Technology: Learning Management System

Trimming the Fat from your Corporate Budget

Recently, while completing a dissertation project, I began reviewing the various methods that people utilize to accomplish learning online and the various methods of service delivery.  The National Football League (NFL) utilizes a standard face to face method of training athletes.  The athlete are required to soak up as much information in a set period of time, normally 3-5 days, while hoping that the information continues to stay with the athlete.  This training method utilizes PowerPoint slides, hand outs, videos, and live speakers.  The training method only reaches approximately .02% of the eligible trainees who may be interested in the courses.  This leaves the issues of service delivery as a "gap analysis" or improvement which could be made.

Universities currently utilize 2 dimensional training online in the form of open source programs such as MOODLE.  Other universities utilize BLACKBOARD or other Learning Management Systems (LMS) to deliver course material.  This method of training generally requires the user to type information into the LMS; never speaking directly to the instructor.  Other LMS systems, such as those used by the federal government, utilize telephones, videoconferencing to see the instructor, and the keyboards to speak to each other.  If one piece of technology is not working then the entire training session becomes ineffective.  Other organizations utilize webinars which utilize the internet, a web based communication program, headphones, and the keyboard. 

Yet, are these learning management systems the appropriate method of facilitating training programs?  These programs are not immersive in the sense that the participants cannot view the behaviors and actions of others in the group as if they were in the class.  As there is a lack of immersive quality in the training; the question changes to are the educational needs of all participants met?  Are we teaching to the choir or only the solo singer?  These are important questions to ask yourself as you begin the process of learning and creating organizational training programs.  The method of delivery is just as important as the material being taught. Teaching to multiple learning styles is indicative of a larger population of individuals retaining the information.

How is a company able to "trim the fat in the budget" while still meeting organizational training needs?  Corporations can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for training while not meeting the actual organizational needs of the corporation.  Trimming the fat requires one to examine the cost effectiveness of training individuals in a face to face setting versus an online setting.  Additionally, teaching new technologies requires buy-in from the users and corporation.  Sometimes it takes a pilot program to steer the ship in a new direction creating synergy for change as new technology is introduced to the corporation. 

It takes vision to create the next generation or NEXTGEN of applications in the LMS arena.  Sometimes the best response to the old and new way is to create a blended course which provides online training with the same features as a face to face course.  Later after the learner has been able to assimiliate the basic information; they will be able to practice the course material either in a face to face meeting or in the virtual environment.  The NEXTGEN is coming; watch for it...@ILKA-Technologies.com.

For more information about Virtual Learning Management Systems (VLMS) and network infrastructure; please feel free to contact ILKA Technologies, Inc. at info@ilka-technologies.com.