I am looking to find a 'quick fix' solution for a range of identified learning needs within our business at all levels. As the needs within the Organisation are generic (communication skills, problem solving, planning, etc) I wanted to find a reliable resource of CD ROM training to allow employees the opportunity to access training at their own pace, allowing me the opportunity to focus on other areas instead of delivering 'live' training. Most companies don't offer multiples for CD ROM training (that I have managed to find) in an Organisation where up to 100+ employees may want to access at any given time.
Can anyone help?
David Evans
6 Responses
Balance Learning
I would suggest contacting Balance Learning who offer a range of titles (including the subjects you mentions). They offer a number of different ways to access their content as well.
http://www.balancelearning.co.uk
Have you tried these suppliers?
Have you tried either Knowledgepool training or Video Arts?
Effective soft skills learning via CD-ROM?
David
I’m afraid I have some significant reservations about the effectiveness of any unsupported CD-ROM based learning for ‘quick fix’ development addressing interpersonal and soft skills issues.
Multimedia is great for knowledge and process topics like planning skills or problem solving but I would suggest that the skills element of your people-skills requirements (e.g. communication skills) should be addressed by a human being.
Multimedia CD-ROM material can certainly create learners that are essentially wiser about best practice approaches to soft-skills issues, but I don’t believe that they are capable of creating genuine and demonstable competency. A blended approach that involves human learning facilitators is really needed for that.
I have no doubt that traditional multimedia suppliers will now bombard us with postings disagreeing with me…
Regards
It all depends…
Adrian has thrown down the gauntlet and as someone who has been on both sides of the client/supplier fence, two experiences have come to mind that I’d like to share, but first of all, I agree that the blended route for soft skills training is definitely the recommended path, if at all possible.
But you may find some products out there that manage to be self-contained and “fit for purpose”. Back in the mid-90s, when I was resourcing materials for the learning centres of one of the banks, in response to a one-off request, I found a CD-ROM for Business Communications training (unfortunately, this product no longer exists). Within 4 months or so, we had gone from 1 copy to buying over 100 for the entire organisation. This CD-ROM seemed to provide everything the learner needed, did not appear to require any additional support and from the real customer satisfaction data that was being collected, was having an impact on our business. Hence why the stakeholders were soon demanding it become a core course. Only around 9 months later did we think about and start to blend the CD-ROM content into other learning programmes.
My tip is to pilot the content with some of your intended users and find out which products “tick the boxes” for them.
My second point refers to a practice that one of my clients successfully implemented with some generic content. They used to track the usage and when they saw that a pocket of people in one location had recently gone through the same training, they would send in a trainer to deliver a half-day mini-workshop to tie up the loose ends so to speak. This worked well for them.
suppliers
you need an independent supplier who can source from a variety of manufacturers. Try Interactive Training Scotland on 01738 625774 info@itscotland.co.uk
good luck
http://www.umbel.co.uk
I can recommend http://www.umbel.co.uk. It’s an online tool that could solve your problem and it’s reasonably priced.