eLearning Hava Haberfeld

WW Documentation and Training Development Manager, Creo

May 2005

Topics eLearning for techies

What is it? Difference between methods, platforms, and tools

eLearning development: methods and tools CBT, WBT Do-it-in-house, rapid eLearning Blended learning Web collaboration, live eLearning (webinars) EPSS, wizards, simulations, games, videos

eLearning platforms LMS, LCMS Internet training portals Closed content and technology training systems

eLearning buzzwords Informal knowledge exchange

Best practices for translation

eLearning for techies

eLearning: “Any intentional learning activitydelivered via interactive electronic media”

Typical audiences: customers or end users of hi-tech products and service or sales personnel supporting and selling these products

Difference between methodologies, platforms, and tools

Methodologies: CBT, WBT, rapid eLearning, blended learning, and more

Platforms: LMS, LCMS, training portals, and more

Tools: Flash, Shockwave, RoboDemo, Captivate, and more

eLearning development: CBT

CBT (computer-based training) is a standalone course on CD-ROM; CBTs were first developed in the early 90s.

Courses were interactive, with branching, simulations, feedback, videos, and animation.

Development was expensive and time consuming, and courses were hard to upgrade.

eLearning development: WBT

WBT (Web-based training, or eLearning): Learning can be conducted “anywhere, anytime” as long as a browser-based Web connection is available.

Longer shelf life: Updates can be implemented once on a server instead of at each training location.

Downside: Bandwidth is a limitation to media richness (streaming video).

Wait time denigrates the learning experience.

eLearning development:Rapid eLearning

Do-it-in-house, or rapid eLearning: a small amount of off-the-shelf courseware and a large amount of custom-developed software that is 100% specific to the organization

Examples:

In-house workshops

Videotapes

Printed training materials

Presentations converted to online format

eLearning development: Blended learning

A combination of delivery methods that leverage the strength of each method for every content type

A complete package that can include self-paced and classroom learning; live Web-based classrooms; videotapes; one-on-one coaching; and more

eLearning development: Webinars

Live eLearning and Web collaboration: Experts share their knowledge:

Live session: synchronous

Recorded session: asynchronous

Examples include live distance classes, virtual seminars or webinars, meeting communities of practice, and so on.

eLearning development:EPSS, wizards, simulations, games

EPSS: electronic performance support systems

Wizards and context-sensitive online help

Simulations, learning games, videos

eLearning platforms: LMS

LMS (learning management system): a solution for delivering training to many locations and enabling learner evaluation

Student administration and data reporting system: off the shelf or created in house

Automated administration of CBTs and Web-based training:

Launching and tracking of courses

Reports

Online collaboration consisting of discussions, chat rooms, news and document posting, and so on

eLearning platforms:Downside of LMS

LMSs don’t do what was expected!

Not plug and play—industry standards are too loose (SCORM, AICC).

ROI of LMS implementation is difficult to calculate.

Administration that LMS provides is too generic; in most cases, it needs further customization.

eLearning platforms:LMS, LCMS, VCS

eLearning platforms: LCMS

Authoring tools are usually linked to an LMS system.

Testing and follow-up of learner’s performance are embedded in the training program.

eLearning platforms:Internet training portals

Internet training portals: one-stop shops for e-commerce of courseware both online and offline

Vertically focused portals, or vortals: offer their own content (corporate “universities,” McGraw-Hill, SkillSoft, DigitalThink, and so forth)

Downside: Massive eLearning content is not designed to serve specific business needs, and instructional quality is poor.

eLearning platforms:closed content & technology systems

Available as packaged content with customization (customer logos on external portal interface)

May be more economical and efficient than developing complete in-house systems

Must be performance-driven and shaped around business-critical requirements

eLearning buzzwords

Learning organizations: Represent a move from learning as reactive, isolated events to learning as a sustainable, proactive process in the organization

Knowledge management: Uses internal knowledge in all forms to sustain the learning career of every employee

Both trends imply a closer link with HR for job definitions, compensation, career paths, and certification.

eLearning buzzwords: Informal knowledge exchange

Part of the knowledge management trend: training without trainers through informal knowledge exchange

Knowledge from organization’s experts collected in documents; resulting knowledge base is indexed and structured

Expert systems for capturing the tacit knowledge in an organization

Best practices for translation

Use Unicode-supporting tools such as HTML, XML, Captivate, Flash MX 2004, and Shockwave.

Store text in external database or XML files to be read into the WBT during runtime; this method facilitates translation and management.

Avoid text within graphics.

Keep clean, organized, and updated scripts for all WBTs.

Leave extra space for character-consuming languages such as German and Spanish.

Outsource large translation jobs to established vendors, which provide experts to address the many specific issues in each language.