Nicola Foster, a business development manager at award-winning consultancy Information Transfer, presented the firm's ideas on how to deftly employ e-learning within an organisation at the recent E-learning Network Supplier Showcase in London.
She outlined the concept of "agile e-learning," a term Information Transfer coined to describe the appropriate use of e-learning software, professional expertise and subject matter expert input into the course development process.
Nicola described how Information Transfer uses the agility model in its content creation projects to award-winning effect, and explained how other organisations can consider building their own strength, balance, speed, co-ordination and responsiveness.
"Agile e-learning is about adopting a project 'posture' which allows you to respond to each unique situation," Nicola said, "Think of an athlete on his toes, ready to respond quickly, adroitly and with well-placed power."
Agile e-learning is about employing professional e-learning specialist help when necessary, making it easy for subject matter experts to contribute and review content, balancing e-learning content with other types of training, and using the right e-learning creation tools for each job, she explained.
She also contrasted agile e-learning with "rapid e-learning," a popular term used to describe e-learning created by internal subject matter experts using easy-to-use authoring tools.
"Rapid e-learning has become very popular for its speed and 'access-for-all' approach," said Nicola. "We wanted to address the fact that the speed of production is only one element in what makes successful e-learning."
"Organisations should consider applying more of the agile attributes themselves or ensure they partner with an agile content supplier to get the most out of the training they are producing."
It's always good to take a step back and review the work that you've been doing. And sometimes, it's only when you do this that you appreciate the scale of what's been achieved.
We had this experience recently in preparing our application for the 2008 E-learning Award for 'The best use of rapid e-learning content'.
The application is being made jointly with KPMG. It relates to the Audit Professional and Technical Update, a regular programme of e-learning modules that Information Transfer produces in conjunction with KPMG. The training is taken by KPMG's 3000 audit professionals around the UK to keep them up to date with changes in auditing standards, regulations and procedures.
A new Update is issued every quarter, with each edition typically consisting of five or six modules, created over a compressed timescale of four to six weeks. During five years, Information Transfer and KPMG have produced twenty editions of the Update providing, over ninety modules of training.
In collecting data to support our application we discovered that up to March 2008, users of the training had achieved 273,930 module completions. More than 7000 individuals had undertaken a total of 76,465 hours of training – that's equivalent to over 48 years of working time.
Given these figures, we're tempted to claim that the Audit Professional and Technical Update ranks as one of the most sustained success stories of corporate e-learning of any type. We think we've got a strong case for the award - and we hope the judges agree.
We'll let you know in November when the results are announced - watch this space.
Twenty years ago the murder of Suzy Lamplugh made the headlines. Suzy was an estate agent who failed to return from a viewing. Her diary showed she had gone to meet a 'Mr Kipper' at a property for sale. Worried colleagues called the police, but in spite of a massive search she was never seen again.
Now, property consultant Hamptons International is determined to ensure that none of its employees ever find themselves at risk in this way. Hamptons has commissioned Information Transfer to write an e-learning course on lone working to complement its classroom training. ‘Safe Lone Working’ is one element of a complete suite of e-learning material covering health and safety topics, part of the firm's library of online compliance training.
Following Suzy's death, her parents decided to do something to reduce the risk of this kind of thing happening again. They set up the Suzy Lamplugh Trust to raise awareness of the risks of lone working.
Twenty years on the Trust can be credited with having created the discipline of personal safety. The law on safety at work now requires all employers to have procedures for reducing the risks faced by staff who have to work alone.
Knowing how to avoid violence and aggression is a useful life skill for adults and children, at work and at home. Some simple guidelines can help us all to live safer, more confident lives.
Personnel Today talks to the Training and Development Manager of Superquinn about the vagaries of human nature and other challenges.
To download the full article, click here.
Joana Formosinho and Paul Haigh have recently joined Information Transfer to help meet a steady demand for the company's award-winning bespoke e-learning solutions.
Joana has an academic background in the evolution of communication between different species of animals and spent four years in research, which took her on a round-the-world trip, from the freezing waters of Scotland to the deserts of Namibia.
With an aptitude for explaining complex scientific issues and with excellent medical communication skills, Joana has worked as a consultant, translator, writer and editor on technical subjects.
"I love seeing the world at different levels, from genes to cells to whole organisms, and I enjoy the challenge of bringing this alive for other people. I am really looking forward to applying this personal enthusiasm to my work with Information Transfer's clients."
Paul Haigh has joined Information Transfer as a consultant and media developer, having recently returned to the UK after working in South East Asia as an international financial journalist and photographer, and media consultant for various emerging businesses and NGOs.
"Great images and visuals stay with us always, which means people remember and learn far more by seeing and doing. I am hoping to work with Information Transfer and their clients to create effective learning using visually engaging, multimedia interactive materials."
Paul and Joana bring strong communication, creative and media capabilities to the team and will be an invaluable resource for Information Transfer's clients who currently include KPMG, GlaxoSmithKline, PZ Cussons, Knight Frank, Priory Group, Schering-Plough and Arts Council England.
Dr Ralph Rickards, one of the founders of Information Transfer, is retiring. After 26 years Ralph reflects on the company’s longevity and success, which he puts down to its culture.
"What made the firm stand out from its competitors in 1981 is still true today. Right from the start we decided to create a business where everyone shares responsibility and rewards; where opinions are respected and ambitions can be realised; where staff are trusted and independent, yet can enjoy the advantages of a supportive group. Our clients benefit from this attitude too and as a result we have a stable and thriving organisation with people who genuinely want to contribute to its success and development."
Added to this was an enthusiasm for adopting new technology to get business-critical messages across. "One of our first projects was to create a course for pharmaceutical reps which ran on the latest 'micro-computers'," says Ralph. "We presented information with embedded questions to encourage learning and retention – today this is known as e-learning."
But technological innovation is only part of the solution, explains Ralph.
"There is no point in having brilliant technology if it is delivering poor quality information. Our clients value our ability to research and analyse a mass of information, identify the key points and present them in an engaging fashion appropriate for the target audience. We are practical people and we aim to deliver projects which really work for our clients."
This approach won Ralph the confidence and loyalty of many long-term clients, including well-known names such as ICI, Shell and GSK.
New members of the team are taking Information Transfer in new directions. But fundamental values established by Ralph and the other founding partners will remain the bedrock of the company’s future success.
