AMERiCA LEARNiNG MEDiA

What expectations do the companies really have in relation to e-learning? How to develop effective and successful e-learning projects? What are the factors that can derail a project of e-learning? Main trends for e-learning in 2014.

Interview with Eric Skilling, Content Creator and Marketing at Vantage Path

(Calgary, Alberta – Canadá/ @americalearning) Eric Skilling has been creating great content since the 1990s. He began as co-editor and writer for Squidmail magazine during his studies at the Alberta College of Art & Design. In the 2000s, Eric helped develop video content for Slow Home Studio; a website and movement advocating a more thoughtful approach to residential design.

Eric can currently be found developing content for Vantage Path and ‘trying to save the world from bad online training’, as he said. In his spare time he is the host and producer of several podcasts.

What are the steps an organization needs to take in order to effectively deliver online training?

The most important first step that an organization needs to do is to get a handle on the best way that their current workforce learns. This will allow Learning and Development Managers to deliver a training solution that fits their needs.

If this crucial step is missed, then the ability for the training to deliver performance results is diminished. One of the best ways to determine the best way to train employees is through the use of a training needs analysis. The insight it gives helps determine the best type of training (online training, blended learning, or instructor-led training) for employees.

What expectations do the companies really have in relation to e-learning? Do you believe that online training can currently satisfy these expectations?

Companies want to make sure that their training investment is effective and that employees retain knowledge from training. Online training can satisfy these needs if the training is created with performance in mind.

Often we hear of companies who are unhappy with their online training program and the results they deliver. More often than not, it’s because the courses themselves aren’t designed with a solid instructional design foundation and are nothing more than a Powerpoint presentation with a testing component.

Can you recommend how to develop effective and successful e-learning projects? What are the factors that can derail a project of e-learning?

One thing we can’t stress enough is the importance of instructional design when it comes to developing successful e-learning. The instructional design component not only determines what is learned but also the knowledge is learned.

For any course designer, it’s critical that they take the time and make sure that the instructional design is as good as it can be before moving forward with the storyboarding and graphic design stages.

How is possible to create a work environment that favors online training?

It’s becoming easier! Cloud-based Learning Management Systems and mobile learning allow for more flexibility to take and resume online training anywhere, anytime.

What is BYOD and why is it important to the organization's online training?

BYOD or Bring Your Own Device is the practice of employees using their own personal smartphones, tablets, or laptops to access company resources. In terms of online training, this means employees will more readily have access to training resources.

On one hand, it allows employees to learn on a device that they know and are familiar with; on the other hand it saves training costs by having dedicated devices solely for training.

A new research developed by Docebo pointed that e-learning is the de facto standard for corporate training methods. What is your opinion?

I agree. In the case of this research paper, the percentage of classroom training has reduced from 41.4% in 2010 to 31.5% in 2013. Exclusively classroom training is shrinking however it doesn’t mean that it’s going away completely. We’re seeing more and more organizations utilize blended learning as it offers the benefits of both instructor-led and online training and maximizes performance.

What will be the main trends for e-learning in 2014?

Mobile learning will increase but not as much as we’d like. The authoring tools to create mobile learning still need work in order to optimize their HTML5 output. It’s almost there but there are still some quirks that we see when testing on the tablets and smartphones around our office. However, HTML5 output will improve improve as authoring tools also improve.

We will see more gamification elements in online training courses. This will be a response not only to younger employees who are familiar with some of the techniques but also a response from training managers who are looking for better performance and knowledge retention from employees.

Can students become producers of content? Do you think the appearance of learning solutions based on social networks such as Izzui can help increase this trend? Do you think this trend can help enhance the training process?

Solutions like Izzui allow almost anyone to become producers of content. However, becoming proficient at producing courses that maximize performance is a skill that can take years to master.

Courses that simply “tell” information rather than teach aren’t compelling and engaging to the learner. Because the courses aren’t compelling an employee may lack emotional investment and the desire to learn. This directly impacts performance. Simple “Presentation-style” online training courses are actually a detriment to learning and one of the reasons that organizations who have tried them in the past are looking for something better.