Epic show report
Consultant's corner
By Andrew Hooley, Technical Consultant, Epic
Our recent survey on implementation has some key messages for
L&D on how you implement e-learning.
Over the last few months we asked for your thoughts and experiences
of how you implement and support e-learning and whether it works
in building an effective learning culture?
Implementing e-learning: the experience
We have all heard of: ‘Build it and they will come.’
But what if they don’t?
However good the e-learning content itself may be, various other
factors affect whether it is taken up or not. Epic is interested
in finding out what these factors are, so earlier this year, we
asked a number of public and private organisations about their experiences
of implementing e-learning.
The good news is that of those who replied around 90% said they
involved all relevant people – senior managers, IT, line managers
and members of the target audience – when planning e-learning
programmes. However, one organisation did comment: “Sometimes
the stakeholders don't realise they are stakeholders, or don't want
e-learning solutions which makes it difficult to engage them.”
When it comes to planning implementation, all worked against critical
success factors and/or key performance indicators. However, around
one in five didn’t have marketing or launch plans, and even
fewer had evaluation plans. As one commented: “A communications
programme is being put in place so our plan will shortly include
a communications/marketing aspect. Evaluation is a large black hole
at the moment which we are slowly trying to resolve.”
This brings us to what is the most worrying outcome of our survey:
evaluation. When asked about the success of specific aspects, one
in four didn’t evaluate either the learning or learner’s
engagement. And just under one half didn’t evaluate either
the learners’ performance improvement or consider either the
impact on the organisation or it’s return on investment. One
organisation commented: “Evaluation rarely done as it is usually
ignored when completed.”
Of course, these results are largely anecdotal, but they do back
up our experiences from other sources. Currently, most focus on
developing an e-learning programme, so there’s little effort
or budget left when it comes to launching it. A successful implementation,
as often as not, is considered when learners are technically able
to run the e-learning. Whilst some responses highlighted that efforts
are being made to communicate and support the initiative, on the
whole these tend to be erratic.
Most organisations have put, or are putting in place, Learning
Management Systems (LMSs). The bad news is that whist these systems
can provide management data and highlight access issues, they can’t
provide solutions.
In summary, we believe that the results indicate that there is
still some way to go before the desirable, totally integrated approach
is achieved. In particular:
- Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. Ensure all stakeholders,
(including sponsors, learners AND their managers) are included
from the earliest stages of design and development through to
the launch of e-learning programmes. At launch, consider the use
of personalised invitations as a way to ensure each learner understands
the issue and benefits the solution brings to them.
- Plan for and evaluate all aspects of the learning (and change
what doesn’t work!)
- Provide relevant and engaging e-learning content. Quality and
context are crucial motivators.
All the above aid the motivation of your learners – and
having staff and management who want to learn is the best way to
build a powerful learning culture.
Epic Consulting is focused on building the capability of our clients
by providing practical advice on all aspects of learning strategy,
interactive design, blending, implementation and evaluation processes
as well as the wider needs for integration with IT systems and other
business processes. For an initial discussion on how our consulting
service could help your organisation, please contact: consulting@epic.co.uk
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