Training and Development: Chapter 8
How ITS differs from other new training technology
Ability to match instruction to individual student needs Communicate and respond to the student Model the trainee's learning process Decide, on the basis of trainee's previous performance, what information to provide. Make decisions about the trainee's level of understanding Complete a self-assessment resulting in a modification of its teaching process
Advantages of Virtual Reality
Allows trainees to practice dangerous tasks without putting themselves or others in danger. Research suggests that virtual reality training is likely to have the greatest impact on complex tasks or tasks that involved extensive use of visual cues. Another advantage is the cognitive processing required by learners. Memory that was previously used to convert one- or two-dimensional training scenarios into three-dimensional space can now be used for processing information.
Blended Learning
Blended learning combines online learning, face-to-face instruction, and other methods for distributing learning content and instructions. Blended learning courses provide learners with the positive features of both face-to-face instruction and technology-based delivery and instructional methods, while minimizing the negative features of each. Blended learning increases learner control, allows for self-directedness, and requires learners to take more responsibility for their learning. This follows recommendations for Adult Learning Theory. One drawback is that learners react more favorably toward classroom instruction than blended learning. This may be because blended learning courses are more demanding, requiring a greater time commitment because of the use of two learning approaches.
Avatar
Computer depictions of humans that are used as imaginary coaches, coworkers and customers in simulations
Virtual Reality
Computer-based technology that provides trainees with a three-dimensional learning experience. Virtual reality allows simulations to become more realistic. Using specialized equipment or viewing the virtual world on the computer screen, trainees move through the simulated environment and interact with its components.
Virtual Worlds
Computer-based, simulated online three-dimensional representations of the real world where learning programs or experiences can be hosted.
Formal Learning
E-learning courses, podcast, or videos on the mobile device
Advantages of Mobile Learning
Easy way to get up-to-date information to employees It brings training to employees who are out of office frequently Learners can complete training on their own time and pace
Electronic performance support system
Electronic infrastructure that captures, stores, and distributes individual and corporate knowledge assets throughout an organization to enable individuals to achieve required levels of performance in the fastest possible time and with minimum support from others
Six benefits from the use of technology
Employees gain control over when and where they receive training Access training on an as-needed basis Avatars, virtual reality, and simulations allow the learning environment to look, feel and sounds just like the work environment Course, testing and training records can be handled electronically, reducing paperwork and time for administrative activities Employees accomplishments during training can be monitored Traditional training methods can be delivered to trainees electronically rather than requiring them to come to a central location
Individualized, computer-based training
Employees participate in training anywhere they have access to a personal computer. May involve multimedia training methods, course material may be distributed via intranet, video, or CD-ROM, and trainees interact via email, bulletin boards, and conferencing systems.
Informal Learning
Engaging in communication and messaging with other employees or experts via Twitter, blogs, or Facebook
Steps to Developing an LMS
First, senior management needs to be convinced that an LMS will benefit employees, improve business functions, and contribute to overall business strategies and goals. Second, a company that wants to develop an LMS must have an e-learning culture that supports online learning and encourages employee participation. Third, the online learning environment needs to be under the control of the learner. To maximize its effectiveness, an LMS should be integrated with talent management systems. The interfaces between the systems will provide basic employee information such as business unit, geographic location, and job title. Information about which courses employees have completed and are eligible to complete should also be stored in the LMS.
Face-to-face learning v. Blended Learning
In comparison to pure online learning, blended learning provides more face-to-face social interaction and ensures that at least some of the instruction is presented in a dedicated learning environment. Blended learning has been found to be more effective than face-to-face instruction for motivating trainees to learn, and for teaching declarative knowledge or information about ideas or topics.
Presence
Influenced by the amount of sensory information available to the trainee, control over sensors in the environment, and the trainees' ability to modify the environment.
Computer-based training, online learning, or e-learning
Instruction and delivery of training by computer through the Internet or the web
Intelligent tutoring system- definition and three types
Instructional system that uses artificial intelligence Tutoring - a structured attempt to increase trainee understanding of a content domain Coaching - provides trainees with the flexibility to practice skills in artificial environments Empowering - refers to the student's ability to explore the content of the training program freely.
Human capital management
Integrates training with all aspects of the human resource function to determine how training dollars are spent and how training expenses translate into business dollars for the company.
10 Advantages of Online Learning
It supports the company's business strategy and objectives It is accessible at any time and any place The audience can include employees and managers, as well as vendors, customers, and clients Training can be delivered faster and to more employees in a shorter period of time. Updating is easy. This allows training to be uniformly changed for employees worldwide. Practice, feedback, objectives, assessment, and other positive features of a learning environment can be built into the program. Managers can track employees' course performance and compare it to their on the job performance. Learning is enhanced through the use of multiple media and trainee interaction. Paperwork related to training management can be eliminated. Employers can have an electronic record of who has enrolled in a program. It can link learners to other content, experts, and peers.
Rapid Prototyping
Iterative process in which initial design ideas are proposed and provided in rough form in an online working prototype that is reviewed and refined by design team members
Disadvantages of Virtual Worlds
Lack of ease for first time users Potential risk of difficult technology interface which can demotivate learners The high investment of time and money required for programming content Lack of evidence supporting its effectiveness on learning Virtual worlds may be overwhelming and confusing to new employees
Learner Control
Learner control refers to giving trainees the option to learn actively through self-pacing, exercises, exploring links to other material, and conversations with other trainees and experts. It includes the ability to select how content is presented, to pause, skip, or review content, and to link additional resources. Companies must communicate the importance and meaningfulness of the training content for employees' jobs and must hold employees accountable for completing the training.
Asynchronous Communication
Non-real-time communication Ex: emails, self-paced courses, discussion boards
Disadvantages of Virtual Reality
Poor equipment that results in a reduced sense of presence. Poor presence may result in the trainee experiencing vomiting, dizziness, and headaches because senses are distorted. High investment
Ways to Use Social Media in Training
Providing links to resources such as webinars, videos, and articles related to new learning content Helping determine future training needs and issues by tagging capabilities Reinforcing and sustaining learning Being used a coaching and mentoring tool Linking learners before, during, and after a formal training event Engaging Generation X and millennial employees Providing content before a face-to-face learning event
Three ways technology has had an impact on the delivery of training
Reducing costs associated with development Increasing the effectiveness of the learning environment Helping training contribute to business goals
Advantages of Virtual Worlds
Research that has been conducted on virtual worlds suggests that learners are more satisfied with virtual world experiences, and learn more and faster than in traditional courses. Virtual worlds can mimic reality and therefore allow trainees to practice their skills without causing actual harm, while seeing the real-life consequences of their actions and decisions. Virtual worlds are useful for skill building for non-routine job tasks and difficult to define procedures based on judgment and problem solving. They can also be useful for teaching interpersonal skills. o They are an effective way for employees who are not in the same location or country to have access to training.
Repurposing
Simply putting text online may not be the most effective way to learn. Repurposing refers to directly translating an instructor-led, face-to-face training program to an online format. Repurposing ineffective training programs into digital versions will lead to more ineffective training.
Effectiveness of Online Learning (Table 8.4 for other research results)
Specifically, it has been found to be effective for teaching procedural and declarative knowledge. Research has also found that learners are equally satisfied with web-based and classroom instruction. Web-based instruction appears to be more effective than classroom instructions (1) when learners are provided with control over content, sequence, and pace (2) in long courses, and (3) when learners are able to practice the content and receive feedback However, it should be noted that e-learning is not effective for all learners, especially those with low computer self-efficacy. Online learning may promote more social interaction between trainees than face-to-face instruction, due to other trainees being as accessible, or more accessible than the trainer, and there are more methods available that allow learners to interact. Trainees may be more likely to participate when enrolled in online learning than face-to-face learning. Online environments may help them avoid feelings of inadequacy and low self-confidence.
When Technology-Based Training Should be Considered
Sufficient budget and resources will be provided to develop and support the purchase and use of new technology. Trainees are geographically dispersed, and travel costs related to training are high. Trainees are comfortable using technology Employees have limited or no time for training. Current training methods allow for limited time for practice, feedback, or assessment. Use of new technology fits into the organizational culture or business strategy.
Teleconferencing
Synchronous exchange of audio, video, and/or text between two or more individuals or groups at two or more locations. Trainees attend training programs in training facilities in which they can communicate with trainers (who are at another location) and other trainees using the telephone or personal computer.
learning management system
Technology platform that can be used to automate the administration, development, and delivery of all of a company's training programs. LMSs can provide employees, managers, and trainers with the ability to manage, deliver, and track learning activities.
Expert systems
Technology that organizes and applies the knowledge of human experts to specific problems Include a knowledge base with facts and rules, a decision-making capability and a user interface that gathers and gives information to the person using the systerm
Interactive distance learning
The latest generation of distance learning, which uses satellite technology to broadcast programs to different locations and allows trainees to respond to questions posed during the training program using a keypad. IDL is used by companies that have employees in many different locations and who lack computers or online access. IDL allows employees in different locations to see behaviors and how to get things done rather than just read or hear about them.
Needs Assessment in Technology-Based Training
The needs assessment includes getting management to support online learning, and involving the IT department in the design of web-based training. The needs assessment for a web-based training should include a technology assessment (as part of the organizational analysis) and an assessment of the skills users need for online training. This should include a technical analysis focused on identifying minimum computing requirements.
Traditional v. Technological Learning Environment
The traditional learning environment included the instructor or trainer and learners. The trainer was responsible for delivering content, answering questions, and testing learning. Trainees played a passive role in learning. Contact with the resource materials and experts, beyond the instructor and course materials assigned, required learners to go outside the formal learning environment. Learners had to wait to access resource materials and experts until instruction was complete. Interaction among learners occurred primarily outside the training room and tended to be limited to those who worked in the same geographic area. Technology has allowed learning to become a more dynamic process. The learning environment can now include greater interaction between learners and the training content and learners and the instructor. The trainer may help design the instruction, but the instruction is delivered to learners primarily through forms of technology. The instructor shifts into more of a role of a coach and resource person to answer students' questions. Learning occurs primarily through exchanges with other learners, working on virtual team projects, participating in games, listening, exchanging ideas, interacting with experts, and discovering ideas and applications using hyperlinks that take the learner to other websites. Experts and resource materials may be part of the learning environment. Training delivery and administration is all done through a learning management system.
Disadvantages of Simulations
The use of simulations has been limited by their development costs. However, the development costs of simulations are declining. The use of simulations is likely to increase as technology development allows more realism to be built into simulations. Games and simulations are useful for practicing skills, but trainees must first acquire knowledge and then apply it while playing the game. Trainees may not be comfortable in learning situations that lack human contact.
Digital Collaboration
The use of technology to enhance and extend employees' abilities to work together regardless of their geographic proximity
Why develop LMS?
Tracking the learning activity in a business is important for human capital management. The major reasons that companies adopt an LMS are to centralize management of learning activities, track regulatory compliance, measure training usage, and measure employee performance. LMSs are also important for companies to be able to track the number of employees who have completed courses that are required to meet state, federal, or professional regulations. An LMS can help companies understand the strengths and weaknesses of their employees, including where talent gaps exist. An LMS can be linked to other human resource systems, such as performance management or employee development systems, to identify learning opportunities for employees.
Simulation: Interactive spreadsheet
Trainees are given a set of business rules (usually finance-based) and asked to make decisions that will affect the business. The decisions are entered into a spreadsheet that shows how the decisions affect the business.
Simulation: Branching story
Trainees are presented with a situation and asked to make a choice or decision. Trainees progress through the simulation on the basis of their decisions
Advantages of Simulations
Trainees can use them on their desktop computer, eliminating the need to travel to a central training location. Simulations are meaningful, they get trainees involved in learning, and they are emotionally engaging (they can even be fun!) This increases employees' willingness to practice, encourages retention, and improves their skills Simulators provide a consistent message of what needs to be learned; trainees can work at their own pace; and compared to face-to-face instruction, simulators can incorporate more situations or problems that a trainee might encounter. Simulations can safely put employees in situations that would be dangerous in the real world. Simulations have been found to result in such positive outcomes as shorter training times and increased return on investment.
Virtual Lab
Trainees interact with a computer representation of the job for which they are being trained
Synchronous Communication
Trainers, experts, and learners interact with each other live and in real time, the same way they would in a face-to-face instruction Ex: videoconferencing, message boards
Mobile learning
Training delivered using a mobile device such as a smart phone, netbook, notebook computer, or iPad. Mobile learning can involve both formal and informal learning
5 Ways to Maximize the Benefits of Leaner Control
Training programs should not allow trainees to control the amount of feedback they receive because they may rely too much on feedback, reducing their long-term retention of the learning material. The program should offer practice on each topic repeatedly throughout so that trainees will not forget topics they have already completed. The program should provide practice to trainees, using different examples to help the transfer of training content. Trainees should be allowed to control the sequence in which they receive instruction, but not be able to skip practice. Last, increase performance by prompting self-regulation. This can be accomplished through online prompts asking trainees to recall key points or to set goals to help them use and remember the content.
Distance Learning
Used by geographically dispersed companies to provide information about new products, policies, or procedures, as well as deliver skills training and expert lectures to field locations. Distance learning features two-way communications between people, and it currently involves two types of technology.
Virtual Classroom
Using a computer and the Internet to distribute instructor-led training to geographically dispersed employees. Saves on cost and is convenient for remote employees.
