Ask the Expert: Tom Welsh — E-learning

Ask the Expert Archive

MAY 2007

Tom WelshTom Welsh, e-learning consultant and professor of instructional design and technology at California State University, Chico.

Tom Welsh is an e-learning consultant and professor of instructional design and technology at California State University, Chico. He has been creatively engaged in instructional design and e-learning development for over two decades, developing training and web-based performance support solutions for businesses and nonprofit organizations. twelshconsulting.com

Making E-learning Work: How to Get the Most Out of Learning on the Web

More and more, students from kindergarten through college, as well as employees of businesses and nonprofits, are learning online. These students, staff, and volunteers aren’t just reading material on the web; they’re engaging in all sorts of relevant and beneficial activities, including:

  • Getting up-to-date information on career-related issues
  • Promoting their growth and marketability through online training and certification
  • Interacting with others who have similar interests and career goals

Indeed, online learning is now an accepted component of many types of educational programs. With access to the Internet at home or work, avariety of training and certification opportunities are available.

Benefits for Volunteers and Staff

Today, most people are fairly comfortable using the web for corresponding via e-mail, shopping, paying bills, travel planning, completing expense reports, reading the news, or even making phone calls or listening to the radio. Just as it is sensible and easy to conduct tasks related to daily living online, the web offers several
practical benefits for busy volunteers and employees who are engaged in learning.

  • Take courses anytime/anywhere. One clear benefit of online learning is that a simple Internet connection allows for access to instruction from almost anywhere. And wireless technology makes it even more convenient. Energize your online learning experience by accessing course materials at home, at work, at a coffee house, or wherever you please.
  • Learn at your own pace and schedule.
    Classroom-based training is usually paced and scheduled according to the instructor’s requirements, but most online learning is accessible any time and is paced according to your own needs. Slow down, speed up, pause for a break — the training will always be there.
  • More options. More and more training programs are available online. Many options exist that might not be found in traditional classroom settings. Think about how you can make use of both online and classroom-based training to meet your own personal needs.
  • Access online learning communities. Many online courses include discussion boards, chat areas, and a variety of tools to help you meet other learners. Do you ever feel isolated in your job or volunteer position? These online “communities of practice” can help you connect.

Benefits for Managers

If you oversee the training and development of volunteers, e-learning has many benefits.

  • Broaden development opportunities for those you supervise.While classroom-based training and print materials continue to meet many training needs, e-learning opens the door to a wider range of topics that simply would not be available otherwise. Think of e-learning as another tool in your training toolkit. With e-learning you can generate lists of courses that draw from both the classroom and the Internet, and even blend the two. Trainees might learn fundamentals online, and then receive site-specific information, in-depth practice, and face-to-face interaction in a classroom follow-up session.
  • Track the progress of trainees. One of the least discussed, but extremely valuable, e-learning capabilities is the automated tracking of progress and completion. Imagine having web access to training completion data for all of your team members. And this is not limited only to training taken online. Increasingly, organizations are using the web to record and report completion of all training, including classroom-based and online activities.
  • Augment training with on-the-job performance support. Sure, you can teach them. But how can you ensure that they will remember what they’ve learned and use their new skills and knowledge on the job?E-learning is the perfect vehicle for bridging the gap between the classroom and the field. Because they are web-based, e-learning programs can be coupled with performance support tools for use on the job. Procedural lists, job aids, and discussion boards to promote
    ongoing interaction between trainees are just some of the features to help your trainees use what they’ve learned.

Even if you are still new to the web, it’s time to think outside the box of traditional classroom-based training: The benefits of e-learning clearly exist for both learners and training administrators. You will be pleasantly surprised to see how well-designed online courses can enhance the training and career development of your staff and
volunteers.

Online Learning Center Build capacity and enhance quality with free, easy-to-use online courses and tools offered through The Resource Center's Online Learning Center. Course topics range from financial management to disaster services, from tutor training to disability inclusion - and more. Also available is My Improvement Plan, a simple set of questionnaires that generates a tailored set of resources based on your program's specific needs. New to online learning? One-on-one technical support is available from The Resource Center every weekday. For a complete listing of courses, or to access My Improvement Plan, visit the Online Learning Center.