I have been tasked with launching an elearning system which our business has started using in the US.
We currently have training courses that have been created specifically for our business here in the UK and the elearning system doesn't reflect them too closely so it will be difficult to use them together in a blended learning package.
Has anyone any experience of launching a system in tandem with traditional training?
Eleanor Harrison
2 Responses
Disparate Learning
You are right to be cautious!
Another major e-learning vendor coined the phrase “disparate learning” to describe different training materials from different sources being combined to form a blended programme, with the result that the confusion that was created with conflicting messages and context, destroying any of the benefits from adopting this approach!
Unless you are prepared to tailor the classroom training to reflect the online learning (this is generally the cheapest and easiest part to change) the chances are you will confuse!
I spent four years back in the late 90s working on blended learning programmes at a major financial services company. We would review the generic material for closeness of fit and then build the other interventions to provide a “seemless” blend.
And in my current role, we build all the elements of our blended learing programmes from the ground up, to ensure that each element genuinely builds on the one before.
Retro-fitting will be harder, but if you are required to offer these courses I would map them to the current programmes you run and match them to your own competencies, but be clear in your marketing that in some cases they offer an alternative viewpoint or approach to that on your current programmes.
Clear signposting will remove the need for your learners to have to think too hard about which courses to take and managing expectations as to their compatibility with other training will minimise any confusion. You may also decide to promote them as follow-up to existing courses, where maybe an alternative treatment would help someone who was struggling with your current approach.
One last thing, as I used to do, don’t be afraid to say “no” and to omit certain courses from your directory if they really would cause too many problems.
Dis-aggregation
Eleanor,
I agree with Tim entirely. I’d also add a couple of extra points.
If some of the content is interpersonal skills, you will find it doesn’t easily translate from US to UK culture. Get material designed for UK culture.
Secondly, more providers are allowing customers to dis-aggregate their content into “learning objects”. You can then take bits which are relevant and discard the others, using a Learning Content Management System. This is a “library” of e-learning content – usually supplied as part of a bigger LMS.