Selecting Distance Learning Technologies

Scenario: Collaborative Training Environment

• Scenario:  A new automated staff information system was recently purchased by a major corporation and needs to be implemented in six regional offices.
• Problem:  The staff is located throughout all the different offices and cannot meet at the same time or in the same location.
• ID Challenge:  Implement a training workshop for these offices. As part of the training, it is imperative that the staff members share information (in the form of screen captures and documents) and participate in ongoing collaboration.

 

Discussion of Possible Solution

Research has shown that “distance education can be as effective as any other category of instruction” (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, and Zvacek, 2012).  Learning about new ideas, new systems, and new approaches is a regular part of any job, and many companies have offices separated geographically (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, and Zvacek, 2012).  Distance learning allows for flexible asynchronous training and online collaboration, without the time and travel expenses for gathering distant employees together for a more traditional workshop training event.
One solution for this company and the instructional designer is to use a wiki.  A wiki can be “an excellent tool for collaborative online writing assignments and group activities compiling information in a single online resource” (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, and Zvacek, 2012).  The purpose of this training is to familiarize employees with a new automated staff information system.  According to Holden et al. (2010), asynchronous media, such as using a wiki, may be better suited to lower cognitive levels.  This does not appear to be highly technical or difficult in nature, so a wiki may be an appropriate Web 2.0 tool.  By using a wiki, employees can upload and share documents, share screen clippings, and collaborate.  Most adults tend to be independent and can direct their own learning (Cercone, 2008).  Using a wiki allows employees the flexibility of choosing the timing and pacing of their learning.  Adult learners also bring with them a vast collection of background knowledge.  Using a wiki to collaborate will allow these employees to not only learn from others, but to share their own “reservoir of life experiences” (Conlan, Grabowski, and Smith, 2003).  Gordon (2006) found that the use of wikis can “increase social interaction, while enabling swift collaboration and interaction while exchanging information and creating knowledge” (Gullet and Bedi, 2007).

Real World Examples

Brian McKeiver of BizStream writes in his blog that one benefit of using wiki is that all employees can contribute to and benefit from the information on the wiki.  BizStream creates a wiki about each one of its clients (like the file folders of days gone by) which allows employees to collaborate easily and document project information.
Another example comes from CORT, a subsidiary of Berskshire Hathaway.  CORT has around 2,500 employees who are spread out across 180 locations.  Instead of clogging up email boxes, they use wikis to help employees across departments and locations collaborate (Lynch, 2007).

Other Considerations

The wiki website asks users to consider whether their wiki will be public and editable or if it needs security and privacy (wiki.com, 2008).  This is a corporate training wiki, so the instructional designer should take steps to make it private and secure.  Another major consideration is the learner.  Dr. Ana Donaldson cautions instructional designers that if they remember nothing else about the design process to remember these three elements:   the learner, the learner, and the learner (Laureate Education, n.d.).  If many of the employees are like me, they have limited working knowledge and experience using wikis.  Like with anything new, there is a learning curve.  When I used a wiki for a group project in the Instructional Design course, it took time to figure out how to navigate around and use a wiki.  The instructional designer will need to determine the characteristics of the company employees, perhaps through the use of a survey.   If there are many employees that are unfamiliar with wikis, a prerequisite wiki tutorial may need to be added to the training program.  The instructional designer may need to create a video with screen shots and voiceover or utilize the many wiki training videos that have already been created.

References

Cercone, K. (2008). Characteristics of adult learners with implications for online learning design,
AACE Journal, 16(2), 137-159.

Conlan, J., Grabowski, S., & Smith, K., (2003). Adult learning. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/

Gullet E., & Bedi, K. (2007). Wiki: A new paradigm for online training and development of faculty. Proceeds ascilite Singapore 2007. Retrieved from http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/singapore07/procs/gullett.pdf

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (n.d.). Instructional Design Models. [Video Podcast]. Retrieved from http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/Walden/EIDT/6100/CH/mm/eidt6100_instructional_design.html

Lynch, C. (2007). CIO. Retrieved from http://www.cio.com/article/166904/How_One_Company_Is_Using_Wikis_and_Blogs_to_Unclog_E_mail_Boxes

Mcbeeve.com. Retrieved from http://www.mcbeev.com/Blog/July-2010/9-Reasons-Why-Your-Company-Needs-a-Wiki.

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance:
Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.

Wiki (2008). Retrieved from http://www.wiki.com/