Surely the idea behind rapid e-learning was that SMEs would do the work, not e-learning professionals. Aren't they supposed to be doing really clever things like creating scenarios, simulations, games, 3D worlds and imaginative blended solutions? Isn't the idea of rapid e-learning that we have rapid development, not just rapid tools? Here are two definitions I found which endorse this view:
"Rapid e-learning is courseware (live or self-paced) developed in less than three weeks, where SMEs act as the primary development resource." LTI Magazine
"Rapid e-learning is web -based training programmes that can be created in a few weeks and which are authored largely by SMEs." Bersin & AssociatesLike I said in my earlier post, Rapid e-learning is swimming in too small a pond, rapid e-learning vendors are missing a trick. I know 6000 e-learning professionals is a good hit for Articulate and they are to be congratulated, but there are 100s of millions of subject experts out there who could also do a half-decent job with Articulate and similar tools, particularly with a little training (did anyone mention the 30-minute masters?).
By the way, if you're interested in rapid e-learning, you'd also enjoy Kineo's latest free offering, The Rapid Guide on Sustaining Learner Performance, which reminds us that learning is a process not an event.
You're right on here.
ReplyDeleteAbout 4 years ago when my company decided they wanted an "elearning program" and asked me to do it, knowing I had zero experience designing or developing elearning, I eagerly jumped at the chance. I looked around at what tools people were using and it became clear that Flash and/or html was the development platform used by the real professionals for most projects. So I told me boss that I needed a Macromedia suite license. It worked out well (I'm practically a full-time coder now). That said, looking back my professional life would have certainly been *much easier* if I had taken the easy road and used one of these powerpoint conversion tools instead. But now I have marketable skills that are in demand, a burgeoning freelance business (in which a lot of my work is from 'elearning professionals' who can't do anything beyond working with their LMS or powerpoint to flash conversion tools but realize their clients want/need more). Anyone who uses a powerpoint tool (ie, Breeze, Articulate, etc) for their primary development is basically selling their careers down the river. Unless they are in a large corp that has separate developers.
I completely agree with you about bringing the tools to the SMEs or the "non" pros. As a matter of fact, in the 5 Myths series I specifically discuss the issue of bringing the tools outside of training and to the SMEs. I even plug your 30 minute Master's wiki in that post.
ReplyDeleteOne of my goals is to help all people (not only training professionals) who use the rapid elearning tools to build better content. Many of those people are like Mark who are starting from scratch, however they don't have the luxury or inclination to learn Flash.
I also agree that learning is a process. Elearning is just one part of what influences the learner's development. The trick is in figuring out how to leverage the best of what elearning and technology offers and make it complimentary to the learning process rather than segmenting learning by classroom, OJT, informal, formal, etc. It's all part of the same whole.
I can see Mark's point, but I don't agree. In fact, I think that the tools to create elearning are only going to get easier to use and offer greater complexity. I imagine we'll see elearning development go the way web mastering and desktop publishing went.
I don't think you sell your career down the river because of the tools. Instead it'll be because you don't differentiate what you do with them.