In the process of implenting a new LMS (probably Learn.com), and need feedback on which library of OD courses (Skillsoft, Element-K, etc.) has the "best" results. We'll be using the e-learning library as part of a blended learning solution, with periodic ILT sessions to customize content to our particular needs.

Specifically, we're looking for an OD/career development/management skills library (soft skills, basically). Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Thx -

Bob
Manager, Tech Pubs & Training
AS&E
rbritton@as-e.com

bsq... opinions are opinions and you'll see a variety.

That said -- I have never seen any e-learning program for non-computer-related skills that were worth even a penny of the money spent. I've seen them all. I've been in the business for almost 20 years and been involved with so-called "e-learning" for the past 10. It's grown and changed considerable, but ultimately, unless you're using the computer to teach about something that is done on the computer, all these other courses amount to basically clickable powerpoint presentations. Is that the learning experience you're looking to provide?

The most important aspect should be whether or not someone actually gains something from the "e-learning" other than being frustrated that they have to sit and read slide after slide of information.

Slapping pretty pictures and audio on a bunch of text doesn't enhance much of anything and usually frustrates learners when all you really needed them to do was read some material in a self-study kind of way. I recommend saving your money. If you need people to read something, and it needs to be easily accessible online and trackable with an LCMS, try PDF documents.

Why people make others sit through these glorified powerpoint presentations and call it "training" I will never understand.

I realize you plan to use it as part of a blended solution -- I recommend using it *after* an actual learning experience as a follow-up refresher of key concepts.

"If you seek information read words. If you seek understanding, have experiences." (Dave Meier)

Again -- just an opinion. Everybody's got one.

Love Learning makes some good points, and I fundamentally agree. However, I do want to point out tangible benefits that I have seen in SEVERAL organizations on using softskills courseware.

For example, in a call center a friend of mine owns, he used to sit down (or have a top sales rep do so) with the employee to do all the training- basic acclimation to the company, systems, sales process, database, forms, etc.. Thus, you have a $300/hr employee training a $10.25/hr asset. We moved a lot of the "Company/Systems 101" stuff to online. Thus, freeing up the $300/hr asset and delivering high ROI.

I am not arguing that experience will trump information, but the elearning courseware gave the new employee the basic information, understanding of process, vocabulary to have much more effective, focused and time-optimized mentoring (which is critical for call centers- you can't train customer interactions without direct observation).

That being said, I think Acheive Global, Skillsoft have some adequate "foundational" training to give learners some orientation to some core business concepts and tactics in softskills. My experience with Element K is that they are much stronger with the IT courseware.

But, I agree with Love Learning fundamentally (esp. as I am an unapologetic behaviorist): you learn by doing. Reading can introduce concepts, but until the action is performed and evaluated,it's consumed information, application demonstrates what was learned.

Have some insight on Learn.com LMS implementation as well, if you'd like to discsuss.

Our industry involoves large scale capital electromechanical equipment, which requires both operators and technicians to get their hands on the gear - so I'm absolutely aware of and will never abandon the value of ILT/hands-on training. That said, we're on 6 of the 7 continents, and the costs of straight ILT are getting out of hand, hence the move toward a blended solution.

As for my search for a good soft skills library, I've already pitched it to upper management that this is NOT a replacement for an ILT OD/soft skills development program, but it's supplementary to such a program and gives metrics for them to track that are more easily attainable than trying to find a correlation between performance and having taken any particular soft skill course by ILT. We in training know that people retain info better if it's delivered in smaller increments over longer periods of time rather than sending somebody to a 4-day seminar, and a properly sequenced LMS delivery schedule has the potential to deliver good results. I would also agree that it might be more beneficial to perform the ILT up front and use the e-learning for refresher/bolstering of concepts, although I think a lot of that has to do with quality of the training being provided and the simulation/interactivity/fidelity of the training content (there are quite a few fields - pilots, for example - who start their training on simulators before moving to the real deal).

Keep the posts coming, folks.

thx -

Bob
rbritton@as-e.com

respectfully, glowman, my post was not against delivering information. Rather, I am saying that if the information is important, there are better, less expensive, more efficient, less frustrating ways to deliver it.

If you need good simulations, I hope you have the infrastructure, money, resources, etc. to handle it all.