How do you find using self-paced elearning as a way to teach Basic IT Skills (such as basic components of a computer, word, excel, etc)?
Assuming learners have very limited prior skills such as key-borading and basics of computer...
Thanks for any input!
teresa liu
4 Responses
The silver bullet!
Hi Teresa,
There are those that will maintain that e-learning is the answer to all our training needs. I do not feel that way! I firmly believe that it could, and should, be used as the powerful/cost effective tool for which it has evolved.
OK, so off my soapbox. Depending on what you are trying to achieve; I would highly recommend the BBC Webwise CDROM or course, which is I believe is free, to achieve a PC basic literacy benchmark. If you wish to have your personnel competent in the use of any software, i.e. Microsoft Office, I would not recommend e-learning. I have delivered software training and even to the seasoned PC user, without the help and assistance of an instructor, some software packages appear to be a minefield for some individuals. I believe that computers and software daunt many individuals, and these people need a holding hand approach. Using e-learning methods for novices only increases their fears and in some cases puts them off altogether. Just my opinion!
Best of luck
Clive
cliveodonnell@hotmail.com
No one solution fits all
Teresa
One the many pieces of ‘spin’ about e learning is that some people would have you believe it can do everything and will save you heaps of money.
Like most things in life though a more balanced view is needed.
People like to have people to help them when they are being introduced to something new. Once they have a little knowledge and are more comfortable and confident they can then use their new skills to learn others.
In my experience IT course are often peoples first experience of technology based training.
For a start cost does come into it, it is cheaper to train en masse with tbt as opposed to face to face. The mistake is that people often think there is then no need for support from people. This is wrong as people always have questions and need someone to ask them. That support doesn’t have to be face to face it could be via the phone or email, as long as it is there.
I guess I am only reiterating the call for ‘blended’ solutions when training entire workforces.
Appropriate media selection is often overlooked, in the past the default was face to face now it appears to be coming around to the defaul of always e learning.
Oh for some common sense.
Basic IT Skills?
Without these (hence the need for the training) how on earth could users use e-learning?!!
The Human Touch
Having recently piloted e-learning with 300 people around the world, it became evident that in many cases, a trainer/HR representative was required to be at the side of the learner the first time they accessed the training (perhaps 10 minutes per learner).
The main issues were not with the training course itself – most were very intuitive with clear instructions – but with the registration routines to get access to the course on the network/Web. Once understood, the learner was able to carry on largely unsupported. I found that even those with little or no computing experience soon forgot their fears and concerns and enjoyed their new learning experience.