e-Learning
 --using the Internet (or Web) to deliver material including tools that enhance an individual's and/or organization's knowledge base and performance level.
Where does e-Learning fit with Knowledge Management?
Knowledge Management = Information Management. Why the new term and new emphasis on "KM"? Using the organization's Intranet as the single portal and centralized approach for managing information, KM leverages information that is available, however often under-utilized. This is the type of information (or Knowledge) that may be available: financial reports, product information, policies and procedures, customer service information, performance management system, benefits system, fill-in forms (customer/supplier), job information, operational databases, links to customers/suppliers, search engines, notes from lessons learned, and competitive information. The e-Learning (Web-based or online training) structure becomes part of the organization's Knowledge Management system and also thrives on the accumulated KM of the organization. Employees learn to make greater use of the "knowledge base of the company."
Thinking about e-Learning for your Organization? Here are some questions that need to be answered!
- Are "the computer" and the Internet a part of day-to-day business in your organization? Are your employees comfortable with the computer as a business tool and is the Web readily available to employees?
- Where is the "push" for e-Learning coming from: Executive level, managemement, Human Resources, employees, a specific department, etc.? What are the reasons?
- Can a business case be made for converting to e-Learning from traditional types of delivery? What are the strategic drivers? Will this be looked at as an investment or experiment?
- Will this be a major "change" issue in your organization? Will employees and supervisors be comfortable with learning that can take place anywhere and at anytime?
- Does training and instructional design expertise reside in your organization? Does IT expertise reside in your organization? Does either have to be outsourced?
- What is the projected timeframe for implementation?
- Who will lead the effort as Project Manager? Who will be on the project team?
Thinking about e-Learning for your Organization? What features do you need (or want)?
Along the way of adopting e-Learning, the questions of "bells and whistles" arises. Obviously, the project team must decide what is needed and what makes sense. Throwing in too many "extras" may confuse learners, take up their valuable time, and can add substantially to the development cost of the Web project. There may be significant differences, for example, between a leadership e-course at a university and a company's objective of reaching as many employees as possible with a health and safety refresher program. One may be instructor led with students focusing on interaction with others and the grade. The second may mean employees must meet an annual regulatory requirement (with a testing component) while working individually with a computer-based program.
Here is an alphabetical list of available features:
- animation
- assignment list
- assignment submittal/feedback
- audio
- bulletin board
- career planning
- certification requirement(s)
- chat room--informal
- chat room--study group
- class conference area
- company database(s)
- course catalog/schedule
- course content and material
- course outline
- employee development plan
- evaluation
- feedback
- graphics
- libraries--internal/external
- link(s)
- photographs
- practice/review area--self assessment
- progress guides
- record keeping
- registration
- references
- search engine(s)
- security/password
- survey
- testing/assessment: test development, grading, statistics
- usage statistics
- video
- and, the ability of the system to transfer the record of completion/certification to the student's or employee's permanent record.
What do you need and/or want in your e-Learning?
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