Some blue sky e-learning required - by Dr Naomi Norman

According to the screen in front of me, I am writing this blog entry on a plane 18375 m high somewhere above the Atlantic, and this got me thinking... Epic produces a lot of e-learning for airline cabin crew, but where is the e-learning for passengers?

It strikes me that long plane journeys are an ideal place to engage in some e-learning. With hours stuck in a seat in the sky, of course, I can watch a film, listen to music, or read a book.  But I’d also like the opportunity to brush up on a bit of local knowledge for my destination.
 
For example, an interactive lesson, or even a fun game, that introduced me to the Kuala Lumpur subway system, or the process of getting a cab in Cincinnati Airport (just in case you ever travel there, you cannot go directly to a taxi rank – you have to go to a desk inside the terminal and get a taxi number) would have served me well, saved me time, and also somewhat reduced my stress! Yes, I know, I could have bought a travel book.  However, on short business trips where there is no time to see the sights, the thought of finding out about the places I won’t have time to visit, see, or enjoy, understandably doesn’t appeal.

Then there is the local lingo. Often I want just a few key phrases:  ‘yes’, ‘no’, ‘please’, ‘not now thank you’, and ‘I might come back and buy that later’ would do me just fine. Again, yes, I know, I could buy a travel book. But, if you have a learning style anything like mine, you’ll need to hear (rather than read) the language in order to stand the remotest chance of being understood (and, no, I don’t want to buy a 4 hour CD beginners’ guide – guaranteed to give me all the most useful phrases, when I only want a few!)

And an introduction to local culture wouldn’t go amiss either. A lesson in the hand signals used by Israelis when they want you to wait a moment would certainly have prevented me from spending time on my arrival in their country feeling rather offended.

In all these cases, a bit of e-learning on board would have certainly made for a better prepared traveller, a smoother experience on landing, and, all in all, a happier customer.

Would you benefit from e-learning on your next airborne business trip or holiday? Feel free to air your thoughts below!

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Showing comments 1 to 4 of 7 | Next | Last

Bob
Posts: 7

Re: Some blue sky e-learning required
Reply #7 on : Sun July 26, 2009, 22:59:06

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Mohan Rasanayagam
Posts: 7

Re: Some blue sky e-learning required
Reply #6 on : Fri June 19, 2009, 16:53:51

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I think this would really work, especially if cut into bite size chunks on specific subjects so that you could dip in and out of it, or repeat one or two to try and fix them in your mind.

Naomi Norman
Posts: 7

Some blue sky e-learning required
Reply #5 on : Sat June 13, 2009, 13:44:00

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Wifi on planes is coming, and if/when it does, then integrating the e-learning and web 2.0 would have obvious benefits - travellers would be able to contribute and learn from the wisdom of fellow travellers. Bespoke e-learning of this kind by an airline would surely set it apart from its competitors.

Maharinda Pasval
Posts: 7

Some blue sky e-learning required
Reply #4 on : Fri June 12, 2009, 19:39:40

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This idea is not good. I cannot believe you will think people will sit through elearning for this. This is information. You talk aout web 2.0 and then this? Your thinking is all over the place and not at all focussed. i for one go to explore a place, not do elearning.

Elearning will be like a package holiday. This is cheap and pointless. Am I right in thinking that epic will be looking at launching more off the shelf matrial now withthis as an idea. Its previos attempt was not too successful I understand.

Showing comments 1 to 4 of 7 | Next | Last