Collaborative Training Environment

Example- A new automated staff information system was recently purchased by a major corporation and needs to be implemented in six regional offices. Unfortunately, the staff is located throughout all the different offices and cannot meet at the same time or in the same location. As an instructional designer for the corporation, you have been charged with implementing a training workshop for these offices. As part of the training, you were advised how imperative it is that the staff members share information, in the form of screen captures and documents, and participate in ongoing collaboration.

There are many great options available, one just needs to do some research. One option that you could offer is a virtual session, utilizing a combination of video conferencing, such as Vidyo and web hosting program, such as On24, you would be able to host a training that can be live for multiple attendees, and recorded for future attendees, you have options like annotations, chats and Q&A sessions to interact the staff members they can share screen captures, documents and various other items during the session. Another great option is to utilize a CMS, like Moodle.com and create the course and allow discussions, 

During a recent roll out of a new software at the Firm we created a progressive roll out of the software training. We offered several Live in office and Virtual offerings, we also recorded a session and created a course in our LMS, our LMS is SumTotal, to offer to those unavailable for the live sessions. We then created Q&A sessions for after the roll out that could be attended and to allow for even more questions and collaboration. For these sessions we simply utilized a webinar hosting program, we use WebEx. 

As an Instructional Designer it is important to know your options, research your options and find the one that works best for that situation. Currently we are exploring options for how to offer more virtual training to our world wide offices, with budget and travel constraints it becomes important to look at options on how to continue to offer training sessions. This is where we get to really have some fun and explore options, try new things and see what works best for our clients. We have explored two options for some classes, we recently offered an entire 4 hour course virtually using video conferencing software. The class went well, our learners were engaged and the facilitator was able to get all the materials in. 

References:

www.webex.com
www.on24.com
www.vidyo.com
www.moodle.com
www.coursesites.com

Distance Learning

     In my lifetime I have not traveled to many places, but thanks to distance learning I have been able to receive my education without leaving my home. I have been able to raise my son on my own, without having to put him in daycare or having missed milestones in his life thus far. I now have a teenager, my Bachelors and am working on my Masters, 

       Distance Learning means different things to different people. For example, I don't think I would have thought of the distance learning like correspondence courses, I hadn't thought of those in years, not till I read about it in our readings. Now I can remember when correspondence courses were offered, I can remember many of the other types of distance learning I researched when I first graduated high school, and wasn't sure the traditional classroom was for me. It turns out I wasn't meant for the traditional classroom, online learning was what fit me, I could participate in discussions, be a part of a group, learn at my own pace and learn self discipline. 

          While Distance Learning might not be for everyone it has changed my life both personally and professionally. I believe Distance Learning is such a generic term, if you ask someone in the learning field what is Distance Learning, you are sure to get many different answers. I actually did this in my office, I asked some of our Trainers, Senior Trainers, Training Coordinators even Managers, how they would define Distance Learning, it was truly amazing at how many different answers I received. While it appears to me there is no one way to define Distance Learning, it is what you make of it. . 

Reference:

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., & Zvacek, S. (2015). Definitions, History, and Theories of Distance Education, Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance Education, pgs. 35 – 40.