Managing the Training Investment

As an employer, I am faced with a growing challenge in the area of training. My challenges are not unique. They include reduced budgets, limited resources, limited learner time, rising costs of training and so forth. Utilizing e-learning resources is one way to overcome these challenges.

Large organizations with large budgets may not be hit as hard by these challenges. But for the organization of a few hundred employees, providing training can be a true challenge. As a result, less training is being delivered and the training that is being done is focused on mandatory and job-specific training.

Margaret Driscoll, Ed.D. and Matthew Dirks, Ph.D. recently published an article in Training (e-networks; Are You an E-Learning MVP?) that listed 10 tips for expanding e-learning in an organization.

Tip #1: Use training as an incentive and benefit for retaining and recruiting employees. Employees want to remain competitive and seek organizations that help them accomplish that goal.

Tip #2: Use e-learning to drive adoption. Initial effort to change or adopt new ideas is generally not enough and can be supported by a training effort.

Tip #3: Use e-learning to address busy schedules. Bundling training in easy to digest courses will encourage people to start the process. Anything that over 60 minutes meet adoption challenges.

Tip #4: Use the right technology. There are so many alternatives to the traditional face-to-face approach, many of which are very cost effective.

Tip #5: Master and share the tools. The right tools can also be quite easy to use and with minimal practice can be mastered by all.

Tip #6: Move all or part of a traditional instructor-led class online. Even with online training, collaboration tools, forums and online discussions can provide the hand-holding that some require to master the topic.

Tip #7: Design for reuse. It is amazing what free material is available. Don’t reinvent the wheel.

Tip #8: Extend the impact of online learning classes. With the right tools, trainees can easily be given refresher courses and by keeping people current, the cost of training can be kept under control.

Tip #9: Tone down the bells and whistles. Keep it simple and cost effective. After all, mastering the content is the goal, not impressing the student with our great creative skills.

Tip #10: Teach others how to use templates and style sheets. Sharing content and tricks for creating courses can pay dividends to the organization.

Given these great suggestions, it is then incumbant on me to find a delivery method that can take advantage of technology and deliver content in a cost effective way. I am curious, has anyone found a cost-effective (OK, FREE) delivery method for e-learning that can meet these needs? I am very interested in your thoughts.