The e-learning industry continues to invent and reinvent "innovative solutions", though it's clear that technology alone only goes so far. The really interesting perspectives on e-learning are those of corporate training managers who have tested out approaches, modified them, rejected some, and found out how to fit technologically-assisted training into their in-house programmes.
We are interested to hear from anyone who has been through this as a buyer and manager. We are happy to hear comments, positive and negative, about products and consultants, but what would be most useful to other managers is to know about the realities of using e-learning: the successes, failures, surprises, discoveries, and mistakes that won't be made again!
Is e-learning very good in some areas, but useless in others? How can you get staff to use it? Share your experiences. Let us know how technology has worked, or not worked for you, and to what extent you have now fitted it in, as a regular part of your in-house training. Email us with your experiences. If you are willing, we would be interested in doing a short interview on this subject.
E-learning industry excellence award
Happily we aren't the only ones interested in companies' implementation of e-learning. The Venture Marketing Group, who run several technology-based conferences and exhibitions including the forthcoming E-learning London have combined with the Learning Lab and the DfES National Research Centre for ICT in Education, Training and Employment, to produce an "industry excellence award". This award - recognises the UK company which has shown the "greatest innovation and leadership in adopting e-learning strategies for organisational development". VMG initially instigated the award after realising that corporate innovation in the learning field was not being recognised. The award was presented to Gartmore Investment Management, by the Director-General of the CBI, Digby Jones at CBI head office.
Professor Steve Molyneux, who runs the Learning Lab and chaired the panel of judges states that: "The judging of this award was extremely difficult. All nominees have shown remarkable achievements in what is a fast moving technological sector. This year’s winner demonstrated clearly that the successful implementation of e-learning has very little to do with technology but with teamwork and in particular collaboration between suppliers, customers contractors and most importantly colleagues. It is also evident from their strategy that blended solutions can offer the best of both the new and traditional learning and teaching methodologies."
Gartmore has invested both time and resources to implement a learning system recently. E-learning has been filtered throughout Gartmore over the last year, with more and more learning activities being brought on-line.
Karen Martin, Manager of the Learning and Development function at Gartmore, explained their growing use of e-learning: "We started with a company awareness programme for new recruits along with some technical and desktop training. We now offer courses covering regulatory, investment/product and also soft skills. Our 800 associates are gradually adapting to this new way of learning, although this is only one delivery method utilised throughout the company. We are starting to mix our delivery mechanisms by incorporating our current on-line content with classroom/coaching sessions. All content is accessed through Online Workplace Learning (OWL) which sits on our Corporate Intranet."
