E P I C T H I N K I N G
Issue 7: May 2002
This month:
- White paper: Accessibility - what's
in it for you?
- White paper: Why people won't change
- Epic Think Tank: Leadership and E-Learning
- Case study: National Learning Network
- News: Epic ups the rate of Thinking
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W H I T E P A P E R
1. Accessibility - a 'minorities' issue?
The accessibility movement is easily caricatured as political
correctness run wild. The cost of making e-learning and websites
more accessible just isn't justified by the relatively small
number of users it benefits, critics say.
However, this argument fails to take account of provider
benefits such as:
- increased sales
- greater reach
- better search engine listings
- reduced maintenance costs
- reduced server loads
- reduced risk of legal liability…
Up to 20% of some populations, according to W3C estimates,
may have disability issues: hardly an insignificant proportion.
And if you take into account the fact that none of is immune
from ageing, accessibility can be said to affect every one
of us.
So not a 'minorities' issue then.
In the latest white paper from Epic, Donald Clark assesses
three distinct strategies organisations can adopt towards
accessibility, performs a thorough survey of accessibility
guidelines, legislation and assistive technologies, and
gives numerous quick-tips and checklists for making your
e-learning and web development more accessible.
White Paper: Accessibility and e-learning
To get your free copy contact
us.
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W H I T E P A P E
R
2. Why people won't change
It's official: the biggest obstacle to e-learning
adoption is actually people.
In *The Social Life of Information*, which explores
the social dimension of managing technology-driven change,
Brown and Duguid describe a sort of 'tunnel vision' that afflicts
advocates for new technologies. Focusing on the bright world
of new possibilities opened up, they often ignore the legacy,
history, social context and institutional values of an organisation.
This brings them up against a formidable double whammy: active
resistance and passive inertia. Basically, people don't like
change.
Examining the roots of cultural resistance -
and of that perhaps even more pernicious enemy of change,
cultural inertia - this new white paper from Donald Clark
lays out a leadership-based strategy for change management
in e-learning.
White Paper: Change and e-learning
Mail us to get
your free copy.
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E P I C T H I N K
T A N K
3. Leadership and E-Learning
Recently we brought together a dozen of the
top leadership experts from business, academia, the armed
forces and government to discuss the organisational development
of leaders.
In particular, the discussion examined:
- What is the difference between leadership and management?
- What works in leadership training - and what doesn't?
- How can technology best be used to develop leadership
skills and capabilities?
Read a FREE
full report of this exclusive, high level discussion, the latest
in a regular series of Epic Think Tanks.
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C A S E S T U D Y
3. Case Study: National Learning Network ILT
Materials
The National Learning Network (NLN) is a key
initiative bringing together several of the Government's major
investments in national Information and Learning Technology
(ILT) infrastructure, content and training. Epic produced
stand-alone learning materials for the NLN in Business Studies,
Health Studies and Generic Science…
Read more.
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E P I C N E W S
5. Epic ups the rate of Thinking
Deluged by more news, views and valuable content
than we can possibly cram into six newsletters per year, we
have decided to start issuing Epic Thinking monthly. Epic
Think Tanks (see this month's fascinating discussion on Leadership
and E-Learning) will be a bi-monthly feature, and we aim to
encourage more interactivity. Your views on this and any other
feature of the newsletter will be warmly welcomed. Email
us.
Recent Epic wins include work from SAP, Channel
4, the E-University, the Welsh Development Agency, ntl: and
British Airways among others. Watch this space for details
and case studies of innovative new Epic work carried out for
these clients.
Further Epic news stories this month…
Epic
scoops further award for PITstart
Epic
powers collaborative learning in government
R E T U R N O F P O S T
If you have:
- a question to put to the Epic Thinking user base
- a response to any of the points raised here
- a suggestion for a topic you'd like to see covered mail
us right now at: newsletter@epic.co.uk
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H O U S E K E E P I N G
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