204 - e-Learning Perspective: Value in the Supply Chain Process; e-Learning Tip: Leverage the Classroom for e-Learning Comfort; e-Learning Concern: Quality Impatience

1. e-Learning Perspective: Value in the Supply Chain Process - I had the
privilege of addressing 1,000 manufacturing executives earlier this week.
For these folks, the internet is alive, well and achieving significant
gains as it dramatically changes the Supply Chain process. As customers,
suppliers and manufacturers are linked together for instant information
and supply chain management, the gains to the bottom line are incredible.
I spoke with several senior executives who were seeing 5% to 8% gains in
the gross margins as a result of applying supply chain technology to their
manufacturing and distribution processes. They took to the e-Learning
conversation with a vengeance! For them, e-Learning can address a number
of the time/cycle glitches that occur as products are ordered,
provisioned, manufactured and shipped. Their eyes opened wide as they
imagined a network that would provide just-in-time learning on product
features and requirements. They were deeply enthusiastic to add Digital
Collaboration to the growing "exchange" models that are being developed by
leading manufacturers. My learning ... shift my eyes internally to look
at the roles that the internet and e-Learning can play in adding
efficiency to INTERNAL PROCESSES. (Supply Chain Learning will be a focus
at TechLearn 2001 www.techlearn.com)

2. e-Learning Tip: Leverage the Classroom for e-Learning Comfort - One of
the most effective ways to introduce and train new learners how to learn
in an e-Learning environment is to use the traditional classroom as a
setting. A number of training departments have begun to introduce a
module into every classroom event that uses the e-Learning interface in
their organization and familiarizes the learners with this model. The
classroom is a great evangelical setting for e-Learning and also sends the
strong message that Blended Learning is the future. The learner sees the
trainer using and talking about e-Learning with comfort and begins to make
the connection with the range of blended options.

3. e-Learning Concern: Quality Impatience - I have had several intense
conversations in recent days about the QUALITY of eLearning programs.
People will often say, "But when will e-Learning be awesome!" I believe
that we have to look at the field as an ever improving art and science and
to place quality into that context. Web pages from five years ago were
jokes when we look at them today, but they were exciting and business
enabling five years ago. We learned how to use the medium and began to
understand the human response to technology. In the same way, e-Learning
is getting better and better. We have to consider several things when
judging the quality of e-Learning:

- Don't Just Compare e-Learning to the Classroom! Look at what it can do
on it's own, where it can reach people that will never get to the
classroom and how it can change the process of how we share knowledge.
Look, if a telephone call is never as good as seeing and hugging a good
friend, yet that does not destroy my perception of its value and quality.
- Separate Technology from Methodology: Some of the constraints of
e-Learning are more in the technology arena, with the new process of
sharing media like voice and video over the net. Let's judge quality from
a technology perspective and then also judge quality from the experience
of learning activities perspective.
- Quality May be Cultural and Generational: What one person gets all
excited about may be very different than another person of a specific age,
position or culture. I love to ask what people really like about
e-Learning experiences and what do they hope it will "grow into" in the
years ahead.

4. Senator Charles Schumer Visits Our e-Lab: We had a surprise visit
today from New York Senator Charles Schumer to our e-LAB in Saratoga
Springs. He wanted to take a close-up look at how e-Learning was
developing and discuss the role that bandwidth will play in the growth of
knowledge transfer. Senator Schumer took a drive on a Virtual Classroom
and immediately went to the concept of how their meetings at the Senate
would change with Digital Collaboration Tools. We talked about the role
that learning plays in both government and politics and how e-Learning
might impact the process. The Senator was also intrigued with the role
that asynchronous capture of live events might have on how citizens could
participate in decision making at all levels of government. (He also
loved the Bee Gees that were playing on our e-LAB sound system when he
came to the new building.) Note: There are still spaces in one of our
upcoming e-LAB Skills for e-TRAINERS sessions in Saratoga at the end of
June - www.masie.com)

Upcoming MASIE Center Events: Info and registration at www.masie.com
- e-Learning EUROPE 2001 - Dublin, Ireland - July 9 and 10
- TechLearn 2001 + Blended Learning Symposium - Orlando - Oct 28 to 31
- Skills for e-TRAINERS: Monthly Sessions in Saratoga Springs - June 2001