2008: That was the year that was…
2008 is a year few of us will forget in a hurry. But as the credit crunch rolls into recession, it has been interesting to hear so many voices stress the importance of investing in skills. So how has L&D fared over the past 12, turbulent, months? Rebecca Midgley asked some key industry figures about […]
From minor to major: Sheffield the ‘elearning capital of Europe’
At first glance it is perhaps an unlikely contender, yet Sheffield is shouting its merits loudly and is fast becoming the elearning capital of Europe. Annie Hayes talks to the experts behind Sheffield’s transformation as an ehub. The digital campus The creative and digital industries in Sheffield: The stats Employs over 20,000 people 32% employment […]
Ten steps to creating the perfect blend
Francis Marshall shares some tips on how to create successful blended learning programmes. Blended learning programmes can play a key role in driving down the cost of training, speeding up learning and making training more accessible to a wider audience – all important in the current economic climate. Here are my tips for developing successful […]
Elearning: What is it good for?
Taking your first steps with elearning? Rob Hubbard gives some advice on where it works well – and when you should consider other training methods. My two-year-old son loves ‘Bob The Builder’: the cartoon handyman who can turn his hand to anything. He has a positive ‘can-do’ attitude and attacks each job with great gusto. […]
A week in training: Education and Skills in the spotlight
It’s all about education and skills this week following the landmark Education and Skills Act 2008, Sir Alan Sugar signs up to back the push for apprenticeships, Universities Secretary John Denham’s University Challenge looks set for success and a new report suggests women may make better leaders than men. Almost a decade after last addressing […]
Learning technologies in the spotlight
The Association for Learning Technology’s annual conference, ALT-C 2008, brought together over 700 delegates and more than 100 speakers from all over the world. Catherine Dhanjal reports on some highlights from the conference. Here are some highlights from the ALT conference: a report on two presentations from the business sector, and a fascinating seminar on […]
Second Life: Flamboyant fantasies or the future of learning?
Picture this: Mermaids tweaking the finer points of a business plan with jet-propelled business people wearing turbo-charged loafers. Welcome to the phenomenon that is Second Life. Avatar playing in virtual worlds is taking off apace, but can this really be learning or is it just time-wasting gaming? Annie Hayes reports. What is it?Second Life is […]
Free, flexible software for elearning
With elearning on a stellar rise, more and more organisations are looking to introduce or improve their online learning management systems. Ray Lawrence considers the software options. A wide variety of software packages is available to allow companies to manage their elearning systems. These include proprietary solutions, systems developed in-house, and open source software. Of […]
A week in training: The £65m skills booster
This week: there’s a £65m pot for boosting skills in science, manufacturing and engineering, managers show support for extending flexible working to all, learndirect launches an interactive game to boost literacy and numeracy, and staff show a lack of trust in their senior managers. £65m skills boost for science, manufacturing and engineeringSemta, the sector skills […]
The rise and rise of elearning
Why has elearning seen such phenomenal growth over the past two decades? After starting out clunky and chunky, it has successfully adapted to meet today’s business needs, says Chris Parr. Traditionally, elearning was notorious for simply putting manuals online. In its infancy, elearning was characterised by a rather unintelligent ‘just in case’ usage, centred on […]
Effective elearning: Ten top tips
Dr Jo Cheesman provides essential pointers for getting the most out of elearning. 1. Focus on performanceEffective elearning should improve both the individual and the organisation’s performance. It’s important to identify individual learning objectives in line with organisational goals and learning strategy, and to design elearning that meets both needs.2. Put measurements in placeIt’s surprising […]
A week in training: A vision of the C21st trainer
As an L&D professional are you firmly rooted in C21st? Find out how the CIPD would view you as it presents its vision of the modern trainer. Meanwhile the government invests millions in advertising Train to Gain and it turns out that coaching doesn’t always mean a lucrative contract. CIPD sets out its vision of […]
Surviving IT training nightmares
PCs and projectors break down… the wrong software turns up… there are more students than terminals… Jooli Atkins offers band-aid solutions and preparation tips for IT trainers, for when it all goes horribly wrong. The technology being trained on is often a major area of concern to IT trainers. Is it going to work? It […]
Embracing change: A key tactic in difficult times
Clive Shepherd maintains that difficult times provide a great opportunity to implement change and make decisions that have been on hold for far too long. Here he argues that the next few years could be make or break for many working in learning and development – but maybe that’s not such a bad thing? Recessionary […]
A week in training: Beat the bullies
This week: Studies paint a worrying picture of bullying in the workplace. The almost 50% of workers claim to be, or have been, bullied, while managers and organisations seem largely ineffective in dealing with it. Elsewhere, the government pledges yet more money for skills and MEPs vote against the UK’s EU working time directive opt […]
Getting to the Hart of learning technologies
In the latest column looking at what’s new in the training and elearning software market, Jane Hart points to virtual world training for business, a free shareware application for digital discussions, the latest release of OpenOffice, an online whiteboard and more smart technologies. Business Showcase for Virtual WorldsCranial Tap launched a business solutions showcase geared […]
Elearning: A personal tutor on the computer?
Individual tutoring is shown to achieve far better results than group teaching. Dick Moore argues that elearning is the perfect medium for delivering tailored, individual tuition in a cost-effective way. The debate surrounding the role of technology in improving workplace skills has intensified in recent months. In the 2008 Skills Evolution Report produced by Ufi, […]
A week in training: The skills to survive recession
This week: More evidence that training and development is the key for companies wanting to survive the recession, the CIPD warns of redundancies to come and the CBI highlights the advantages for business of working with universities to boost skills. As the recession bites harder, a new Nurturing Talent report from Cranfield School of Management […]
Software Satisfaction Awards 2008 – The winners
The suspense is over, and 20 companies are celebrating their successes in this year’s Software Satisfaction Awards, which were handed out at a glitzy ceremony in London on Thursday night.“This is the third annual Software Satisfaction Awards dinner – and I’m really proud to see that we have created an annual gathering where the industry […]
Best of 2008: Gadget of the year
What did we do before gadgets and gizmos came along to make our lives better? Thanks to everyone who voted in this category. It seems that 2008 has been the year of the Smartphone. Swanky all singing, all dancing smartphone, gadget of 2008.Newfangled digital music listening devices. Good, but not that good.Seriously though, who could […]
