D+-+e-Learning


 * Part I:

Electronic Learning **or e-Learning is instruction and delivery of training by computers through the Internet or company intranet. E-Learning includes Web-based training, distance learning, virtual classrooms, and use of CD-ROMs. E-learning can include task support, simulation training, distance learning, and learning portals.

Features of e-Learning: **
 * Characteristics of e-Learning: **
 * 1) E-learning involves electronic networks that enable information and instruction to be delivered, shared, and updated constantly
 * 2) E-learning is delivered to the trainee via computers with Internet technology
 * 3) It focuses on learning solutions that go beyond traditional training to include information and tools that improve performance
 * 
 * Provides training content but allows learners to control what they learn, the speed at which they progress through the program, how much they practice, and even when they learn.
 * Allows learners to collaborate or interact with other trainees and experts, and it provides links to other learning resources such as reference materials, company Web sites, and other training programs.
 * Include various aspects of training administration such as course enrollment, testing, and evaluating trainees, and monitoring learning progress.


 * Goals of e-Learning: **
 * Designed to contribute to strategic business objectives.
 * Reduce training costs and time; e-Learning brings training to geographically dispersed employees at their locations, reducing travel costs.
 * Learning is enhanced through e-Learning because trainees are more engaged through the use of video, graphics, sound, and text.

This chapter discusses how valuable employee training is. The author states that by increasing worker education, there will be greater productivity than increasing capital allocations or work hours. Computer-based training shows that training can be used at anytime and anywhere; where any employee can receive the same training. According to the author, the computer-based trainings are usually cheaper and often more convenient. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Training is an //activity//. Learning is a personal result: one person’s absorption of ideas, skills, and competencies. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Development: the ultimate result for employees and for the organization; it means a person moves from one level of potential contribution to a higher one. Training ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">e-Learning is definitely a great way to implement training to all types of individuals. Benefits range from anytime access to reduction in costs of training. Something to consider when implementing e-Learning is the dropout rate in distance learning. There is a higher dropout rate than in traditional classroom instruction. Participants feel that they can 4 Elements required for distance learning to work: ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">
 * Walker Chapter 8**
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Training and Development **
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">
 * 1) <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Workforce that is accustomed to technology-based learning.
 * 2) <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">A recognition and reward system that validates learning in some concrete way
 * 3) <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">High priority given to learning.
 * 4) <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">A way to substitute for the group work and interactivity lost in e-Learning

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">According to this chapter, informal learning involves a more experienced employee “coaching” someone who is less experienced. “Formal” coaching and mentoring is just the title given to the program itself; the content is, and must be informal. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> All of the above categories are vital to employee success
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Coaching, Mentoring, and On-the-Job Training **
 * <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Categories of informal learning: **
 * 1) <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Pragmatic Learning – a piece of knowledge or skill necessary for the job
 * 2) <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Intrapersonal – an individual’s skill needs for navigating the workplace, solving problems, and coping with change
 * 3) <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Interpersonal – cooperating and working with individuals and groups
 * 4) <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Cultural – understanding organizational norms and behavioral expectations

Walker Chapter 9

Knowledge management is undergoing both transformation and explosive growth thanks to the advent of Web technology. Web technology has made it possible to overcome past technological barriers has made it the foundation of any future knowledge management.

What is knowledge managemen**t?

Knowledge management is the capture, maintenance, and sharing of knowledge to help people do their jobs better and add value to the work of the organization. Knowledge Management (KM) is much more than the technology that supports it and is most successful when organizations focus on several basic building elements.**


 * __Purpose__: Clear line of sight between the KM strategy and an organization's goals and business strategies
 * __Culture__: Dedication to learning and the sharing of knowledge
 * __Processes__: Roles, business activities and management practices that facilitate and sustain the building and sharing of knowledge
 * __Connections__: Environment and mechanisms that facilitate interactions among people for the creation, collaboration and transfer of knowledge.
 * __Content__: Well-organized and accessible information that is relevant, accurate, complete, and appropriate
 * __Technology__: Integrated systems and tools that enable easy capture, storage, retrieval, and sharing of knowledge

Knowledge management can overcome many obstacles such as
 * Disparate and incompatible sources
 * Information overload
 * Timeliness
 * Makes it more customizable

Knowledge management should not only be used for large organizations. It fits organizations of every size and type. Features of KM include:
 * __Content development and publicatio__n. In the past firms have had a special role in the organization at Knowledge Manager in response to the reality of too much information and too little use of relevance. Web based KM can collect, organize, and make information available in a timely manner.
 * __Personalization__ is the engine behind the KM system's ability to mass-customize continually to provide appropriate knowledge relevant to a specific individuals work and interests.
 * __Communities of Interes__t. The Web's collaboration and communication tools, combined with content filters and push features, suppose dramatic improvements in providing up-to-date, relevant knowledge and information to communities of interest. Since it is not humanely possible to stay abreast of all the new internally and externally generated knowledge that may be relevant, filters and push technology overcome these research limits of busy people.
 * __Collaboration__. This advances the Web's ability to provide virtual meetings. Web based KM allows for advances in video and audio streaming, add sounds and broadcast features, and together with text and graphics and interactive capabilities permit attendees to ask questions and contribute to conversation as if they were all in the same room.
 * Individual learning. Since people learn best from at their own pace, this allows employees to control the pace of the flow of data, review when necessary, and delve deeper into information or skim course content as they wish.
 * __Measurements.__ Wed based KM can even measure its own effectiveness. These measurements are based off of two measures; Aggregate impact(quantitative) and qualitative data. Examples of aggregate impact data and time/cost saving and before/after customer satisfaction surveys.Qualitative data measures the users experiences and perceived value of the system.
 * __Knowledge Generation__. This refers to knowledge that has not necessarily been collected from organizational and external sources, but has been created by both the use of the KM system and the lessons knowledge managers have learned from that use

Lessons learned while establishing a Knowledge Management Project:
 * __Organize the right KM team__. The best way to do this is to diversify your team. This allows for much varied expertise and many perspectives produced to create a better end result.
 * __Maintain the line of sight to business priorities__. Content has to be very relevant to users and usable in the work they do.
 * __Listen to your audience__. Users will give the best and most relevant feedback.
 * __Overcome organizational inertia__. You should not just deploy a KM system and leave it alone. It is important to reinforce the messages and demonstrate the value of the new KM environment. Winning the hearts and minds of the audience will lead to on going effort by employees to use it.
 * __Assess and adjust__. Use the measurements of quantitative and qualitative data that is being tracked over time.

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">   **Part II: Salas et al. (2005)** About Distance Learning

**Distance learning** is “the desired outcome of distance education.” It is a broader concept than e-learning, which is primarily considered to be associated with electronic and computer based learning methods. **Distance education** is defined as "Educational situation in which the instructor and students are separated by time, location, or both. Education or training courses are delivered to remote locations via synchronous or asynchronous means of instruction, including written correspondence, text, graphics, audio- and videotape, CD-ROM, online learning, audio- and videoconferencing, interactive TV, and FAX. Distance education does not preclude the use of the traditional classroom." Some benefits over traditional form of instruction //- The ability to train employees quickly and efficiently around the globe - Use the most knowledgeable instructors for high-quality training - Provide updates to training materials as necessary - Increase the responsibility trainees have for learning - Add trainees or instructors without much supplementary cost

media type="youtube" key="MMC0iaz6bac" height="344" width="425" <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> Guidelines for improving distance learning <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">   1. **Only provide distance learning when you are sure it meets the organization's needs** **-**Before distance learning is chosen as the strategy for delivering training, it is necessary to __consider the organization development problems that will adress and the manner in which it can help solve these problems.__
 * Example of distance learning**//

-Many organizations make mistake of buying a distance learning program before they consider the objectives of the program.

-"__One size fits all" does not apply to distance learning.__

The University of Phoenix Online is a great example of a successful Distance Learning Program. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> 2.**Take into consideration human cognitive processes when designing distance learning programs.** **-**Distance learning should be designed so that learning modules are consistent with the tenets of cognitive learning theory, a theory that explains how the mind processes environmental stimuli.

-In order for sensory information to be processed and stored in long-term memory, following events have to occur. //I. the critical information from the environment needs to be recognized. II. working memory has to be cleared so that room is available for rehearsal of this critical information. III. the new auditory and visual information has to be consolidated and then integrated with the information already present in long-term memory through rehearsal in working memory. IV. the knowledge and skills gained from the integration must be retrieved from long-term memory and placed into working memory when needed. V. meta-cognitive skills must guide and direct all of the above events.// <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> 3.**Enhance the learning experience by including both graphics and text in the presentation of learning topics** **.**
 * -** Using multiple forms of media in distance learning is advantageous, because individuals learn the most when they are actively engaged in the learning process.

-Active learning is facilitated when both graphics and text are used in distance learning, __because individuals are forced to make relevant connections between the words and the pictures.__

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> 4**.Include learning games.**
 * -**Learning games are typically computer games that have been adapted to train specific workplace skills.

-These games can be beneficial to learning in that they; //I, increase the appeal of online training. II, make the idea of "tests" less frightening III, facilitate discovery learning. IV, offer trainees substantial amounts of practice in workplace skills.//

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> 5.**Keep learners engaged.**
 * -** Estimates suggest that as many as 80% of employees who sign up for online training programs drop out before the programs end.

- One of the primary reasons why learners drop out is the failure of many online courses to keep leaners engaged; This problem, however, can often be remedied by a simple change in the focus of the distance learning program.

-__Learners are most likely to be engaged when they are able to see the benefits of training to on-the-job performance.__

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> 6.**Offer a blended approach.** **-**Although distance learning is often one of the most efficient ways to deliver training, it is sometimes not the most preffered.

-ASTD found that 62% of employees surveyed preferred classroom training to e-leaning.

-Offering a combination of training techniques will likely satisfy both employees who prefer to work online and employees who prefer classroom instruction. Studies have revealed that, when compared to traditional classroom instruction, __IBM's blended learning approach reduced training costs by one-third and increased learning outcomes by 500%__. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> 7.**Allow for interaction between trainees and for communication between trainees and facilitatiors. -**In a survey of online learning, results indicated that __only 3% of respondents preferred learning alone__.

-Distance learning programs can allow for interaction between trainees and for communication between trainees and facilitators through asynchronous and synchronous communication tools and by building factors into the program such as virtual communities and interactions with expert sources and facilitators. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> 8.**Offer computer-based, distance learning methods to computer-savvy trainees or train learners on computer basics before offering computer-based training.** **-**Distance learning that employs computer-based instruction will likely be most suitable for trainees with high levels of prior experience with computers; However, one way to bring trainees with lower levels of computer experience up to the level of trainees with more extensive experience is __to provide instruction on basic computer skills__ before trainees begin computer-based, distance learning.

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> 9.**Provide distance learning for hard skill training but supplement it with other forms of instruction for soft-skill training and for training on such abstract topics as workplace ethics**. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> **-**Distance learning appears to be particularly appropriate for the training of explicit, factual-based knowledge, for soft-skill training, and for training on such abstract topics as workplace ethics; However, distance learning might best be administered by supplementing it with other training approaches (lecture, role play).

10.**Offer trainee control over certain aspects of instruction -**Research findings suggest that learners benefit from increased control during the learning experience.

However, it might be better to __withhold some types of control from trainees, such as control over pacing, sequencing, and provision of optinal content__, because reseach has not shown these types of control to be consistently positive. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> 11.**When offering trainees control over instruction, make sure that trainee preparation, system design, and workplace conditions facilitate successful use of that control**. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> **-** In order to ensure that increased learner control will lead to better training outcomes, certain conditions should be met before trainees are granted this control, such as providing instructions on how to use learner control and why, allowing trainees to "skip" rather than "add" extra instruction, and promoting use of learner control through supervisor support of this instructional feature.
 * -**Trainees in distance learning programs might benefit from control over both the context of training examples/ practice problems and the amount of instruction;

//I.steps should be taken to prepare trainees to take control II. the distance learning system should be designed so that trainee can effectively make use of the control they have. III. workplace conditions must facilitate lerner control.//

12.**Guide trainees through the distance learning program.** -It is important that trainees still be given enough structure in the learning programs that they are able to learn the skills necessary for effective performance on the job.

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> __**-**Tools, such as advanced organizers and cognitive maps, may help trainees to have a better understanding of the core elements of training and, simultaneously, to traverse a distance learning program more easily.__

13.**Make the program user-friendly.** **-**A survey revealed that 36% of respondents cited poor design and mismatch of learning styles as the primary reason for abandoning e-learning programs. Thus, many elements must be incorporated into distance learning programs to make them more user-friendly. //I.distance learning courses should be designed by experts. II.the course content of distance learning must be divided into smaller, more manageable section**.**//

__- The course content of distance learning must be divided into small, manageable sections and each web page within the program should be limited to no more than two hundred words__.

-The quality of the course design can also be improved by including instructional pages at the beginning of each learning module.

-Several needs exist for the future of distance learning research and practice //I. applied researchers should conduct more robust evaluations of distance learning systems. II. researchers and practitioners must develop a catalog of what works in distance learning. III. practitioners need to standardize the design and architecture of distance learning so that distance learning is both created and presented in a consistent format. IV. researchers must study the application of synthetic learning environments to distance learning.//
 * Future needs in the design and delivery of distance learning system **

-This goes over the costs, types of students, technologies used, etc.
 * A good idea of what the future holds for distance learning is reviewed here. ( http://www.educationatlas.com/the-future-of-distance-learning.html )

Here is another example of distance learning and rapid growth. As you all know there are accredited colleges across the nation that allow people to get a degree all the way from across the country. -This is just one of many commercials advertising this idea. http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=future+of+distance+learning&emb=0&aq=f#q**

Conclusion **In years to come... -Synchronous learning tools will be used more readily -The application of blended learning approaches will be used on a wider basis -Technology will improve, allowing distance learning to be more easily accessed -All other facets of distance learning will become integrated to better promote the whole process

It is important to note that following the guidelines set forth earlier should be practiced and researched closely in order to improve Distance Learning for future generations.