E-LearningReal World Advice
Learners
Challenges / OpportunitiesLearner Attitude
· Learner must take more responsibility for learning. More responsibility is shifted from the instructor to the learner.
· Learner may not take e-learning as seriously as a “real” course.
· Learner may have a fear of new technology. / · Provide accurate reflection of required time on the course syllabus for work outside main sessions (read and respond to postings, etc).
· Be honest about difficulties and learner anxieties.
· Be enthusiastic about the advantages.
Learner Environment
· Shared work space
· Co-worker interruptions
· Patron interruptions
· May need an extra phone line
· May need a headset and microphone / · Access courses from home if possible and if compensation issues are addressed.
· Post a sign in your space.
· Schedule before or after library hours.
· Make sure you have what you need a day ahead of time.
Technology
· Software download and install – having permission/ability (technology environment may be locked down).
· Need specific plug-in or updated version.
· Telecommunications costs
· Slow computers
· Slow connection, especially with:
o VOIP
o Streaming video
· Need headphones for VOIP
· Lack of trust in technology due to past negative experiences. / · Be aware of technical requirements at sign-up
· Take this opportunity to get to know your IT department.
· Always download and test a day ahead.
· Check for ability to pre-download content.
· Check for ability to adjust quality.
· Check for alternate VoIP/phone options.
Trainers
Challenges / Opportunities
Trainer Environment
· Too noisy.
· No privacy, co-worker interruptions.
· Not enough time to properly prepare.
· Fear of new technology. / · Take a day to work at home and create recordings there.
· Be realistic about time required and insist on adequate preparation time.
Launching a Program
· Potential learner resistance.
· Organizational resistance.
· Culture of passive learning. / · Start with small, incremental steps, pilot projects
· Extra marketing to explain what to expect
· Start with a group you know will be receptive, and learn from them.
· Let them know this is new for you too.
· Ask for and use their feedback.
Organizational Buy-in
· Funding for technology.
· Lip service buy-in.
· Tentative buy-in. / · Identify stakeholder priorities.
· Show the money saved, not just what is spent.
· Be realistic about time and resources needed.
· Collect data through assessment and evaluation.
· Use examples from this conference to convince stakeholders that other people are using e-learning.
· Find grant funding – LSTA etc.
Issues to keep in mind as a trainer.
Standards for completion / What is the minimum you will accept? Be realistic but also be serious about learning and communicate this up front. For instance, is a one-sentence post to a discussion board enough?
Requiring homework / If you are going to require it, make sure to provide timely, constructive feedback. Give clear expectations about the assignments required of the learner, and your commitment for responding.
Culture of continuing education / Specifically the perceived culture of just showing up at a room and passively receiving information. People may not take this seriously at first. Need accountability. Make sure expectations are set clearly on what the learner’s roles and responsibilities are (and consequences for not meeting them).
Tracking learners through courses / Do learners get certificates/credits for taking the course? If so, be prepared to track learners, remind them of what they need to do, etc. And most importantly, schedule your time to do this. Tracking learners’ progress can be very time intensive.
Evaluation / You need to evaluate the course and yourself as an instructor, as well as assess the learners. Send out a survey at the end of the course, and ask specific questions.
Time / Provide accurate estimates of how long the class will take to complete. It takes more time to interact with people online than in a face-to-face course.
It’s not all about problems. Don’t forget to emphasize the real world benefits of E-Learning when talking to your learners and stakeholders.
Expanding the Instructor’s Tool box / Online training methods add to your training tool box. With more delivery methods at their disposal, the trainer can pick the best method to meet her objectives. Online learning opens up many more options.
Opens up availability / Previously, geography and transportation dictated what you could offer - limitations on the learners.
Richer level of interactions / As an instructor, you can have much deeper, more thoughtful interactions in the online environment because of the expanded time to think and respond.
Richer learner experience - / Online learning brings a new and varied group of learners together – not limited by geography. They have the opportunity to interact with library staff from other places, get new ideas and feel connected.
Saves Time / No travel time - can be very convenient. And time can be spent when it is convenient to the learner. Courses can also be in shorter segments– without the investment of commuting, there is no need to stretch courses into full days.
Great for short “chunks” of info / Making use of short chunks of information is very beneficial. Much of the work-related content people need and want fits better in shorter chunks that can be digested and acted upon. More “just in time” learning.
WebJunction 1