E P I C   T H I N K I N G

Issue 22: September 2003

This month:

1. Epic Survey 2003: The future of e-learning
2. White paper update: Induction and e-learning
3. Show report: MOD scales up e-learning
4. Book review: Lewis & Whitlock's 'E-learning Programmes'
5. News: a. Greg Dyke on Leadership, b. Survey confounds e-learning expectations in higher ed, c. Television is dead!

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E P I C  S U R V E Y  2 0 0 3

1. The Future of E-Learning

This month, exclusively to the readers of Epic Thinking, we reveal the results of our wide-ranging survey on the future of e-learning in the UK. We polled more than 200 key decision-makers across both public and private sectors for their views of how e-learning will develop over the next few years.

They told us, among other findings, that:

* Good content is the single factor most likely to lead to e-learning success
* Organisational change will the most important driver of e-learning
* E-learning will happen despite rather than because of top management
* Access and flexibility are the benefits organisations will look to from e-learning, over cost-cutting
* E-learning will be most effectively supported in blends by tutoring/coaching/mentoring - whether on or offline
* Asynchronous good, synchronous not so good
* Classroom - your days are numbered!

Research report: The Future of E-learning

To get your free copy contact us

Give your views on the subject

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W H I T E  P A P E R

2. Hello, I must be going

Research show that many make their decision to leave an organisation within the first few days of joining it. The highest leaving rates are often found among new starters.

And with the cost of a new hire leaving prematurely estimated to be around £3,000 (rising to six-figure sums for specialist employees) not giving inductees a proper start in the organisation can turn out to be an expensive mistake.

Clearly, induction matters. But the nature of the induction also matters. Most are still designed from the perspective of the organisation rather than that of the employee. Good induction should be a springboard into the future, setting the tone and values of the organisation, motivating and exciting the new employee with the opportunities that await him/her.

Donald Clark, Epic, has extensively revised and updated his 2002 white paper, showing how e-learning is set to change induction forever. The opportunity now exists to deliver a 24/7, consistent, flexible and accessible induction course that will help put paid to those expensive early bail-outs for ever.

White Paper: Induction and e-learning

To get your free copy contact us

Give your views on the subject

* White paper feedback

In response to the Pedagogy and e-learning paper, an interesting question was posed by Kirk Ramsay, Director of Learning Technologies, learndirect Scotland:

'Your reference to the clock face implies exponential growth in availability and use of technology, but at best linear development in educational acceptance of the world created by the experiences the technology offers. How can we change that and create some radical changes in approach?'

Answers on a postcard please...

...Also some interesting comments on Blended Learning from Joan Keevill, Learning Consultant at BBC People Development'

'...I think it's time we either focused less on the delivery method when we use this term, and more on the approach or learning design - or at least included these in our discussions. A good blend includes some cognitive transfer, some experiential learning, some collaborative group discussions, maybe mentoring, some knowledge sharing/transfer, time to reflect and consider implications of new learning and certainly a chance to put into practice what's being learned.

'I currently run a blended learning program for BBC Training trainers in which we try to do all of the above - using a blended delivery of course! To date, it's proved to be stimulating and thought provoking for all involved...'

'I read each of your new white papers with interest - they are always topical, relevant, challenging... Keep up the good work!'

Blush blush. Please keep that feedback coming...

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S H O W  R E P O R T

3. Scaling Up E-learning
Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, Wiltshire.
3-4 September 2003

'Okay, so the location was a bit of a giveaway. Despite also attracting delegates and speakers from the Education sector and the e-learning industry, the clear focus of this event was the Ministry of Defence (writes Bob Hampson, Epic).

'Despite using e-learning for state-of-the-art-simulators and generic content for many years, in othe ways the military has been a bit of a late adopter. However a little over 2 years ago the MOD Defence Training Review (DTR) was published, with ambitious targets for conversion of appropriate courses, or parts of courses into e-learning or blended format...'

Read Bob's report from this fascination symposium

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B O O K  R E V I E W

4. How to Plan and Manage an E-learning Programme
Gower Publishing Limited, January, 2003

Authors: Roger Lewis, Quentin Whitlock

Review by Paul Peplow, Epic.

'They say you can't judge a book by its cover. Well here's the exception...'

Paul Peplow tackles a new book that attempts to cover the complex subject of managing an e-learning programme in just 172 pages - including business planning and marketing, managing learner support, learning management systems and e-learning standards.

So how well does he think it succeeds?

Read the review

Give your views on the subject

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N E W S

5a. BBC's Greg Dyke on Leadership

On the day that Tony Blair addressed the Hutton enquiry, Greg Dyke, Director General of the BBC, took time out to share his ideas about leadership with Epic. The interview happened as part of an update to the Prime:Leadership program created by Epic in collaboration with the CMPS[link].

Under circumstances that might have reduced a less nerveless leader to a nail-biting wreck, Dyke proved, despite it all, a relaxed and voluble interviewee. He talked for over 30 minutes, revealing how encountering the work of John Kotter at Harvard had given an intellectual rationale for his own instinctive beliefs.

His advice to those wishing to follow in his footsteps? Behave properly to people. Care. The people who work for you matter more than anybody else. Care about them first, and then you'll succeed in the other stuff.

He also advised that if you start waking up at 3 o'clock in the morning, worrying about your job, you're probably better of doing something else for a living.

Greg, we admire your sang froid.

5b. Survey confounds e-learning expectations in higher ed

Research at Charles Sturt University in New South Wales, Australia has contradicted widespread beliefs about the supposed unpopularity of online learning with students, and the types of students most suited to it.

18,000 students were tracked over a year and levels of participation above 90% were recorded - even though the resources in question were non-compulsary! And where it had been expected that the core audience would be young, male city dwellers, in fact they were older, female and tended to live in the country.

So much for the digital divide.

5c. Television is dead

Yet another research project (a lot of it about this week!), this time by Yahoo with Carat, Harris Interactive and Teenage Research Unlimited, found that teenagers and young adults spend more time on the internet than watching TV.

The survey uncovered an eclectic mix of media habits, in which TV is far from dominant. A typical week for the 2,500 teenagers and young adults (13-24) polled by the survey might include:
* 16.7 hours online (excluding e-mail)
* 13.6 hours watching TV
* 12 hours listening to the radio
* 7.7 hours talking on the phone
* 6 hours reading books and magazines (not including school work)

The inescapable conclusion is that the internet is now the medium of choice for the young. It took over 30 years for television to get this type of momentum, but in just 3,000 days, the internet has grabbed the hearts and minds of the next generation.

A conclusion to keep even Greg Dyke awake at night, perhaps?

Other Epic news this month:

Epic nets FA with goal-based learning

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E P I C  E V E N T S  N E W S

26 Sept - Managing learning suppliers: a buyers masterclass
ICM, London
Organiser: E-Learning Network
Steve Rayson, Epic's Head of Government Services, will speak

3 Oct - The e-learning experience: Seminar on human factors in e-learning
Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
Donald Clark, Epic, will speak on Accessibility

21 Oct - Getting started with e-learning
Novotel, West London
Organiser: E-Learning Network/e.learning age magazine
Mark Harrison, Epic's Head of Consulting will speak

22-24 Oct - CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition, Harrogate
Organiser: Touchstone
Free white papers and demos of Epic programmes on stand A53

22 October - Epic Think Tank 11 - Evaluation and ROI
Majestic Hotel, Harrogate (a fringe event of the CIPD conference)
Dinner and debate by invitation only. If you wish to attend, contact us

5 December - Online Educa, Berlin
Donald Clark, Epic, will be delivering a presentation in the theme 'Learning in Enterprises' entitled, 'Blended Learning in Practice: Creating Optimal Blends'

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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

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