This posting is a rewrite. The original got overwritten by accident, so please accept my apologies if this version isn't written with as much enthusiasm as the first! Why did I bother with this rewrite? Well, because I couldn't have synchronous e-learning myths #2 and #3 but no #1.
Last Friday I attended the eLearning Network's Thinking Synch event in London. I must admit that, up until the event, I thought I had a pretty good handle on how to use virtual classrooms and other synchronous technologies successfully. Clearly I was out of touch, because the various speakers showed how imaginatively the technology could be used and how synchronous e-learning could stand alone, not as a poor imitation of the face-to-face classroom, but as a valuable medium in its own right.
The first myth to be exploded was that virtual classrooms are OK, but for no more than an hour at a time. Here's the evidence to the contrary:
Brian Bishop, now head of instructional design for Caspian Learning, described how in his time at Teletech@Home, he put together an induction training programme for call centre operators working from home which broke the mould. Previously, Teletech had worked only from bricks and mortar call centres, using a three week classroom programme to train new operators. Their new venture was designed to attract those who did not want to or could not work in the city, but preferred part-time employment from home. Brian designed a fast track induction, also over three weeks, but this time for four hours a day, entirely online. It contained a wide variety of components:
- What Brian described as 'thickly authentic activities,' conducted online but in a way that was more realistic than could be achieved in a classroom.
- Captivate simulations and role plays.
- One-to-one coaching sessions.
- Interludes in which operators could take some real calls, but then come back to the virtual classroom to discuss their experience.
The results were compelling: improved customer satisfaction, reduced turnover (down from 35% to 20%) and increased productivity. Teletech were able to take advantage of a more mature, stable workforce and train them in half the time.
In another session, Alan Saunders of Illustra, specialists in executive coaching, described how budget constraints at a major multinational saw them shift a face-to-face event for senior management, due to take place in a glamorous overseas venue, to a three month online-only format. Alan admits that some participants were reluctant, given a poor prior experience of webinars, but these shortcomings were short lived. The course was a sensational success. Illustra has now trained something like 10,000 salespeople, managers and directors around the world through virtual sessions.
What's also interesting is that both of these examples centre on soft skills, which is not the usual focus for synchronous e-learning. That means two myths exploded in one go, Not bad going.
Next: Synchronous e-learning myth #2: Classroom will always be best
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