The training question is: “How is technology changing corporate training, and what do trainers need to keep in mind in light of that?”
Here is how an expert responded:
The primary way that technology is changing training is that “it’s disaggregating content,” says Karl Kapp (www.karlkapp.com), Assistant Director of Bloomsburg University’s Institute for Interactive Technologies, and author of Gadgets, Games, and Gizmos for Learning (Pfeiffer). That is, technology is allowing information to be broken down into smaller units.
“One of the advantages of technology is we can provide small pieces of content over time,” he says. This promotes retention and allows learners to complete training at their own pace, when it is most convenient for them.
“Most people can carve out 20 minutes of instruction,” but have a more difficult time finding an hour or more to attend training, he says.
Kapp cautions, however, that some companies “have become so enamored with the technology that they forget the instructional strategies that underlie it.” They “are not using the attributes of the technology to their best ability,” he explains. Then, they wonder why their investment doesn’t pay off.
Looking to go mobile with your EHS training? Find out how in BLR®’s upcoming webinar, “Using Mobile Applications for EHS Training, Auditing & Inspections.” Learn more.
For example, a company that purchases mobile devices might decide to “shrink” an existing e-learning course and put it on the mobile device, so employees can access it anytime—without a PC or laptop. No one wants to squint while trying to complete e-learning on a mobile device, he suggests. A more effective use of mobile devices for training would be to create a quick matching game that reinforces key concepts, according to Kapp.
In deciding what type of technology to use, “follow basic instructional design guidelines for proper use of media” and “look at it from the perspective of the learner and how they need to apply the knowledge,” says Kapp.
“Videos are really only good if you want to show change over time, assembly, or something in motion,” he says. “If the only thing moving in the video is the person’s lips, then you don’t need video.”
“Simple games are effective for repetition of knowledge, teaching facts, and declarative knowledge,” he says, noting interactive simulations are better for teaching problem-solving skills.
The future is now for using mobile technologies to help you train! Learn how to use them effectively with our new webinar, “Using Mobile Applications for EHS Training, Auditing & Inspections,” coming January 6, 2014. Sign up risk-free.
Best Practices with Mobile Apps
EHS managers are under tremendous pressure to do more with less. Department staffs are being downsized and resources are being cut, yet the workload for most EHS professionals is increasing.
To meet this constant, and what feels like an overwhelming, demand, tools such as mobile applications that will increase efficiency and productivity must be considered, evaluated, and implemented.
Mobile applications allow EHS professionals to take advantage of technological advancements that can make them more efficient, more productive, and more effective. Plus, they have proven to be extremely useful for inspections, observation management, audits, blended learning, training, and JSA/JHAs. But, with many products available, and some that don’t live up to their promises, it’s important to select the right mobile applications that can help make you the most effective, efficient, and productive.
Join us for an in-depth webinar on January 6 when our presenter, a seasoned business operations management professional and management systems expert who has helped many companies leverage useful and valuable mobile applications, will show you how to effectively use mobile applications to do more with less.
“Using Mobile Applications For EHS Training, Auditing & Inspections:
How to Reduce Costs and Increase Effectiveness”
Live webinar coming Monday, January 6, 2014
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern / 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Pacific
You and your colleagues will learn:
- How mobile applications have evolved over the last decade
- Why mobile applications are proving to be one of the leading tools for achieving big payoffs in efficiency, effectiveness, productivity, and cost-containment for an EHS program
- Suggested areas for an EHS professional to consider for utilizing mobile applications
- Areas where mobile applications have proven to be extremely successful, including for inspections, observation management, audits, blended learning, training, and JSA/JHAs
- How to assess potential areas for application in your organization
- How to best “package” the results of the assessment to effectively present recommendations to the key decision makers in the organization
- How to avoid the black holes, dead ends, and unproductive choices that can occur with poorly chosen or poorly implemented mobile applications
- Methods for quantifying the ROI on mobile application investments
- Ways to identify and evaluate outside resources to help in applying the right mobile applications to your EHS program