Best Practices
“The key will always be to track the learning objectives to business objectives”

What are the main challenges that e-learning shall attend in the next two years? Which are the keys to provide customers the best solutions for elearning more adapted to their needs? How can a provider be effectively a partner of its customers in an elearning project? What are elearning customers now requiring in a solution?

Interview to Kristin Ford, Chief Effectiveness Officer - Best in Learning

 

Kristin is recognized first and foremost as a strategic relationship builder in both business and community, and believes in leveraging those relationships with integrity.

 

She is Past President of ASTD Twin Cities Chapter, and currently serves as sponsor liaison, as well as on the Marketing and Professional Development Committees. Kristin continues to serve as a sponsor liaison for the Uptown Art Fair, is a past board member of the Professional Association of Computer Trainers, and is a founding board member of Rebuilding Together Twin Cities (rebuildingtogether-twincities.org).

 

Kristin is a recipient of the National Association of Women Business Owner’s (NAWBO) “Woman on The Way” award.

 

What are the main challenges that e-learning shall attend in the next two years?

Kristin Ford: I see that the challenges will continue to be the rapid changes that take place in technology platforms and authoring tools.  For the most part, they keep getting faster/cheaper/better which are stunning  advances for us all.  However, the challenge is the rapid change. It is very difficult to remain current and cutting edge in the environment.  A lot of organizations lock themselves into multi-year agreements and it is simply not practical to remain current and agile in the environment.  The balance between price/quality is always a precarious one.  What a dream come true would be - is to watch a move away from platforms that simply run, track and report and are code based, to more flexible platforms built around how people actually learn, that are able to leverage multiple media and methodologies.

 

Which are the keys to provide customers the best solutions for elearning more adapted to their needs?

The key will always be to track the learning objectives to business objectives.  It is absolutely critical to do this.  I find most of my prospects and customers initially cannot answer this question.  It is also key to get buy-in from every level, including the learner and the learner's manager.  Change is hard.  In order for a performance metrics to occur we have to be ready for the change to happen.  Also, knowledge is not enough.  We have to tackle skills based learning with multiple methodologies as close to the work flow as we can possibly get it.


Elearning solutions providers increasingly defined themselves as partners with its clients and not simply as providers. How can a provider be effectively a partner of its customers in an elearning project?

A partner is an organization or a person who is truly an expert in their products and services who is willing to hold the customer accountable for measurable results.  This means taking the time to understand the business problem that is trying to be solved, and how we would know we got there or not.  If I'm not saving you money or making you money, don't spend any money.


What are elearning customers now requiring in a solution?

They demand, as they should, a very high quality for price paid.  I recommend not doing a project unless it is level 3 interactivity or above.  The reason for this is how our brains actually work.  If they don't really need to know it, remember it, and/or apply it, why in the heck are you doing it in the first place?  The absolute only exception to this is compliance.  If you really just need to check the box, then check it, and call it a day.

 

What is the value contribution that Best Learning offers in elearning industry?

I am a connector of solutions to problems, with a core expertise in learning solutions that are enabled through technology. I am a broker of multiple solutions (currently over 50 vendor partners) and after a discovery process will suggest alternative ways and providers that can solve the problem. I do, in fact, only work with customers and prospects that demand measurable results. I offer tremendous value to both my customers and vendor partners in that my business model is such that the customer never contracts with me, and never pays for my services. They contract with the solution or solutions that I have sourced, and I get paid a margin on the back end.  The vendor only pays me when I successfully sell their product. I am a commission only provider.

 

Can you tell us some of the most relevant projects in which involved your company?

Blended, customized technical training for channel partners and engineers at TE Connectivity, who installs and provides wireless networks throughout the world. Other custom projects include emergency procedures for Dakota County, a fairly significant change piece for Valspar Corporation, product knowledge for Herman Miller (largely EPSS) on both computer and multiple mobile devices. Currently working on newer technologies that are really exciting to me. They include fully simulated environments accessed on iPad or desktop, Complete learning path for on-boarding published into an app, and some pretty cool advanced gamification for surgeons.

 

February 2014