phone to
talk to an instructor for support. We need to recognize the Multi-Method
nature of learners. However, most of the e-Leaning products and services
only give lip service to Multi-Method. Remember, people will blend,
either overtly or covertly. Let's keep the focus on the LEARNING part of
e-Learning. (Note: We have just added a Blended Learning Forum to this
year's TechLearn 2001 event in October -- www.techlearn.com)
2. e-Learning Tip: Technical vs. Content Support - One of the tips that
came from a recent meeting of our e-Learning CONSORTIUM was to build a new
button into e-Learning environments (live or asynchronous). This button
would allow a learner to define if they needed technical support or
content support. So often, one is in the middle of presenting a virtual
classroom, only to have a learner raise their hand and then ask a
technical question. What if they could raise a technical vs. content
hand, with the question being handled by different people based on
content. One of the great frustrations of e-Trainers is how much time
they spend on resolving technical issues. (Note: We have opened up a new
section of our popular Skills for e-Trainers program - June 27 - 29 at the
MASIE e-LAB in Saratoga Springs)
3. e-Learning Concern: The Day After The LMS - As organizations are
adopting Learning Management Systems (LMS) for enterprise wide efforts, we
are hearing a concern that needs to be addressed by both vendors and the
industry. "What do we do the day after the LMS is installed?" This
question reveals a parallel between LMS and large ERP Data Base projects.
Organizations MUST define both an LMS technology but also a LMS
METHODOLOGY approach. The LMS yields a wealth of data and functionality
for the organization, but how will they CHANGE their learning processes
the day after the LMS goes "live"? Ultimately, this may be where we see
the role of integrators and process focused organizations, as they add a
methodology layer on top of LMS technology.
4. Learning Executive Focus: Better Targets for ROI - We continue to get
daily questions from organizations on how handle requests for ROI data
from senior management for the broad spectrum of new training approaches,
including e-Learning. The two measures that seem to be taking hold in the
field include:
a) TIME TO MARKET: How much more rapidly can organizations launch a new
product or service, as the result of using learning and technology
approaches? Time to market hits a high resonance point for both employee,
supply chain and even customer focused e-Learning efforts.
b) TIME TO HIRE/DEPLOY: How much more rapidly can organizations hire and
deploy a new staff member? The nimbleness of an organization to add and
utilize new staff as conditions change is perceived as a tangible ROI for
e-Learning investments.
5. General Pulse: The Hype Level of e-Learning? There continues to be a
two headed view of e-Learning in the field. On the one hand, we have
never had more interest and actual implementation of e-Learning in large
scale organizations. On the other hand, the total expenditures on
e-Learning have not been matching the huge predictions that many in the
media have touted. And, at the same time there is a natural process of
start-ups fading, in a very crowded marketplace.
The HYPE that drives me crazy can be categorized by three sentences that
we all hear way too often:
a) "We are the LEADING provider of e-Learning!" I am now tracking 219
companies that use that phrase in their marketing pitches. Leadership is
proven by the gains that organizations achieve using good products and
strategies. Of course we are are interested in how many other
organizations are using a product, but let's back it up with clear case
examples and focus on leadership through performance!
b) "Our product WORKS WITH product X!" What does it mean when a company
says they now strategically work with other products? Does it mean that
the work has been done to make these 2 pieces of software interface, or
does it mean that for a large fee we will try to make them work? Let's
talk more about real standards and documented functional integration.
c) "e-Learning will be 72% of all Learning by 200x!" These predictions do
not map to what real companies are doing. The reality is that
organizations are adding significant learning with technology options to
their training plates. In some cases, virtual classrooms and on-line
training is growing dramatically. Remember that the bulk of
current learning does not take place in a classroom. It takes place in a
context of informal settings. The classroom will change, our processes
will change and our learners' expectations will change. The "e" in
e-Learning will vanish in a couple of years and we will accept that
learning will leverage the technology resources of our organizations to
increase effectiveness. But, let's be careful about throwing too many
predictions into corporate PowerPoint presentations that may come back to
haunt us.
Upcoming MASIE Center Events and Services: www.masie.com
- e-LEARNING Europe 2001 - Dublin Ireland, July 9 & 10
- Skills for e-TRAINERS - Saratoga Springs, Monthly Sessions
- TechLearn 2001 + World e-Learning CONGRESS + Blended Learning Forum -
October 28 to 31 - Orlando, Florida
- Learning Decisions Monthly Research Newsletter -
www.learningdecisions.com
Learning is the quiet little secret about e-Learning. Almost every
organization that we visit is doing more Blended Learning than the
industry is talking about. By Blended, I am referring to Multi-Method
Learning. The use of more than one strategy or delivery system for
learning. If we look at ourselves as a learners, we are all natural
multi-method learners. We take a classroom based course and we spend
minutes to talking to peers outside the classroom about the content. We
read a book and then we talk to our family or colleagues about it. We
take an on-line class only to find that we are picking up the phone to
talk to an instructor for support. We need to recognize the Multi-Method
nature of learners. However, most of the e-Leaning products and services
only give lip service to Multi-Method. Remember, people will blend,
either overtly or covertly. Let's keep the focus on the LEARNING part of
e-Learning. (Note: We have just added a Blended Learning Forum to this
year's TechLearn 2001 event in October -- www.techlearn.com)
2. e-Learning Tip: Technical vs. Content Support - One of the tips that
came from a recent meeting of our e-Learning CONSORTIUM was to build a new
button into e-Learning environments (live or asynchronous). This button
would allow a learner to define if they needed technical support or
content support. So often, one is in the middle of presenting a virtual
classroom, only to have a learner raise their hand and then ask a
technical question. What if they could raise a technical vs. content
hand, with the question being handled by different people based on
content. One of the great frustrations of e-Trainers is how much time
they spend on resolving technical issues. (Note: We have opened up a new
section of our popular Skills for e-Trainers program - June 27 - 29 at the
MASIE e-LAB in Saratoga Springs)
3. e-Learning Concern: The Day After The LMS - As organizations are
adopting Learning Management Systems (LMS) for enterprise wide efforts, we
are hearing a concern that needs to be addressed by both vendors and the
industry. "What do we do the day after the LMS is installed?" This
question reveals a parallel between LMS and large ERP Data Base projects.
Organizations MUST define both an LMS technology but also a LMS
METHODOLOGY approach. The LMS yields a wealth of data and functionality
for the organization, but how will they CHANGE their learning processes
the day after the LMS goes "live"? Ultimately, this may be where we see
the role of integrators and process focused organizations, as they add a
methodology layer on top of LMS technology.
4. Learning Executive Focus: Better Targets for ROI - We continue to get
daily questions from organizations on how handle requests for ROI data
from senior management for the broad spectrum of new training approaches,
including e-Learning. The two measures that seem to be taking hold in the
field include:
a) TIME TO MARKET: How much more rapidly can organizations launch a new
product or service, as the result of using learning and technology
approaches? Time to market hits a high resonance point for both employee,
supply chain and even customer focused e-Learning efforts.
b) TIME TO HIRE/DEPLOY: How much more rapidly can organizations hire and
deploy a new staff member? The nimbleness of an organization to add and
utilize new staff as conditions change is perceived as a tangible ROI for
e-Learning investments.
5. General Pulse: The Hype Level of e-Learning? There continues to be a
two headed view of e-Learning in the field. On the one hand, we have
never had more interest and actual implementation of e-Learning in large
scale organizations. On the other hand, the total expenditures on
e-Learning have not been matching the huge predictions that many in the
media have touted. And, at the same time there is a natural process of
start-ups fading, in a very crowded marketplace.
The HYPE that drives me crazy can be categorized by three sentences that
we all hear way too often:
a) "We are the LEADING provider of e-Learning!" I am now tracking 219
companies that use that phrase in their marketing pitches. Leadership is
proven by the gains that organizations achieve using good products and
strategies. Of course we are are interested in how many other
organizations are using a product, but let's back it up with clear case
examples and focus on leadership through performance!
b) "Our product WORKS WITH product X!" What does it mean when a company
says they now strategically work with other products? Does it mean that
the work has been done to make these 2 pieces of software interface, or
does it mean that for a large fee we will try to make them work? Let's
talk more about real standards and documented functional integration.
c) "e-Learning will be 72% of all Learning by 200x!" These predictions do
not map to what real companies are doing. The reality is that
organizations are adding significant learning with technology options to
their training plates. In some cases, virtual classrooms and on-line
training is growing dramatically. Remember that the bulk of
current learning does not take place in a classroom. It takes place in a
context of informal settings. The classroom will change, our processes
will change and our learners' expectations will change. The "e" in
e-Learning will vanish in a couple of years and we will accept that
learning will leverage the technology resources of our organizations to
increase effectiveness. But, let's be careful about throwing too many
predictions into corporate PowerPoint presentations that may come back to
haunt us.
Upcoming MASIE Center Events and Services: www.masie.com
- e-LEARNING Europe 2001 - Dublin Ireland, July 9 & 10
- Skills for e-TRAINERS - Saratoga Springs, Monthly Sessions
- TechLearn 2001 + World e-Learning CONGRESS + Blended Learning Forum -
October 28 to 31 - Orlando, Florida
- Learning Decisions Monthly Research Newsletter -
www.learningdecisions.com
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