InformationWeek
Defining The Business Value Of Technology
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February 26, 2001 |
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ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Tips For Maintaining E-Learning Momentum
By Sandra Swanson (sswanson@cmp.com)
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ompanies that plan E-learning initiatives often discover it's a Herculean endeavor. E-learning strategies can take months of planning and may entail a struggle to secure funding. Then it's time to wade through a sea of vendors for the right products and ultimately contend with myriad integration headaches.But all that hard work can be for naught. Once the E-learning project has been launched, here are some strategies to help maintain the momentum.
- Encourage peer learning: For most people, learning is a social process. That's why it's important to incorporate "the human touch" in the E-learning experience, says Nuala Sweeney, VP of client services for PrimeLearning.com. "Encourage your staff to use the collaborative components of E-learning--discussion threads, chat sessions, and virtual classes--to share ideas and benefit from discussing their viewpoints and the experience with others."
- Guide employees to the best content: "You don't want to post an online library of 1,000 course titles and then tell employees, 'OK, go make yourselves smart,' " says Gartner analyst Clark Aldrich. Employees' first exposure to E-learning is critical, so don't take chances by making them sort through a mountain of titles on their own. Provide course recommendations that will lead to a positive first experience. Companies that purchase extensive content libraries with, say, a dozen or more courses on leadership must determine which two or three courses are the best. One way to narrow the field: After purchasing content from a vendor, ask the company to suggest a handful of courses that provide the highest-quality learning experience, Aldrich says.
- Seek E-learning sponsors for continued support: To obtain the initial green light for E-learning, it's critical to have an executive sponsor outside of the training department--someone who believes in E-learning's benefits and has influence at high levels. That person plays a critical role in keeping the project on track. "Once you have the funding in place, there are other challenges along the way," says Brandon Hall, lead researcher at Brandon-hall.com. To address those roadblocks, E-learning needs a vocal, respected advocate. If more IT resources are needed after the rollout, E-learning sponsors can help petition for them. Says Brian Corbett, Air Canada's director of E-learning and knowledge management, "Without executive sponsorship, any project will be lost in the priority list."
- Offer E-learning in manageable chunks: It's hard enough to maintain students' attention in a classroom setting for two hours. Imagine how their eyes will glaze over when seated in front of a computer screen for that period of time. When learning is provided in 10-to 20-minute modules, workers are more likely to stay engaged. And when learning is divided into small chunks, workers can access it more easily during downtime. At Air Canada, learning modules never exceed 15 minutes. This lets ramp employees who load and unload plane cargo access E-learning between flights.
- Create a thoughtful learning environment: Help those in training avoid telephone and E-mail interruptions. If they have formal training schedules, notify their managers of their schedules so they will know when the workers are engaged in training, Sweeney says. And if learners are using audio material, give them headphones to avoid disrupting co-workers.
back to main story, "E-Learning Branches Out"
Illustration by Lorraine Tuson
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