Advances in technology have created an environment for a learning revolution. In the digital economy, technology enabled learning or e-learning is becoming an integral part of a larger system of practices and policies designed to prepare and support a high skilled workforce. The power of e-learning comes from the opportunity to leverage technology and information to alter the basic tenets of learning by eliminating the one-size fits all approach to instruction and customizing content to meet individual needs and learning styles.
The digital economy places a premium on new business models, customization, and innovation. To guarantee success in this environment, individuals and organizations must remain flexible, acquire new skills continuously, and identify new ways of managing knowledge and information. Although technology is driving much of the change in business and work environments, it also serves as a key tool for keeping pace with rapid change.
The benefits of e-learning -- defined as instructional content or learning experiences delivered or enabled by electronic technology -- rely on the dynamic relationship that links learning, people, and organizational performance. There is a strong economic incentive for business to embrace e-learning. High quality e-learning can improve speed to capability by significantly reducing the amount of time it takes to train workers on new products and processes. According to Fortune Magazine, training that typically would take 6 to 9 months can be compressed to 2 to 3 weeks, thereby guaranteeing faster time-to market for products.
Additionally, e-learning can reduce the costs of workplace training. After the initial infrastructure and development costs are met, the marginal cost of serving additional students is close to zero. For example, Cisco Systems' e-learning manufacturing programs have produced savings of $1 million per quarter, producing an 80 percent increase in speed to competence.
Economic considerations are not the sole reason for embracing e-learning. At a time when public concern persists about the economic disparities among different segments of the population, e-learning holds the potential to diminish the skills and income gaps by expanding just-in-time access to high-quality training opportunities. This in turn can contribute to income growth at all levels.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
U Blog 5 "Training Day"
Today, I did my training project at the Lowman Home, and if I had to give one word to describe it then it will be rewarding. Our group did a great job for our teaching.
When I was arriving to the Lowman Home, I found it but I could not find the right building where the computer lab was located. After calling one of my group members I met her at the right building. Our next task was to find the computer lab. We entered the building and walked around some until we met this group of ladies. One lady asked us what we were looking for and we told her. She led us to the computer lab and told us she was going to be one of the students.
We arrive at the computer lab at ten til three o'clock. We started to get our materials prepared and another group member called and said he was lost. After talking to four different people, he found it and arrived while we were giving the introduction to our class topic which was e-cards. As the time went on, we noticed that a lecture style class was not our best method to teach. So my group and the group helpers from TSTM 564 individually taught about 2-3 students. The two students I helped were complete opposite when it came to computer knowledge. You may think that this was difficult to teach them both at the same time, but it wasn't. As I was teaching the other lady who was confused about e-cards, the other student was helping me teach her. Not only did the lady learn the material, the other lady teaching the material was learning at a better rate too. I was impressed that the theory and material we studied in class was being applied to this classroom setting.
At the end of the training, one lady asked me how the handout we given was designed. I showed her how it was design by taking screenshots from the computer and she was really impressed. She asked me how could she learn more about computers. I told her to email me and I will come on a sat. to give her some more lessons about computers. Before going to teach, I wanted to find somebody who was interested in computers so I could come back to the Lowman home with my little brother so the both of us could volunteer. Teaching today has given me the opportunity to open that door and help somebody while at the same time show my little brother the value of volunteering.
The advice I will give to the next groups to teach will be to form small groups and have each each group member teach a group. Instead of a traditional lecture, this will be easier for the students and you will have more interaction within the small groups.
When I was arriving to the Lowman Home, I found it but I could not find the right building where the computer lab was located. After calling one of my group members I met her at the right building. Our next task was to find the computer lab. We entered the building and walked around some until we met this group of ladies. One lady asked us what we were looking for and we told her. She led us to the computer lab and told us she was going to be one of the students.
We arrive at the computer lab at ten til three o'clock. We started to get our materials prepared and another group member called and said he was lost. After talking to four different people, he found it and arrived while we were giving the introduction to our class topic which was e-cards. As the time went on, we noticed that a lecture style class was not our best method to teach. So my group and the group helpers from TSTM 564 individually taught about 2-3 students. The two students I helped were complete opposite when it came to computer knowledge. You may think that this was difficult to teach them both at the same time, but it wasn't. As I was teaching the other lady who was confused about e-cards, the other student was helping me teach her. Not only did the lady learn the material, the other lady teaching the material was learning at a better rate too. I was impressed that the theory and material we studied in class was being applied to this classroom setting.
At the end of the training, one lady asked me how the handout we given was designed. I showed her how it was design by taking screenshots from the computer and she was really impressed. She asked me how could she learn more about computers. I told her to email me and I will come on a sat. to give her some more lessons about computers. Before going to teach, I wanted to find somebody who was interested in computers so I could come back to the Lowman home with my little brother so the both of us could volunteer. Teaching today has given me the opportunity to open that door and help somebody while at the same time show my little brother the value of volunteering.
The advice I will give to the next groups to teach will be to form small groups and have each each group member teach a group. Instead of a traditional lecture, this will be easier for the students and you will have more interaction within the small groups.
Friday, February 13, 2009
U-Blog 3 Training Observation
Today, I observed a training class at the place I work. I the class was based on searching legislative bills that are sponsored by House of Representative members and Senators of the State of South Carolina. The objective of the class was learning to perform compound searches, create customized reports and retrieve statistical data utilizing the LPITS (Legislative Printing Information Technology Systems) Web Page (a database is built within the web page). The course is the sequel to Legislative Research Level 1 and is particularly beneficial to Research Analysts and Attorneys. The class was scheduled on today from 9:00am-12:00pm.
The instructor teaching this class has been involved with training for over ten years. I could tell she was use to teaching because of the way she presented herself along with the material. Before the start of class, she issued manuals to all the students
During class, she went through different tutorials that involved searching for bills. The instructor referenced parts of the manual as she went through the tutorials so the students will know where to reference back to if they were to forget some search criteria. The relationship between the instructor and students were great. The students were eager to learn the material so their jobs will be easier. If a student did not understand a specific topic, then they would ask the instructor and she would provide feedback. What impressed me the most about the instructor was she did not use technical jargon when explaining the concept of searching on the database. The only negative part of the class was the power went out in the entire building. With the power being out, the instructor could not use the computer for a reference and the students could not complete the tutorials for the course. Therefore, class was cancelled and it will be rescheduled for another day.
Observing the class has helped me in determining the role of the instructor and their duty to the students. It was an interesting experience and I look forward to finish observing the rest of the class. I also noted not to have class Friday the 13th unless you want something to go wrong like a power outage. Overall it was a good day but kinda of funny.
The instructor teaching this class has been involved with training for over ten years. I could tell she was use to teaching because of the way she presented herself along with the material. Before the start of class, she issued manuals to all the students
During class, she went through different tutorials that involved searching for bills. The instructor referenced parts of the manual as she went through the tutorials so the students will know where to reference back to if they were to forget some search criteria. The relationship between the instructor and students were great. The students were eager to learn the material so their jobs will be easier. If a student did not understand a specific topic, then they would ask the instructor and she would provide feedback. What impressed me the most about the instructor was she did not use technical jargon when explaining the concept of searching on the database. The only negative part of the class was the power went out in the entire building. With the power being out, the instructor could not use the computer for a reference and the students could not complete the tutorials for the course. Therefore, class was cancelled and it will be rescheduled for another day.
Observing the class has helped me in determining the role of the instructor and their duty to the students. It was an interesting experience and I look forward to finish observing the rest of the class. I also noted not to have class Friday the 13th unless you want something to go wrong like a power outage. Overall it was a good day but kinda of funny.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
My first week of class and TSTM 444
This week was my first week back in class. Overall it has been a successful week. I am currently taking six classes this semester. They are advance networking, end-user interface design, project management, records management, an internship seminar, and corporate training and development.
For TSTM 444 or corporate training and development, we are required to start a blog that reflects our thoughts about the course. This is my first blog entry so please bare with me because I am new to blogging.
It was to my surprise that TSTM 444 was going to be an online class. I thought I would never take an online class during my college career and I was thinking about dropping the class just because it was online. Then I thought to myself, I am a technology major and I should be the first to try new things involving technology or beta testing they call it. I then compromised in my mind that I will just attend one class face 2 face (F2F) a week. It was not my final decission though. After I completed module one, I decided instead of meeting F2F for the course once a week, I should take this course completely online because it will be a great advantage for me in the future. I feel that this is the new phase employers will start training employees in the business world. So this may be my first online course but it will certainly be not my last.
For TSTM 444 or corporate training and development, we are required to start a blog that reflects our thoughts about the course. This is my first blog entry so please bare with me because I am new to blogging.
It was to my surprise that TSTM 444 was going to be an online class. I thought I would never take an online class during my college career and I was thinking about dropping the class just because it was online. Then I thought to myself, I am a technology major and I should be the first to try new things involving technology or beta testing they call it. I then compromised in my mind that I will just attend one class face 2 face (F2F) a week. It was not my final decission though. After I completed module one, I decided instead of meeting F2F for the course once a week, I should take this course completely online because it will be a great advantage for me in the future. I feel that this is the new phase employers will start training employees in the business world. So this may be my first online course but it will certainly be not my last.
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