Jenise Cook

Why e-Learning?

Why should I move some parts of my instructor-led training to e-learning? What are the benefits? What will be my return on investment (ROI)? How do I convert my instructor-led training to e-learning? These are some of the questions I’m fielding lately from prospective clients as they face the realities of the current economy. Loyal clients of theirs have canceled on-site training as they witness the slashing of their training dollars.

Steve Norris produced the video I’ve chosen for Video of the Month. We haven’t met (yet), and I liked his video for its brevity and how it goes straight to the point.

This video is only 56 seconds long, and reinforces what e-learning professionals already know. However, for those who are considering converting some (or all) of their instructor-led training programs to some form of asynchronous* learning, this video may open their eyes to wonderful, new opportunities.

Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccS5L1ko45A

The one point Steve emphasizes in his video is one I believe we practitioners sometimes forget to emphasize with our clients:

Review and Increased Retention

Learners can go back to an e-learning course and review all or parts of it as needed, at their own pace.

The beauty of e-learning lies in the learner’s ability to review the course as many times as the learner needs to reinforce and retain knowledge and skills. That reinforced knowledge results in transfer of solid skills to the learner’s work tasks. This further enhances the learner’s job performance and then the organization’s performance as well.

I used to be a facilitator of instructor-led programs. Once the facilitator leaves the client’s site, the learners are on their own to review and apply what they learned to their jobs. (To be fair, sometimes ILT training vendors have a provision in their vendor contracts where learners can contact their facilitators for a six-month period once classroom instructions is finished.)

Thanks, Steve, for the brief reminder of one benefit of e-learning.

*Asynchronous: What does that mean?

The Medical/Health Care Field and e-Learning

It’s been a busy, first part of 2009. While searching for a Video of the Month on YouTube (yea, I know, I haven’t posted a video since January… hence this post), I found an amazing video. Currently, I am working on two freelance contracts for e-learning development in the health care sector. So, the video below resonated with me, especially because the message comes from the C-Level.

HANABI Company and Dokeos Studio worked with CEO Michel Taillet and his company to produce e-learning for medical professionals.

This video is 5 minutes 14 seconds long, and very much worth listening to, carefully.

I’m still searching for a link to HANABI, but you can read more about Dokeos; they’re in Europe.

However, if you’re in the U.S., I recommend you contact my client DLC Solutions as they, too, offer e-learning delivery solutions to the health care sector. Just tell Ezra Wolfe that Jenise Cook referred you.

I’m “Always Learning” about what others are doing, and so are the medical/health care sectors!

The Learning World in 2009 and Beyond

Corporate training departments, and their leaders, face change and uncertainty in the new year. Layoffs of employees in the hundreds and thousands certainly affect training. In addition, the world around us continues to change at a rapidly increasing rate because of the marvels of technology.

Clive Shepherd posted his presentation for Online Educa 08 in Berlin at SlideShare.net, and because he raises some provocative statements that I’m still chewing on, I wanted to share this with you. Jay Cross‘ quotations about 2008 and years to come will resonate with Chief Learning Officers.

A sincere Happy New Year to all in the learning and talent development field. One day at a time, and never stop putting tools and new learning in your personal tool box.