Working with Vendors

Making service part of your e-learning strategy

“Whether you’re selecting a learning management system (LMS), a learning content management system (LCMS), online courseware or some other technology component to support your learning initiative, you know to look closely at the technology, pore over our checklists and pay particular attention to the “yes/no” boxes down a laundry list of technical features and specifications. Yes, technology is important. It gives us great capabilities and potential for learning and development. It gives us delivery options and the ability to track and quantify learning activities and results. But technology alone is just half of the equation. Too often, we forget about the impact that service and support will have on our success.” Frank Russell, CLO Magazine, August 2004

Added: 7 August 2004
Reviewer’s Note:
At the beginning of e-learning history, many vendors simply sold the sizzle of technology without the appropriate regard for service. In this traditional model, responsibility for delivering and servicing the software and its end users rested with customers and their internal IT resources. But in today’s fast-paced global economy, many organizations are changing that old model by making technology vendors provide both the technology and the service they need to be successful.”

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Working with vendors: equipping corporate educators

“When a CLO invests in a vendor, the consequences involve more than acquiring a product’s technical capabilities. The CLO is also buying into a set of multi-year relationships that may drive future strategic and tactical choices in areas as diverse as content creation, content delivery, learning management, learning infrastructure, analytics and consulting. Likewise, the vendor hopes to become an indispensable part of the CLO’s external resources, with one contract leading to another and its industry reputation enhanced.” Katherine O Foreman, Chief Learning Officer Magazine, April 2004

Added: 30 April 2004
Reviewer’s Note:
Conclusion - “Under the best circumstances, a thriving CLO-vendor partnership allows both organizations to educate each other as the project moves forward.”

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In search of the perfect e-learning buyer

“For most training managers, the buying of goods and services is relatively routine: purchases are made on a drip-feed basis throughout the year to many suppliers and in relatively small amounts. However large the overall budget, most of the transactions are small and for short periods. E-learning has changed all that. Whether you are purchasing a learning management system, buying licenses to off-the-shelf content or commissioning bespoke development, the contracts into which you will be entering will be for large amounts and will have an impact over long periods. Buying e-learning is a skill that all training managers will need. In this article, Clive Shepherd talks to buyers and sellers to find out what it is that makes the perfect e-learning buyer.”  Clive Shepherd, tactix, July 2003

Added: 18 July 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
Includes some guidance on how to be an expert e-learning buyer.

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Suppliers are from Mars, Buyers are from Venus

“In Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, author John Gray argues that there are innate differences between men and women, and only by acknowledging and accepting them can people form positive and lasting relationships. Although I think that there are real dangers in forming broad gender stereotypes, I do think there are some general differences between e-learning professionals when they’re on opposite sides of a transaction.”  Kevin Kruse, Learning Circuits, April 2003

Added: 19 April 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
As Kevin summarises “Rather than wishing we were more like each other, we should acknowledge our differences and accept them. Only then can we gain a deeper level of understanding and a higher level of communication and productivity.”

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Playing 20 questions

“Here’s a primer designed to prepare training and HR professionals to work with their information technology group and e-learning suppliers.  It provides 20 questions training professionals need to ask, including definitions, examples and concepts that are important when assessing suppliers and working with IT departments.”  Margaret Driscoll and Michael Denehy, Learning Circuits, 24 January 2003

Added: 24 January 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
Some useful questions that could also be included in an ITT (Invitation to Tender) or RFP (Request for Proposals) document.

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Check under the hood: evaluating e-learning developers

“How do you evaluate e-learning developers, choosing between suppliers who seem very similar? Don’t just kick their tires–check under the hood, too. Here’s what to look for.” Lori Mortimer, Learning Circuits, December 2002

Added: 16 December 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
Some criteria on which to evaluate content development vendors

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Partner with purpose and passion

“Partnering is “hot”–especially in e-learning. IT managers new to the concept, or those without considerable external expertise, often ally themselves with content providers, infrastructure vendors, or services companies only to find themselves dancing with different partners long before the music stops. The two most common mistakes we’ve seen in online learning partnerships are the Accidental Partnership and the Porcupine Partnership. Here’s what to watch for, and how to avoid them.”  Heather Shea-Shultz and John Fogarty, e-learning Magazine, 12 December 2002

Added: 13 December 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
“Great partnerships succeed because they have soul! And, the soul of partnership is allegiance to six core protocols that direct the rhythm of the relationship.”

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The Three Cs of RFPs

“Avoid RFP nightmares with three simple but effective project-management best practices: Communicate, Coordinate, Cooperate.” James E Powell, Enterprise Systems, 1 November 2002

Added: 6 November 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
A thorough look at the main steps in issuing and dealing with RFPs

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Bankrutptcy proof your e-learning project

“Do chills run down your spine when asked to manage an e-learning project that you know will involve suppliers? Do suppliers take you where you need to go or where they want to go? Do your supplier-driven projects invariably cost more than initial proposals? How can you fortify your e-learning project management strategies?” Darin Hartley, Learning Circuits, December 2001

Added: 18 December 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
Here are some tips to keep your project in the black.

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Guidelines for buying e-learning services

“The old adage caveat emptor certainly applies to the current e-learning marketplace. Many start-up e-learning companies have failed or have been absorbed into other companies. Consulting firms will help companies develop a strategy and select tools, but their prices are often steep and their strategic alliances with suppliers cause concerns about objectivity. So how can an e-learning manager navigate the supplier landscape to build a sound e-learning strategy and a scalable, flexible architecture?” Susan Guest and Jennifer Juday, Learning Circuits, November 2001

Added: 12 November 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
A guide to the different e-learning tools and services

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Mixing apples and oranges

“Quick tips for surviving the interoperability myth … There’s a war out there. It’s vendor against vendor slugging it out in the trenches for a stranglehold of the market-space, and a little longevity, too. Yet, after the smoke lifts and the casualties are counted, quite often these days the loser of the battles is not a vendor, but the buyer.” Michael Rosenberg, e-Learning Magazine, October 2001

Added: 11 October 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
A “field survival kit to help you and your company win the next battle when you engage in action with a vendor”!

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Party of six and Is Content King?

“Not all e-learning vendors are alike; in fact, there are six main categories of suppliers.” Clark Aldrich, Online Learning Magazine, October 2001and November 2001 (http://www.nielsenbusinessmedia.com/?vnu_content_id=1108350)

Added: 30 September 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
An description of the six types of e-learning vendors.

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How to manage vendor demos

“Managing vendor demos and presentations is a critical phase in selecting the right learning management system for your organization. How To Manage Vendor Demos answers frequently asked questions about managing vendor demos and presentations, and it provides information about preparing for vendor demos and presentations - and what to expect during the presentation.” Report to download from Brandon-Hall at $75.00

Added: 10 August 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
If you want to know how to get the most out of vendor presentations, this might be for you.

Planning and Managing an e-Learning Project

Project Management and E-Learning: MORE is Worse

“E-Learning projects are different than traditional learning projects. In general, the key word that describes this difference is MORE. An e-learning project is actually two projects: a software project combined with a performance enhancement (’training’) project. That means MORE scope, MORE stakeholders, MORE risk, MORE duration, MORE budget pressures, and MORE opportunities for communication to fail.”  Lou Russell, Learning Circuits, August 2006.

Added: 23 August 2006
Reviewer’s Note:
Reviewer’s Note: Provides some good advice for project managers

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E-Learning maintenance strategies - why you need one

“Does your organization design or procure custom-built e-learning? Is your desire to create e-learning solutions that are widely successful? Do you aspire to be perceived as a strategic thinker within your business? If you answered yes to these questions, then an e-learning maintenance strategy is something you should consider.” Coley O’Brian, Learning Circuits, August 2005

Added: 20 August 2005
Reviewer’s Note:
The key steps to putting an e-learning maintenance strategy in place are: selling the strategy as a critical component of your overall e-learning methodology; determining how robust your strategy needs to be; and building the strategy based on your assessment.

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Project and programme management

“The site should help you to work through the various stages of your Programme or Project, from start up to your closure reports.” DfES

Added: 14 October 2004
Reviewer’s Note:
Although written for project and programme management in education, this resource is suitable for all

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Fail to plan - plan to fail

“Over the past several years, I have noticed the need for most instructional designers to serve dual roles: instructional designer and project manager. Here’s an overview of project management for instructional designers responsible for the development of online learning materials.” Ed Mayberry, Learning Circuits, July 2004

Added: 10 July 2004
Reviewer’s Note:
Summary - “You’re on the road to project management success if you remember the basics: deliver on time, to scope, and within budget-and if your team will work with you in the future.”

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Guidelines to inform the development of e-Learning in the NHS

Added: 8 May 2004
Reviewer’s Note:
A research study commissioned by the NHS Authority has resulted in these guidelines to assist the development of e-learning within the NHS, covering the following activities: Building relationships with suppliers for maximum effect; supplier selection, advice on the contractual process, development and testing of e-learning products purchased and product quality assurance methods.  However, they are useful and relevant for any organisation planning an e-learning project,

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Project Managing e-Learning

Added: 19 January 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
This is the website that complements the Project Managing e-Learning book by Bill Shackelford.  It includes access to online tools

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Ten things to consider before spending a dime on e-learning

“For many who are beginning to consider creating or developing e-learning, the crevasse tends to blend into the vast training horizon, making it difficult to see and discern until suddenly, they find themselves caught in a free fall of missed expectations and reams of incomplete storyboards. Pitfalls abound for those who have not considered many key elements and components necessary to create, develop, and implement an effective e-Learning initiative.  Here are ten things to consider about e-learning before spending a dime..”  MariAn Klein, Workplace Expert

Added: 21 December 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
A summary of ten points that are expanded in many further articles on this page and on other pages of the Planning for e-Learning  sub-section.

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Developing e-learning in-house: a nonprofit case study

“United Way’s foray into e-Learning was confronted by a number of challenges: a small budget, a small team, and resistant learners.  Learn how this non-profit consensus-driven organization overcame these challenges to create not only a successful e-Learning program, but also a highly functional template that could be applied to all future e-Learning development efforts.”

Added: 27 August 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
Another case study on how to set up e-learning from scratch

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First Project: An e-Learning Odyssey

“At Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS) Corporate Learning Services we decided to begin the journey into e-Learning.  We pulled together a team of technically experienced people - then our troubles started.  None of us had ever implemented a web-based e-Learning project from conception to completion.  Nor had we ever worked with an authoring tool, a learning management system, graphic or animation software.  Here is what we learned… ”  Jean Marrapodi and Tracy Byrnes, eLearning Devlopers Journal, 20 August 2002

Added: 20 August 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
Very much a beginner’s guide to running an e-learning project with an interesting analysis of how they went about selecting an authoring tool

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How to manage the e-learning development team

“The typical e-learning courseware development team is interdisciplinary. Unfortunately, integrating this diverse group of creative, intelligent, and high-energy specialists into a cohesive unit can be challenging. Often, the missing ingredient is an effective project manager.” John Ivancevich, Thomas Duening and Robert Konapaske, Learning Circuits, July 2002

Added: 2 August 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
The role of the project management and the challenges to be faced when managing an e-learning team

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Managing Threats to E-learning Success: Six Simple Tips for Initiative Leaders

“Leading a major e-learning or blended learning initiative is a relatively new, complex and high-stakes challenge. Success depends on a variety of factors, not the least of which is the project leader’s ability to manage threats in the form of miscommunic

Added: 26 July 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
Some key points to keep in mind

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Tips to make e-learning stick

“Training effectiveness isn’t measured by smile sheet evaluations or posttest scores. The true test lies not in the classroom or online, but back on the job. Do learners apply new skills and competencies in the day-to-day environment? The following tips will help ensure that your learners do, and that your company’s investment in e-learning pays off.” Susan Boyd, Learning Circuits, May 2002

Added: 21 May 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
Some of the ways to make an online course more effective.  But what about first asking if a traditional course is really the best format for the learners and the material to be learnt?

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Buy versus build: a battle of needs

“It’s the question that haunts the dreams of every training professional, the one that gives adults nervous-stomach butterflies as though it were the first day of school. Buy versus build, the perpetual dilemma for people who are implementing e-learning.”

Added: 24 January 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
This article considers three key factors: needs, resources and uniqueness

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A framework for e-Learning

“institutions venturing onto e-learning initiatives should explore “What does it take to create a successful e-learning experience for diverse learners?” Numerous factors help to create a meaningful e-learning environment. After reflecting on these, I developed A Framework for E-Learning. The seeds for the E-Learning Framework began germinating with the question “What does it take to provide the best and most meaningful open, flexible, and distributed learning environments for learners worldwide?” The framework has eight dimensions: institutional, pedagogical, technological, interface design, evaluation, management, resource support, and ethical.” Badrul Khan

Added: 31 December 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
See also Badrul’s book E-Learning Strategies (http://bookstoread.com/elearning/)

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Taking the first steps in e-learning

“Converting existing classroom-based materials to an online format in developing an e-learning program requires a blend of some traditional classroom-based courses along with the conversion courses. The advantages of online learning must outweigh the disadvantages for both the learner and the developer to make the conversion process cost effective.” Claire Schooley, CyberNation India

Added: 25 October 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
Looks at course conversion and possible problems

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The importance of learning methodology

“We hear much about learning strategy and learning systems, yet there is little dialogue about learning methodology - the process of how workers and customers will learn. Learning methodology is all about what happens the day after you buy an e-learning content collection, the week after you select a learning management system and the year following the installation of a virtual classroom.” Elliott Masie, IT Training Magazine, October 2001

Added: 5 October 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
Elliott Masie discusses the importance of how learners will be invited to participate in e-learning, etc

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Developing web-based content in a distributed environment

“Here, we explore how to organize global development teams using best practices and the tools that support collaborative WBT development.” Edgar Weippl, Syllabus Magazine, August 2001

Added: 21 August 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
How to use web-based tools and best practice for global teams of developers to work together

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Twelve Important Questions to Answer Before You Offer a Web Based Curriculum

“This paper outlines twelve key questions that those responsible for developing and offering Web based education at academic institutions will need to address. The questions presented herein were arrived at by examining the experiences of pioneers in the area.” Khris McAlister, Julio Rivera, Stephen Hallam, Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, Summer 2001

Added: 19 July 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
You may be able to avoid some of the major pitfalls if you deal with these questions before you start

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Productivity myths

“Building reliable estimates is the hardest, least accurate, most critical task we do in planning instructional development projects. The numbers are always too big, the resources too small, and the expectations unrealistic. Whether you are an instructional designer or a training manager, the problem is universal. This article debunks some of the development lore and offers sound advice on solving these real-world problems.” Christina Sevilla and Timothy Wells, e-Learning Magazine, July 2001

Added: 10 July 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
A more realistic way of looking at project planning than used standard ratios

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Selecting the right e-learning project

“Undertaking a major e-learning programme involves a large investment both in terms of money and of the resources involved.” Bob McDowall, IT-Director.com, May 2001

Added: May 2001
Reviewer’s Note:

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Online Learning: What you need to know

You walked into that wonderful, anticipated planning session where you meet with the team to discuss the training plans for next year. You not only receive your reduced budget and increased student numbers but you also receive a directive to implement online learning into your training plan. Why? What? Where? How? Are those questions running through your mind?” ITDC (Information Technology Development Corporation

Added: 2000
Reviewer’s Note:

Evaluating the Effectiveness of e-Learning

Resources need to make evaluation work

“Much technology is available to support evaluation execution and reporting needs. The evaluator needs to research and select from the many vendors and programs available, pinpointing the most appropriate technology for the organization. Hardware and software can support almost any phase of the evaluation, including data collection, data management and reporting, and data analysis.” Jack J. Phillips, Patricia Pulliam Phillips, and Toni Krucky Hodges, Learning Circuits, November 2004

Added: 9 November 2004
Reviewer’s Note:
This is an excerpt from the new ASTD Press book,Make Training Evaluation Work (http://store.astd.org/product.asp?prodid=2849&deptid=)

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Showing the value of e-learning

“Providing instruction across the Internet and other computer networks is a relatively new phenomenon. To some extent, we are just learning how to harness this media for learning, and stakeholders are rightly asking whether our efforts are paying off. Establishing value for any venture is, at its most basic level, about determining what goals are important, selecting measures to show if these goals are achieved, and then measuring and analyzing. This is true for e-Learning, too.” Patti Shank, eLearningGuild, December 2003

Added: 4 April 2004
Reviewer’s Note:
Results of a survey run by eLearning Guild October-December 2003

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Evaluating the effectiveness of e-learning strategies for small and medium enterprises

“The aim of this paper is to provide a framework to measure the effectiveness of e-learning strategies or programmes. This will be undertaken without reference to any particular e-learning programme or strategy.” Eduardo Figueira, February 2003

Added: 18 March 2004
Reviewer’s Note:
A paper from European seminar: exploring models and partnerships for eLearning in SMES

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Is Kirkpatrick obsolete? Alternatives for measuring e-learning success

“In recent years there has been growing criticism of Kirkpatrick’s approach to evaluating training programs. Kevin Kruse (the e-learning guru) points out “critics of the Kirkpatrick model say that it doesn’t take the business impact far enough and that the final step in any training program should be a “fifth level” of evaluation — financial return. This ultimate evaluation determines the financial return on investment (ROI) of the training program”.” Kaliym Islam, Learning & Training Innovations Magazine, 18 February 2004

Added: 22 February 2004
Reviewer’s Note:
Kaliym presents the case for Six Sigma

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A New Methodology for Evaluation: The Pedagogical Rating of Online Courses

“Online courses should be evaluated not merely for their online materials, but for the sum total of elements contributing to their success. In this article, Nish Sonwalkar proposes an evaluation tool to provide an overall measure of the effectiveness of an online course-with consideration given to the inclusion of various learning styles, media types, and interactive elements.” Dr Nishikant Sonwalker, Syllabus Magazine, January 2002

Added: 31 January 2004
Reviewer’s Note:
“The pedagogy effectiveness index and the summative evaluation instrument used in combination can be powerful tools for evaluating large numbers of online offerings.”

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Criteria for evaluating the quality of online courses

“The criteria presented in this guide are based on the national and international experiences of staff in the Instructional Media and Design department at Grant MacEwan College. Although they were developed to assist educators in evaluating the effectiveness of online courses, they may also be used as guidelines for course developers.” Clayton R Wright, Grant MacEwan College

Added: 9 December 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
Also available in MS Word format to download

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Learning measurement: it’s not how much you train but how well

“A key consideration in designing e-Learning measures is deciding what to measure and report. Measurement can be expensive and time-consuming. This has strategic implications for budgeting as well as for continuous improvement of e-Learning. Read this article to identify not only the measures, but also a system for applying them in a way that does not break the bank!” Jeffrey Berk, eLearning Developers Journal, 3 November 2003

Added: 5 November 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
You will need to subscribe to the eLearning Guild to access this article

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Quality and effectiveness of e-learning

“How do e-learning practitioners rate the quality and effectiveness of their e-learning programs? Where are the soft spots among e-learning technologies used by practitioners? How do perceptions of quality and effectiveness of e-learning vary by region?” Tom Barron, Learning Circuits, May 2003

Added: 25 May 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
“The 24-question, Web-based survey, conducted with the participation of ASTD and other LoD partners, garnered nearly 350 responses from practitioners around the globe.”

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Getting bigger slices of the e-learning pie

“The e-learning pie is a simple tool that can help you assess the success of your e-learning projects.” Brooke Broadbent, Learning Circuits, May 2003

Added: 25 May 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
8 criteria for assessment and steps to assess the state of e-learning projects

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The web’s impact on student learning

“A Review of Recent Research Reveals Three Areas That Can Enlighten Current Online Learning Practice.” Katrina A Meyer, THE Journal

Added: 15 May 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
Also flags up where research still needs to be done in this area

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Measures of learning effectiveness

“Although many CEOs value training because they believe it strengthens the organization and serves as a retention tool, not many are clear on how to measure the return on the investment (ROI). With increased pressure to justify expenses, CLOs are looking for ways to show improved bottom-line results.” Michael Brannick, Chief Learning Officer Magazine, January 2003

Added: 10 January 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
“Consider that the complete integration of testing and assessment tools and programs can give you the data and feedback you need to prove not only that your program is meeting its objectives of training employees effectively, but also that the organization is receiving some real, tangible benefits because of its existence.”

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Quality auditing of online learning

“Guidelines and Professional Development Resources for Auditors of Online Training Programs” flexiblelearning.net.au

Added: 31 October 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
“Updated version of the draftguidelines incorporating feedback from the consultations.”

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An Assessment of the Effectiveness of e-learning in Corporate Training Programs

“Corporate managers are constantly looking for more cost-effective ways to deliver training to their employees. E-learning is less expensive than traditional classroom instruction. In addition, many expenses - booking training facilities, travel costs for employees or trainers, plus employee time away from the job - are greatly reduced. However, some firms that have spent large amounts of money on new e-learning efforts have not received the desired economic advantages.” Judith B Strother, Florida Institute of Technology, International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, April 2002

Added: 27 July 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
Conclusion: “While few people debate the obvious advantages of e-learning, systematic research is needed to confirm that learners are actually acquiring and using the skills that are being taught online, and that e-learning is the best way to achieve the outcomes in a corporate environment. This research must be grounded in solid theoretical precepts to assure that meaningful results are obtained.”

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Final Analysis

“How AT&T adapted Kirkpatrick’s evaluation tools to e-learning then applied the same rigor to selecting vendors.” Michael Welber, e-learning Magazine, 1 June 2002

Added: 7 June 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
“The group discovered some surprising results as they put both the training and the vendors through the paces.”

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Is digital learning effective in the workplace

“One should probably expect the title of this paper to be a statement instead of a question. However, the question is one that arises with ever increasing frequency in both corporations and academic instituitions throughout the world. Hence, it is a question that deserves more attention than a recounting of the plethora of anecdotal accounts and projections from technology and business analysts.” Larry G Moyer, eLearn Magazine

Added: 22 May 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
A 6-page article with research and conclusions

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Course evaluator

“We have created a course evaluator tool based on our 96 OID Standards. To use this tool, you will need to have a copy of Microsoft® Excel® and must be able to read Adobe® Acrobat® files.” Michigan Virtual University

Added: 20 March 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
Based on the open standards devised by MVU you can evaluate your own course

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Measuring e-learning’s effectiveness

“In this article I review a proven methodology for measuring effectiveness, which is the first part of really measuring return on investment (ROI). Over the years of deploying large e-learning programs at DigitalThink and other companies, I found that this process works flawlessly, and is easy to understand.” Josh Bersin, e-learning magazine, March 2002

Added: 13 March 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
Provides some useful ideas to consider how you evaluate your e-learning programs

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Measuring success: Evaluation strategies for distance education

“Only by evaluating the effectiveness of DE programs can we justify their use and continue to develop their quality.” Educause Quarterly, 2002

Added: 3 March 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
Covers stages of formative and summative evaluation

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A new methodology for evaluation: the pedagogical rating of online courses

“Online course offerings are increasing in number every day. Most universities and corporate training facilities now offer some or all of their courses online. In fact, more than 1,000 corporate universities and online providers offer courses in everything from information technology to Chinese cooking. Although it is clearly advantageous for asynchronous learners to access educational information and content anywhere and anytime, it is difficult to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of online courses and learning modules” Nishikant Sonwalkar, Syllabus Magazine, January 2002

Added: 15 January 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
Nishikant proposes a new instrument for evaluating online courses

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What matters in judging distance education? Not how much it’s like a distance course

“Barbara B. Lockee, an assistant professor of instructional technology at Virginia Tech, is an instructor in a graduate program on how to teach at a distance. The classes are held both face to face and — not surprisingly — at a distance. She says that trying to judge the quality of a distance course by comparing it with a traditional course is misguided.” Dan Carnevale, Chronicle of Higher Education, February 2001

Added: 18 July 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
An instructor’s view of how to evaluate an online course

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Seven principles of effective teaching: A practical lens for evaluating online courses

“The “Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education,” originally published in the AAHE Bulletin (Chickering & Gamson, 1987), are a popular framework for evaluating teaching in traditional, face-to-face courses. The principles are based on 50 years of higher education research (Chickering & Reisser, 1993). A faculty inventory (Johnson Foundation, “Faculty,” 1989) and an institutional inventory (Johnson Foundation, “Institutional,” 1989) based on these principles have helped faculty members and higher-education institutions examine and improve their teaching practices.” Charles Graham, Kursat Cagiltay, Byuung-Ro Lim, Joni Craner and Thomas M. Duffy, the technology source, March/April 2001

Added: 18 July 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
Some good principles to help with identifying good practice

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New times demand new ways of learning

“Recent research builds a powerful case against what used to be accepted “truths” about learning and technology. First, there is strong evidence that traditional models of learning, traditional definitions of technology effectiveness, and traditional models of the cost effectiveness of technology don’t work.” This is one section in the NCREL’s project “Plugging In: choosing and using educational technology

Added: 27 June 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
A very thorough look at how we should be evaluating the effectiveness of learning in a technology-based learning environment

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“No significant difference” phenomenon

“This site provides selected entries from the book “The No Significant Difference Phenomenon” as reported in 355 research reports, summaries and papers - a comprehensive research bibliography on technology for distance education.” Thomas Russell

Added: 27 June 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
This is a very interesting collection of papers that suggests there is “no significant difference” in learning no matter what kind of media or methods were used.

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E-Learning could do better

“Peter Honey describes his two lingering doubts about the effectiveness of e-learning - the first is about the motivation to learn and the second is that e-learning assumes that people already know how to learn.” December 2000

Added: May 2001
Reviewer’s Note:

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Evaluation for distance educators

#4 Distance Education at a Glance, College of Engineering, University of Idaho

Added: 2000
Reviewer’s Note:

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Evaluating Learning in Virtual Environments

“The project is itself innovative in the way that it integrates three key functions–research on learning and development, classroom practice, and authentic assessment of both individuals and programs–in learning environments made possible via new technologies.” (1997) University of Texas.

Added: 2000
Reviewer’s Note:

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Evaluation: a practical guide to methods

This article, from the Implementing Learning Technology series, “seeks to cover the principles for conducting an evaluation whether it is a small or a large project. An understanding of the theory and background to evaluation is beneficial in order to better plan, design and conduct an evaluation programme. Above all there is no substitute for having a clear purpose for an evaluation, defining the right question is a prerequisite. (1997) LTDI (Learning Technology Dissemination Initiative)

Added: 2000
Reviewer’s Note:

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Evaluation Cookbook

“A practical guide to evaluation methods for lecturers.” (1999) LTDI.

Added: 2000
Reviewer’s Note:

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Observing, Measuring or Evaluating Courseware

“Numerous people are involved in some way in introducing learning technology into teaching, whether in acquiring and using some software developed elsewhere or in authoring new software. Having put in considerable effort during a project, we generally wish (or are required by others) to be able to show something about the results. Simply delivering the software on a disk is seldom felt to be enough: what can we do to pull together and present further evidence?” Steve Draper, Dept of Psychology, Glasgow University

Added: 2000
Reviewer’s Note:

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The case for Level 3

“How do you determine the most relevant and effective measures and evaluation methods for e-learning? According to new research, focusing on Level 3–job performance-based measures–may be the most promising strategy.” By Brandon Hall and Jacques LeCavalier, Learning Circuits, November 2000

Added: 2000
Reviewer’s Note:

A Learning Culture

Learning organisations

“It is hoped that the following pages give a comprehensive overview of the Learning Organisation and may prove useful to any reader interested in learning more about it. It should be stressed that this is our interpretation and reflects our views on the subject.” Richard Karash

Added: 1 March 2006
Reviewer’s Note:
An overview of the key aspects of creating a learning organisation

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Collaborating with universities to create a continuous learning culture

“Partnerships with colleges and universities can help provide training activities that are specifically designed for your workforce and business needs, and they can do so in a cost-effective way.” Pamela Tate and Becky Klein-Collins, Chief Learning Officer Magazine, April 2004

Added: 19 April 2004
Reviewer’s Note:
Also contains nine “Exemplary Practices” in employee learning and development:

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Factors inhibiting change

“On a personal level, change can be exciting - a welcome relief to the monotonous tedium of daily life; it may open new doors, heralding transition to a new and fulfilling developmental stage… On the other hand, change may mark the boundaries of the comfort zone, beyond which lies unknown territory full of nasty little surprises, signposts pointing to more hard work ahead, and holding the real possibility of final failure.”  Graeme Daniel and Kevin Cox, Web Tools Newsletter, 1 December 2002

Added: 1 December 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
Includes links to interesting resources on change management

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Organisational change and Leadership

“HR Gateway has released its first e-book called Interviews on Organisational Change and Leadership, which can be downloaded free from the home page.  The selection of eight interviews is designed to be the start of a debate rather than an endgame in deciding the role of HR in organisational change and leadership. Please feel free to distribute the e-book among colleagues or interested parties, and also to respond to areas where you feel the debate needs to continue.”  HR Gateway

Added: 1 December 2002
Reviewer’s Note:

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Case studies of organisations with established learning cultures

“This project reports the approaches used by six Australian organisations to build and maintain a learning culture. The research study identifies pressures which have contributed to the participating organisations’ commitment to learning as well as the similar and dissimilar characteristics which allow these organisations to consider themselves as learning organisations.” Robyn Johnston, Geof Hawke, NCVER

Added: 13 April 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
PDF is 78 pages long but there is a summary web page.

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Organisational learning and communities of practice: Toward a unified view of working, learning and innovation

“Recent ethnographic studies of workplace practices indicate that the ways people actually work usually differ fundamentally from the ways organizations describe that work in manuals, training programs. organizational charts, and job descriptions. Nevertheless, organizations tend to rely on the latter in their attempts to understand and improve work practice. …  By reassessing work, learning, and innovation in the context of actual communities and actual practices, we suggest that the connections between these three become apparent. With a unified view of working, learning, and innovating, it should be possible to reconceive of and redesign organizations to improve all three.” John Seely Brown, Paul Duguid, INFORMS, 1991

Added: 25 November 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
Although this paper is ten years old now, it is still of great importance as we try to incorporate communities of practice within organisations

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Good to great

“I want to give you a lobotomy about change. I want you to forget everything you’ve ever learned about what it takes to create great results. I want you to realize that nearly all operating prescriptions for creating large-scale corporate change are nothing but myths.” Jim Collins, FastCompany

Added: 15 September 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
Not about e-learning as such but how to create a great company.  It makes for very interesting reading

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A learning culture

“A learning culture develops the same way that any culture develops - as an adaptive response to human needs, as series of continually adapting responses to basic human needs. In one sense, we are all constantly learning, and we are all constantly teaching others around us - but some of our ways of learning and teaching are adaptive and healthy, and others are reactionary and unhealthy. We need to learn how to learn well, and how to foster healthy learning, learning that solves problems and offers growth and hope.”

Added: 19 July 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
Some good insights into creating a learning culture

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Creating a learning web culture

“Too often, the reaction of companies first exposed to web technology is to commission a corporate web, place it online, and forget about it. This is like installing a telephone system and then never using it. In this presentation, Dr Ross Williams describes the need for managers, who are serious about the business potential of the web, to accept the web as a platform for change rather than an end in itself, and to build a learning culture that will enable the business to grow with the web instead of being forced to undergo a serious of painful and disruptive revolutions.” A presentation by Dr Ross Williams of Rocksoft, 1997

Added: 18 July 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
Still very relevant despite its age

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How to optimize organisational learning

“Because learning is so seamlessly part of practice, it is not perceived as learning.  As a result, practice is often assumed to be either static of else to be chaotic, unstructured and thus randomly adaptable. As a locus of learning, however, practice is neither stubbornly resistant to change nor simply transformable by decree. Though it may not follow the course of traditional linear logic, practice has a logic of it’s own. Here are 14 guidelines to help you work with rather than against the inner logic of organizational learning:” Etienne Wenger, Healthcare Forum Journal, July/Aug 1996, CoIL - Community Intelligence Labs

Added: 24 June 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
although this dates back to 1996 the guidelines are still very true today.

Costs, benefits and ROI of e-Learning

Learning Analytics Demystified

This article on Learning Analytics (LA) explains the 5 level LA pyramid of Dr. Kirkpatrick and Dr. Phillips and how to implement Learning Analytics in an organization using the 1-2-3 approach.

Added: 17 December 2007
Reviewer’s Note:

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Measuring and proving the value of learning

“Summary research report from an Elearnity corporate research project with B&Q, BP, BT, Coca-Cola Europe, HSBC, Marks & Spencer and Vodafone, looking at measuring and proving the value and impact of learning. . This document provides a viewpoint of the outcomes from the project.”

Added: 14 November 2005
Reviewer’s Note: Article available as a PDF

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What Return on Investment does e-learning provide?

“Organizations make investments in e-learning solutions with the expectation that the solutions will have a measurable impact on performance by achieving specific business outcomes. Measuring the value of learning solutions enables organizations to demonstrate the return on investment they make in training. In addition, organizations that measure training are able to increase the contribution of their learning solutions using continuous improvement processes that drive higher levels of return through enhanced performance over time.” Skillsoft White Paper, July 2005

Added: 21 October 2005
Reviewer’s Note: “The value measurement process increases the value of the learning solution through continuously measuring improvements to drive higher levels of return over time.”

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Cost comparision: Instructor-led v e-learning

“Of the many factors that come into play when determining the proper training delivery approach-efficiency, timeliness, consistency, and appropriateness of delivery method-the key driver is typically program cost. Program cost, which includes among other factors, the cost of initial development, instructor’s time, material, travel, and opportunity cost of the learner, can vary widely for similar programs depending on the delivery method.” Paul T Walliker, Learning Circuits, June 2005

Added: 25 June 2005
Reviewer’s Note: “To help its managers better understand the relationship between cost and delivery methodology, Caterpillar University constructed a mathematical model to better calculate the key cost components. Itskey finding:even when similar programs are compared, e-learning is less expensive to deliver almost regardless of learner population.”

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Cost analysis for e-learning foreign languages

“A cost analysis model for e-learning and a methodology for setting up a virtual foreign languages school is presented. The Total Cost is expressed as a function of the number of months (or quarter, or semester), the number of courses and the number of students taking a monthly course.” Demetra Mantzari and Anastasios A. Economides, European Journal of Open and Distance Learning, 2004

Added: 20 December 2004
Reviewer’s Note: “Unlike previous research that analyzes the costs of virtual universities, this paper uses the Breakeven Point Analysis to determine the number of students’ and/or courses, for a Virtual Foreign Languages school to be profitable.”

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Evaluating the cost effectiveness of online and face-to-face instruction

“Online instruction is gaining an increasing presence due to the benefits associated with it, including the ability to consolidate education and training across geographical and time constraints, and the claim by many that online education and training is cost efficient. This paper provides a relatively concise and useful history of online learning, and a discussion of issues to be faced by the professional who intends to move the education and training environment online in response to the current academic and business environments.” Sharon Jeffcoat Bartley And Jennifer H Golek, Educational Technology & Society, 7 (4), 167-175.

Added: 8 November 2004
Reviewer’s Note: “It presents a cost matrix tool by which the costs of online education and training can be tabulated and/or compared with the costs of the traditional education and training medium.”

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Online course development: what does it cost?

“Does it cost less to design and develop online teaching and learning today than it did a few years ago? Are the categories of cost different today from the past and from what the costs might be in the future? The costs of developing online programs are significant, yet there are few resources to help planners.” Judith Boettcher, Syllabus Magazine, July 2004

Added: 2 July 2004
Reviewer’s Note: Here, Judith Boettcher proposes a few guidelines for predicting the costs involved in the design and development of online instruction.

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Build the business case for training and measuring ROI

“A training program with objectives linked to business results and backed with a solid business case is less vulnerable to spending cuts. To ensure adequate funding and organization-wide commitment to your training program, you must be equally committed to aligning its value to corporate objectives.” Tom Cooper, LTI Magazine, 16 June 2004

Added: 18 June 2004
Reviewer’s Note: Conclusion: “Taking a consistent and credible approach with your training programs will demonstrate the value to the business and prove training to be a wise investment and not a cost.”

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Investing in learning: Consider value, not just ROI

“ROI, or return on investment, is king in today’s business world …But some organizations have slowly shifted from a single dogged focus on ROI to a more complete analysis called “ROV,” or return on value. ROV is a term that is used less by companies, but one that actually paints a more accurate picture of the impact of investments on the overall business. It broadens the analysis of ROI to include both the financial costs and hard returns, and also the intangible benefits, like having a scalable business, having more competent employees or having more satisfied customers.”

Added: 8 May 2004
Reviewer’s Note: “ROI may be king today, but ROV will soon assume the throne.”

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ROI vs Metrics

“Learning about ROI seems to be enjoying a renaissance in the training industry. Workshops and certificate programs abound. However, the courses I’ve looked at teach things that no business manager would buy. Here, let me tell you why I feel this way.” Jay Cross, Learning Circuits, April 2004

Added: 10 April 2004
Reviewer’s Note: Portions of this piece are excerpted from Metrics, Jay’s e-book available from www.internettime.com.

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The Guerra Scale

“The scale outlines the range of online content that we can use. It describes an increasingly interactive user experience using a one-to-ten scale, in which “one” involves the common experience of simply reading text on a screen and “ten” represents a virtual reality scenario.” Tim Guerra and Dan Hefferman, Learning Circuits, March 2004

Added: 23 March 2004
Reviewer’s Note: I use something very similar to this to explain to clients how much things are going to cost, so this is a handy tool to demonstrate the different types of e-learning solutions and also how to select one that is most appropriate for the learning problem, budget, etc

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Online learning and the ROI of training high-tech wizards

“When determining the ROI of e-learning investments, “the vast majority [of businesses] measure what they can easily — usage and completion, for instance,” IDC’s Michael Brennan noted. “However, a small but growing portion are [beginning to] assess if the material employees are training on is useful to their day-to-day job activities.” Alison Diana, TechNewsWorld, 8 December 2003

Added: 18 December 2003
Reviewer’s Note: Some examples of organisations assessing the ROI of their training efforts

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Measuring the true cost of e-learning

“The first step in cost-benefit analysis is simply to measure all of the direct and indirect costs involved in the design, development, delivery, and maintenance of the program. Because different industries have different ways of doing business, this process calls for some careful examination of how your organization goes about its daily work activities. So often, time is money. If you can more efficiently train employees then the time saved can be used for productive work. More work time is then translated into a financial benefit.” Kevin Kruse, e-Learning Guru, 2002

Added: 14 December 2003
Reviewer’s Note: A thorough breakdown of the costs involved in creating formal learning solutions

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ROI Valuation: Lessons from e-Learning

“Want to see some positive E-learning ROI? Get personally involved and develop programs that get people to take action. It’s more than putting your training online.” Michael Allen, Optimise Magazine, December 2003

Added: 4 December 2003
Reviewer’s Note: Conclusion - “But the move to online learning will challenge executives to learn basic principles and force designers to focus on business needs and create effective learning experiences. The alternative is simply a substitution of technologies and a weak ability to achieve needed levels of performance. Once that understanding is in place, ROI will follow.”

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ROI from workflow based learning

“By now, it should be obvious that traditional training or conventional courseware-based e-learning cannot meet the learning and development needs of an employee that uses real-time workflow technology to perform his or her job.” Sam Adkins, Learning Circuits, October 2003

Added: 23 October 2003
Reviewer’s Note: “Time is money”

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ROI Best Practices

“For years, there has been debate about the appropriateness of return on investment (ROI) as a measurement tool for learning and development (L&D). Today, the debate has shifted to the ways in which ROI can be integrated into other measurement processes. Much of the use of ROI has come from pressure from senior executives requesting value and, in some cases, outright demands for ROI for certain programs-or face the consequences of budget cuts. These requirements have led the L&D function to face reality: ROI is an issue that will not go away.” Jack J Phillips, eLearning Developers Journal. October 2003

Added: 23 October 2003
Reviewer’s Note: A succinct look at ROI for Learning and Development

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Doing the Numbers: Return on Investment for e-Learning

“Discussions of Return on Investment (ROI) for e-Learning are pervasive, and often too abstract to be useful. Here is a complete guide to the issues, models, and step-by-step processes for conducting and presenting and ROI analysis. Everyone is competing for scarce resources these days — here’s how to prepare your best case!” Bill Brandon, eLearning Developers Journal, 14 April 2003

Added: 17 April 2003
Reviewer’s Note: You will need to register with eLearning Guild to access this resource

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E-Learning ROI: How to build your business case

“E-learning, which offers widespread accessibility, a broad selection of training content and rapid delivery, requires a financial investment. As with any other investment, executive management demands that e-learning proves its value to the corporation. Yet, to date, there is no easy or straightforward way to calculate e-learning ROI.” Gili Gordon, e-Learning Magazine, 12 February 2003

Added: 16 February 2003
Reviewer’s N0te: Includes “six key steps to the “80/20 ROI Rule,” an approach that has been used successfully in assessing a number of e-learning implementations.”

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ROI of e-Learning: Closing in

“As companies look to e-learning to help meet their strategic goals, they’re seeking ROI analysis. Some of the most valuable measurements can be hard to capture, but we’re closing in.” Paul Harris, Learning Circuits, February 2003

Added: 10 February 2003
Reviewer’s Note: “In most departments within a corporation, determining the return on a given investment is a straightforward accounting exercise that produces a factual and typically uncontested result. But when it comes to e-learning, computing ROI suddenly becomes a complicated procedure requiring thoughtful chinstroking, serious seminar time, and earnest input from consultants and vendors.”

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Achieving maximum return on instruction (ROi) with e-learning

“Optimizing return on e-Learning requires an implementation strategy that helps learners get all they can — and need — from the courseware. Involving more than just instructionally sound e-Learning, the implementation should be a blended learning system that includes both on-line and off-line components. From the learners’ guide through on-the-job coaching to management participation, only a comprehensive plan will maximize results.” Conrad Gottfredson, e-Learning Developers Journal, 24 September 2002

Added: 1 October 2002
Reviewer’s Note: Some suggestions for maximising ROi with e-learning

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Measuring the ROI of e-learning

“E-learning can have an enormous financial impact on a business, but proving a return on investment can be tricky unless you know what to look for. There are hard and soft cost savings associated with e-learning. Hard numbers are the external factors, such as the cost of flying an employee to training and the hours of lost productivity while the person is off-site. Such expenditures are easy to verify if you have documentation of the amount of money spent on travel and the number of hours employees spend training over a given time period.”

Added: 21 August 2002
Reviewer’s Note: 3 companies (including Cisco) show they prove the value of e-learning

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Learning Cost Calculator

“ACS’s Learning Cost Calculator is a sophisticated tool designed to gauge a company’s current training spend and calculate a range of potential cost savings by moving more classroom training to web-based learning.”

Added: 26 July 2002
Reviewer’s Note: Enter the inputs and then submit for immediate results

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Measure the metrics

“How to link elearning to business strategy,” Josh Bersin, e-learning Magazine, June 2002

Added: 7 June 2002
Reviewer’s Note: “Training managers and executives understand that if there isn’t a business strategy behind an e-learning program, it is bound to fail. And if you don’t measure business effectiveness, you’re offering the learning equivalent of junk mail-lots of stuff that may or may not have an impact.”

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How to determine the real cost of e-learning programs

“Since the advent of training, all those involved in profitability or Return on Investment (ROI) have struggled with how to accurately cost learning programs. e-Learning is no different! Paying attention to the variables will increase the probability that you won’t go over your budget… of if you do, that you’ll certainly know where it happened!” eLearning Developers Journal, 23 April 2002

Added: 25 April 2002
Reviewer’s Note: This is the launch page for this and other eLearning Developers Journal articles. You will need to be an eLearning Guild subscriber (free) to access the actual PDF document

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Why doesn’t your ROI add up? You do the MATH

“Y2K and the e-commerce gold rush made ROI analysis little more than an empty formality at most companies. Now ROI is back. We give you seven tips to see if your method measures up.” Christopher Koch, darwin magazine, March 2002

Added: 4 March 2002
Reviewer’s Note: One comment on ROI stated here: “ALmost invariably, it’s simply made up numbers to justify a project” So here are tips to create a repeatable, accurate ROI process

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Cost and quality metric for different forms of learning

“In an effort to eliminate oversimplifications in the discussions about the reasons people elect online learning and about the costs of online learning, this article defines several of the variables involved and provides a metric for evaluating different forms of learning.” Stephen Downes, 21 February 2002

Added: 22 February 2002
Reviewer’s Note: “In an effort to eliminate oversimplifications in the discussions about the reasons people elect online learning and about the costs of online learning, this article defines several of the variables involved and provides a metric for evaluating different forms of learning.” Stephen’s own explanation of this article

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ROI for e-learning

“I frequently talk to learning professionals who face the daunting task of determining e-learning’s ROI. The conversation almost always has an either/or tone, with such questions as “If I replace my traditional classroom training with Web courses, how much will I save?” As a strong advocate for e-learning, I find that logic flawed. People fail to recognize many non-cost related benefits of e-learning solutions, such as reach, consistent messaging, and flexibility.”

Added: 22 February 2002
Reviewer’s Note: Efficiency and speed are important in ROI calculations

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Measuring success

“In a post-Maslow/Kirkpatrick world, which metrics matter? People often ask me what the return on investment (ROI) of e-learning is. I tell them it’s 43 percent. How did I come up with that figure? Truth be told, I made it up. That’s because knowing the ROI of e-learning is sort of like knowing that the average depth of the ocean is 2.5 miles. Interesting, but not very helpful to a ship’s captain.” Clark Aldrich, Online Learning Magazine, February 2002

Added: 4 February 2002
Reviewer’s Note: We need some new measures of success.

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Project estimator

“The NEWLY UPDATED PROJECT ESTIMATOR is now available! Updates include new questions regarding eLearning, Learning Management Systems, Student Response Tracking Databases and more!! Several revisions have been made in response to questions posed by submittors. We hope these changes will help clarify the needs of your project team and help us to deliver a more accurate quotation for your project. Remember to bookmark this page for quick reference!” Creative Approaches Inc

Added: 25 November 2001
Reviewer’s Note: To download

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Effective web conferences and customer meetings

An ROI analysis of the Blended Learning eConference held in July 2001

Added: 29 October 2001
Reviewer’s Note: An interesting breakdown and analysis of the costs involved in running an e-conference

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Centra’s ROI Case Studies

Centra presents a number of ROI case studies:

Added: 19 September 2001
Reviewer’s Note: A look at how some big companies have made cost savings and other benefits from using e-learning

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Savings calculator

“Congratulations on your interest in e-learning as a strategy for reducing the costs and improving the effectiveness of your training and development efforts. Please answer the following questions about your corporate learning needs. We will generate an ROI analysis based on your inputs” Sintrio.com

Added: 14 September 2001
Reviewer’s Note: Another way of working out your cost savings

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How to cost justify an e-learning project?

SkillsRiver has “put together a cost justification model. It compares traditional training delivery with an e-learning solution.

Added: 14 September 2001
Reviewer’s Note: You can try out the model and read about it in a (Word document) management summary

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Technology Costing Methodology (TCM) Project

“TCM Project (a joint endeavour between the Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications and the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) has produced the following free materials: TCM Handbook: outlines the policies and methodology utilized to calculate technology costs (pdf) TCM Casebook: a compilation of implementation case studies from a selection of the TCM pilot projects (pdf) TCM Calculator: Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet that would capture the TCM Handbook procedures in an easy to use format”

Added: 21 August 2001
Reviewer’s Note: A useful set of tools

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eLearning and cost effectiveness

A collection of thoughts and resources by Jay Cross, Internet Time Group

Added: 17 July 2001
Reviewer’s Note: Another useful page from Jay Cross

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Many happy returns: calculating E-Learning ROI

“E-learning may be the wave that carries the future of corporate training. But if that wave is ever to crest, corporations must be able to determine a financial return on their investment. Only if early adopters can truly demonstrate an ROI in dollar figures will e-learning wash over corporate culture and change its landscape.” John L Setaro, Learning Circuits, June 2001

Added: June 2001

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ROI boosts e-learning

“Online training sales rise, even as IT budgets are tightened.” Elizabeth Goodridge, Information Week, May 2001.

Added: May 2001

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Wired for profit

How do you convince your company to swallow the costs of e-learning during an era of corporate belt-tightening? Show them the profit. Sarah Boehle, Online Learning Magazine, April 2001.

Added: May 2001

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Building the Business Case for E-Learning

“Building the Business Case for E-Learning: How to Translate the Benefits of E-Learning into Language the Whole Organization Will Understand will provide answers, as well as worksheets to help you figure out the ROI you would see with e-Learning, plus case studies from other organizations who have made the transition and how they did it.” A downloadable report from Brandon Hall at $495. An Executive Summary is also available.

Added: May 2001

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Should you invest in e-learning?

“E-learning might not necessarily slash your corporate training costs, but according to LearnShare, it can give you more bang for the buck compared to traditional training methods.” E-Learning AdvisorZone, March 2001.

Added: April 2001

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Step Right Up! Real Results for Real People!

Computer-based, multimedia training can make a big difference, IF it is done right.” Rex J Allen, 2000

Added: April 2001

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Measuring the return on investment of training

“No one would open a new office, roll out a new application or even hire a new employee without knowing-not thinking, not guessing, not wishing and hoping, but knowing-they were getting something back. To do otherwise would be bad business. But in the area of IT training, it happens all the time.” 15 February 2001, cio.com

Added: March 2001

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A fresh look at ROI

“Training return-on-investment meets the information age.” Jay Cross, Learning Circuits, February 2001

Added: March 2001

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Build a business case for online learning projects

“Upper-level decision makers seem to thrive on “what if?” Here’s how it works: Line workers, managers, and independent consultants enthusiastically propose a project, and executives shred it apart with “what ifs?” and “have you considered?” Saul Carliner, Learning Circuits, Feb 2000

Added: 2000

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Development Time, Costs and Instructional Design of a Web Course

This breaks down the development time for distance learning and web-based courses by Dr Judith Boettcher, Centre for Research and Educational Networking (CREN). (These tables can also be downloaded as Excel spreadsheets.)

Added: 2000

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Estimating return on investment for a web based training course

“Estimating costs of training projects is a black art only slightly more precise than reading tea leaves or bird entrails. These spreadsheets offer a framework-or just a framework for a framework - for estimating costs.” William Horton Consulting Inc.

Added: 2000

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Evaluating the effectiveness and the Return On Investment of e-Learning

“E-learning is rapidly growing as an acceptable way of training. … But what do we know about these innovative approaches to training? Is e-learning effective? Considering the costs of implementing computer-based training, is there a positive return on investment?” ASTD, Virtual Community

Added: 2000

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How much does it cost to develop a distance learning course? It all depends …

“When faculty talk about distance learning, more and more questions seem to be converging on issues of budgeting and costing. It is significant to note that the questions are not whether or not one ought to “get into” distance learning-this was the hot topic a year or so ago-questions now are focusing on how much “getting into” distance learning will cost. Here, Judith Boettcher [of the Centre for Research and Educational Networking (CREN)] examines some of the main components of the cost of developing distance learning programs.”

Added: 2000

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The E-Learning Factor

Companies are using metrics to justify e-learning’s impact on strategic business goals. By John Berry, Internet Week Online, 1 November 2000.

Added: 2000

The Training Department

Outsourced training begins to find its niche

“Organizations are increasingly relying on expertise from training outsourcing suppliers to fill many of their learning needs. But they won’t discover outsourcing’s full potential to create value until they begin outsourcing their learning processes, not just projects, experts claim. Achieving that comfort level won’t come over night.” Paul Harris, Learning Circuits, August 2004

Added: 26 August 2004
Reviewer’s Note:
“Corporate, government, and other organizations are turning toward training outsourcing in record numbers. “

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Outsourced learning: a new market emerges

“The lure of cost savings and other incentives are prompting more organizations to outsource their entire learning function, or large portions of it. But trainers shouldn’t feel threatened, say insiders. They figure that within 10 years, half of them will be working for outsourcing partners.”  Paul Harris, Learning Circuits, June 2003

Added: 10 June 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
A look at outsourcing of the training function

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Super Synchronous SMEs: Subject Matter Experts as Synchronous Trainers

“To reduce costs and get business-critical data to the workforce more quickly, organizations are finding it expedient to reduce their dependency on the training function and give SMEs the responsibility for educating workers.

Added: 25 March 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
Using SMEs to “train”

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Eight things that training and performance improvement professionals must know about knowledge management

“This White Paper introduces training and performance improvement professionals to knowledge management.” Saul Carliner, Bentley College

Added: 25 November 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
Useful for training professionals who want to find out how it fits into training.

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Strong medicine

“What will e-learning be when it grows up? What will e-learning providers look like? And what will the role of learning professionals be?” Clark Aldrich, Online Learning Magazine, July 2001

Added: 5 September 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
Clark compares the e-learning industry with the pharmaceutical industry

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Reinventing HR

When the human resources department adopts KM, business benefits.” Sarah L Roberts-Witt, Destination CRM: Knowledge Management, September 2001

Added: 5 September 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
This article makes a powerful conclusion: “It should be obvious that such initiatives will demand change from HR executives and their staffs. Departments that make the adjustments could find themselves in the center of their enterprise’s business even before 2005.”

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Raise the profile of your T&D function with an internal identity

“Organisations invest hugely in training and development to both make the most of current employees and attract the very best potential employees. The investment is wasted if no one knows what is being offered. Training and Development Departments need to get themselves and what they have to offer noticed and understood - they need to raise their profile” Lynn Fraser, Wayland Partnership, TrainingZONE guest article, 7 August 2001

Added: 20 August 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
The importance of visibility and value for the T&D dept

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Reinventing training

“To succeed in the new economy, companies must get knowledge into the hands of workers when and where they need it.” Marc Rosenberg, destinationCRM Knowledge Management, August 2000

Added: 2000
Reviewer’s Note:
“Reinventing Training” is an excerpt from E-Learning: Strategies for Delivering Knowledge in the Digital Age.  See the e-Learning Centre’s Bookshop for more information about this book (http://www.e-learningcentre.co.uk/Bookshop/)

Promoting e-Learning

Computing courses - testing for aptitude

“If only applicants with a strong skills and knowledge base in Mathematics and ICT are deemed eligible to participate in Computer courses, the available pool of potential IT professionals is likely to remain too small; on the other hand, if applicants are admitted to ICT-related courses indiscriminately, the attrition rate is bound to be high, attended by wasted resources and personal disappointments.”  Greame Cox, wwwtools for Education, 27 October 2003

Added: 11 November 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
This problem is just as important for e-learning: do you only take on people who are skilled enough  to benefit from it, or do you set them up for failure by not preparing them

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All aboard!  Be ready to sell your e-learning initiative

“Don’t wait for buy-in - sell!” Clinton Wingrove, LTI Magazine, September 2003

Added: 28 September 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
8 top ways to get what you want from top management

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Facing the dark side: overcoming e-learning resistance

“E-learning can create huge change in an organization, so implementers can expect to face some resistance. Two key strategies can help you deal with push-back: championing and communicating.” Brooke Broadbent, Learning Circuits, August 2003

Added: 17 August 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
“Championing and communicating are two key strategies that can help you deal with e-learning resistance.”

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Marketing learning

“Employee learning is viewed as essential to an organization’s success. However, you may feel learning takes a back seat to other initiatives, especially with an unfavorable economy. Therefore, it is critical to market learning so that leadership and staff understand its value.”  Lynn Heumann, Kelly Carr, Learning & Training Innovations, 19 May 2003

Added: 29 May 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
Deloitte Consulting shares its lessons learned for making learning a priority.

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e-Learning: Bridging the apathy gap

“On the surface it seems pretty straight forward, IT provides the bandwidth, the e-learning providers get your launch programmes on-line, you send out an e-mail, conduct a few seminars for department heads, even put some posters up. What’s left to do? Just sit back and wait for the customers to come of course. But they don’t. Then reality dawns, learning simply isn’t sexy or fun outside your own project team and unless pushed very hard and given an appropriate context it hardly seems relevant to the majority of employees.”  Martin McInnes, e-learningguru.com

Added: 27 February 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
Importance of communication, communication, communication

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Who moved my training?

“Oh, you can lead the horses to water,” laughs Rebecca Ray, senior vice president and director of training for American Skandia, Shelton, Conn. “But holding their heads under to make them drink is a little problematic, especially in the workplace.” trainingmag.com, January 2003

Added: 30 January 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
Too try!  Here’s some thoughts on internal marketing of e-learning

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E-Learning: You build it - now promote it

“If you build e-Learning, will they come? Studies show that they generally won’t. But e-Learning designers, developers and managers can fix this! With tried and true marketing strategies like branding, positioning, and segmentation, you can influence target learners to come. Here are the “first steps” to making this a reality in your organization.” Jay Cross, eLearning Developers Journal, January 2003

Added: 24 January 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
This is short version of Jay’s book - Implenting e-learning - see below

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How to sell e-learning to your staff

“If online learning is to take off, companies will have to invest more time and effort in communicating to employees the clearly identifiable benefits to the individual.”  Meg Carter, Human Resources Magazine. September 2002

Added: 19 January 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
This article empahsises the importance of a good communications programme.

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Launching e-learning: success factors for getting it right

“PPG Industries decided to revitalize its Quality program with e-Learning - targeting their top 2,000 managers.  Overcoming a conservative culture, varied systems, and low bandwidth, this small team developed an award-winning program and identified a number of success factors along the way.  Here’s your chance to learn from their experience! ”  Carolyn Suneja, eLearning Developers Journal, 23 December 2003

Added: 4 January 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
PDF to download

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Marketing your continuing ed program

“Continuing ed is hot, and expected to get hotter. How are you exploiting that?”

Added: 5 December 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
A look at marketing in the university environment

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Implementing e-Learning

Here is how to: manage the change to e-learning; successfully market to learners; create an implementation strategy. By Lance Dublin and Jay Cross

Added: 4 December 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
This is the website of this new book with material that didn’t make it into the book as well Tips & Best Practice Examples.

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Elearning Adoption and Marketing

“Designing, developing, and deploying elearning resources are only part of the elearning battle. Actually getting employees and prospective students and instructors to use elearning is a challenge on its own. In this article, we explore the adoption of elearning as it relates to student, instructor and organization.”  elearnspace, 27 October 2002

Added: 12 November 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
“a summary of “content created” as a result of Week 6 of discussions using a non-traditional approach to learning (participants of “elearning noncourse”). This article is best understood as a collage of thoughts, rather than a cohesive essay.”

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How to market e-learning in your company

“A new report from Sunnyvale, Calif., research firm brandon-hall.com describes findings about how to launch and market an e-learning system that employees will actually value and use. The report, titled “What Works: Strategies for Increasing E-Learning Usage,” offers examples and details supporting nine guidelines recommended as best practices for marketing an e-learning initiative in the workplace.” e-learning Magazine, 30 October

Added: 31 October 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
An overview of a Brandon-Hall report, briefly outline 9 Guidelines

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Motivating adult learners: the role of financial rewards

“Will promising John a shirt from Eddie Bauer motivate him to complete an elearning course in Microsoft Excel? Karen Frankola, Elearning Solutions Manager at NYUOnline, thinks educators may be acting too swiftly in dismissing financial rewards as elearning motivators.” Virtual University Gazette, August 2001

Added: 21 August 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
Differences of opinion on whether financial rewards work

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KM works magic for Ketchum

“The go-go days of the economy may seem like a lifetime ago, but it was only last year when companies were scrambling to hire and retin qualified workers. For New York City-based PR company Ketchum, the battle to keep experienced employees was particularly pressing. After all, dotcoms (remember them?) presented a natural job-hopping opportunity for many of the company’s high-tech pros.” Megan Santosus, CIO, August 2001

Added: 20 August 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
This is an interesting example of how one company approached promoting knowledge sharing within the company

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A tough audience

“Getting employees revved up about e-learning can be difficult. But with some marketing savvy and good communication, it can be done. By David Raths

Added: 19 July 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
the importance of marketing training

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Seeing it through

“You may think you’ve done enough by the time you’ve installed the latest learning management system and populated it with shiny new content. You’ve even launched the system in a blaze of marketing, with the vocal support of your chief exec. Unfortunately you must think again, because seeing it through means much, much more.” Clive Shepherd, Tactix, 2001

Added: 3 July 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
Clive looks at the problem of drop out rates in online courses

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More than technology; user attitudes make a difference

As with any E-transformation, technology isn’t the only stumbling block; user attitudes create significant problems as well.” Sandra Swanson, Information Week, February 2001

Added: June 2001
Reviewer’s Note:

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The house that e-learning built

“Century 21 Real Estate Corporation knows how to sell homes. But selling their employees on Web-based training was another matter.” Advisor Zone, June 2001

Added: June 2001
Reviewer’s Note:

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12 learning interventions that help combat technophobia

“Are you ready to sustain technology’s eager adopters, nurture its resisters, and encourage the prove-its? Here are 12 workplace interventions that can help.”  Linda Ristow Puetz, LearningCircuits, March 2000

Added: May 2001
Reviewer’s Note:

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Tips for maintaining e-learning momentum

“Once the E-learning project has been launched, here are some strategies to help maintain the momentum.” Sandra Swanson, Information Week.com, February 2001

Added: March 2001
Reviewer’s Note:

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If you build it, will they come?  Overcoming human obstacles to e-learning

“E-learning: eliminating the classroom forever! Of course, everyone will want to use our whiz-bang Website, learning portal, or learning management system. Virtual classrooms, desktop conferences, 24/7. They’ll all come flocking. Ah, the misconceptions run rampant.” Julia Geisman, Learning Circuits, March 2001

Added: March 2001
Reviewer’s Note:

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Change Management and e-Learning

“To Successfully Implement E-learning, Forget What You Know About Change” by Tom Werner, QualTeam, Inc.  brandon-hall.com

Added: 2000
Reviewer’s Note:

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e-Learning: Adoption Rates and Barriers

“An increasing number of companies are adopting e-Learning.  But in their rush to take advantage of e-Learning’s benefits and promises, companies are finding that there are significant barriers to adoption, according to a Forum Corporation study of 144 US companies.” Vol 1, Issue 1.

Added: 2000
Reviewer’s Note:

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Internal marketing can make your e-learning initiative work

“There are basically two methods: require e-learning or promote e-learning through marketing techniques. So unless completion of a course is mandatory, your marketing effort is very important to the success of your e-learning program. Digital University.

Added: 2000
Reviewer’s Note:

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Promoting your e-learning investment

 ”Although organizations invest hundreds of thousands of dollars to develop and introduce e-learning to employees, they often neglect a key element of success–marketing and promotion.” Learning Circuits, September 2000.

Added: 2000
Reviewer’s Note:

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Motivating students to use IT

This chapter, from “Implementing Learning Technology” at the LTDI, gives suggestions of different ways that students might be motivated to use the technology that you are providing.

Added: 2000
Reviewer’s Note:

Infrastructure, Broadband and Hosting

Best practices of hosted learning solutions

“An increasing number of enterprises are opting to use an application service provider (ASP) to host their learning solutions. However, many are struggling with knowing how to select a partner.” Thomas Laubenthal, Learning Circuits, September 2005

Added: 12 September 2005
Reviewer’s Note:
Here are a few best practices to look for when evaluating an ASP hosted learning platform.

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IP Telephony Cookbook

“The IP Telephony Cookbook was created through the IP Telephony project as a reference document for setting up IP Telephony solutions at university campuses and NRENs. The project started in April 2003 and ran until February 2004. The Cookbook provides an overview of available and future IP Telephony technologies, scenarios for IP Telephony deployment and infrastructures, guidelines on protocols, service set-ups and connection to a global ‘dialling plan’. Furthermore, the Cookbook reports on the interoperability of equipment, existing IP Telephony projects and regulatory aspects.”

Added: 23 June 2004
Reviewer’s Note:
Entire publication available to download (in PDF format) or as separate chapters

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e-Maestros

“These days many corporations are enlisting the help of systems integrators for massive e-learning projects that are aligned with new business initiatives. For corporations interested in e-learning, this is both good and bad news. It’s good because systems integrators have larger, skilled workforces to handle enterprisewide projects-something small e-learning vendors typically lack. But it’s bad because systems integrators are consultants who, right or wrong, have acquired a reputation as expensive guests who overstay their welcome.”

Added: 5 December 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
The case for and against system integrators

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Broadband heralds big changes

“Connecting every school and doctor’s surgery in the UK to a broadband connection is not enough, say experts. This has to be done hand in hand with modernising and changing the way pupils are taught and patients are treated, they argue.” Jane Wakefield, BBC News Online, 1 December 2002

Added: 2 December 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
The impact of broadband will mean changes to education

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Managing the E in E-Learning

“The most sophisticated and instructionally sound e-learning course can fail if its design isn’t technically sound or if the LMS launching it can’t predict and resolve technical stumbling blocks. Learners expecting a trouble-free learning environment can get discouraged when faced with technical difficulties–and may not come back. Here are descriptions of the most common problems and how to solve them.” Eli Munzer, Learning Circuits, November 2002

Added: 26 November 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
“The two most common technical issues that discourage e-learners are low bandwidth and incorrect configurations.”

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The benefits of broadband Part 3: Elearning from emarketer

“Education is an investment for the future. If broadband can provide individuals and organizations with greater access to education, training and learning resources, then it not only makes sense for a household to invest in broadband, but it also makes sense for companies, communities and governments to invest in broadband infrastructure and services.” Ben Macklin, eMarketer

Added: 8 August 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
e-learning as a driver for broadband.

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Hosting the e-learning party

“With the economic downturn hitting IT particularly hard, it has become increasingly difficult to get enterprise-wide software strategies off the ground. When learning needs won’t wait, more and more companies are looking to quick-start ASP (application service provider) solutions, where e-learning content, services and management systems are externally hosted, easing the pressure on internal resources and capital budgets. In this article, Clive Shepherd looks at the potential of hosted solutions for training departments who want to get going with e-learning but don’t want to hold back on the risks and the headaches.” Tactix, August 2002

Added: 6 August 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
A good summary of the pros and cons of hosting

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E-Learning evolves to ASP model

“In what’s amounting to a natural evolution, many of the companies that provide e-learning services to corporations are turning to the ASP model to deliver their offerings. Is there something intrinsic to e-learning that makes it better-suited to the ASP delivery model, or is there something about the users of e-learning that makes the ASP model particularly attractive to them? In other words, why do e-learning and ASP work well together?” Paul Rubens, ASP News, 31 May 2002

Added: 6 June 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
This article highlights the continuing trend towards hosted e-learning solutions

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Funding the “infostructure”: A guide to financing technology infrastructure in Higher Education

“Computer technology is bringing rapid and profound change to higher education, as it has to virtually every aspect of American society. Unfortunately, too many colleges and universities fail to fully realize technology’s promise because too few campus officials know how to plan, pay for and maintain the infrastructure that makes technology work.” Ronald A Phipps and Jane V Wellman, Institute for HE Policy, Lumina New Agenda Series, Vol 3 No 2, April 2001

Updated: 28 November 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
this report makes recommendations that can help campus officials develop regular funding policies for information technology.

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E-Learning strategy equals infrastructure

“IDC estimates U.S. corporations spent $1.1 billion on e-learning in 1999. Not all of the money was well spent, however. Lessons learned are beginning to emerge: Common among successful organizations is a well documented e-learning strategy that focuses on infrastructure.” By Karen L. McGraw, Learning Circuits, June 2001

Added: 25 June 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
A comprehensive article that shows the importance of an e-learning strategy that considers infrastructure

Drop Out Rates / Keeping Learners Online

Attrition among First Time eLearners: A Review of Factors that Contribute to Drop-out, Withdrawal and Non-completion Rates of Adult Learners undertaking eLearning Programmes

“The problem of dropout rates in eLearning programmes has been argued over at length without any consistent conclusions about the degree of the problem, or a clear understanding of what factors contribute to learners dropping out, withdrawing or not completing eLearning courses.” Keith Tyler-Smith, JOLT, June 2006

Added: 2 July 2006
Reviewer’s Note:
“This paper argues that first time eLearners often experience cognitive overload, (as described in Cognitive Load Theory), in the early stages of an online course and it is suggested that this is a likely contributor to high drop out rates, particularly in terms of those withdrawing within the first few weeks of the course start

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How can I ensure the success and motivation of online learners?

“This is an important question, because it recognizes that all learning is not alike. Just because a learner has performed well in the classroom does not automatically mean that he or she will be successful learning online. Additional skills and competencies are required, and learners may need help adapting to the new medium.” Answer Geek, Learning Circuits, January 2005

Added: 5 February 2005
Reviewer’s Note:
Here are a few steps that can help ensure the success and motivation of your learners

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Improving retention in distance learning classes

“Much has been written about retention in distance learning courses. Authors have different ideas about what causes students to drop out of these courses. Some of the issues include lack of instructor training, poor course design, lack of student interaction, and personal commitments. Few actual studies have been done to provide evidence for these assumptions. This paper provides possible solutions to the problem of retention and offers suggestions for improvement in the entire field of distance education.” Judy A Serwatka, International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, January 2005

Added: 2 February 2005
Reviewer’s Note:
“Distance learning expands access to education and training to persons who could not otherwise participate. To be effective, it must resolve the retention problem that faces all higher education programs. There are several approaches to this problem: courses that are interesting and informative, training and support for course designers and instructors, along with time and the necessary resources to adapt to online learning environments. A blended course may facilitate transition by providing some face-to-face contact.”

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e-Learning Reloaded

“We don’t yet have a way to download skills and knowledge directly into learners’ brains. Even if we did, learners would still have to have the motivation to apply what they had learned. As it is, we must help learners develop habits and discipline to acquire the new skills and knowledge. Read this article to acquire three new tools that will help you “reload” your online learners today!”

Added: 11 November 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
You will have to subscribe to the eLearning Guild to access this article

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Creating the demand for education

“If you’ve been following the trade journals and learning and development conferences, you’ve probably noticed that an awakening of sorts is going on. The fact that we are even addressing motivation as a factor in learning is a sure indication that we as a learning industry are undergoing a change after spending the past five years often force-fitting technology into our learning strategies.” Paula Moreira, Chief Learning Officer Magazine, September 2003

Added: 28 September 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
“We’ve been so focused on educational technology for the past five years that it’s refreshing to step back and take a look at learning motivation. In order for organizational learning to happen, we must work not just on the technology and the content, but on the attitudes of managers to drive the culture of the organization to be one of support and encouragement for the learner.”

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Motivating online participants

“In order for online learning to be successful, developers need to create environments in which people can effectively learn. Participants need to be open to learning in this new way, and confident that their time invested in professional development is well-spent.” Jennifer Hofmann, Learning Circuits, August 2003

Added: 17 August 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
This article is Part 2 in a series outlining factors that influence the success of online learners.

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High attrition rates in e-learning: challenges, predictors and solutions

“We know that learners frequently do not complete online courses. Reasons offered range from “e-Learning is e-Boring” to “they got what they needed and quit.” Margaret Martinez, eLearning Developers Journal, 14 July 2003

Added: 16 July 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
You will need to subscribe to the eLearning Guild to be able to access this article

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Endgame - encouraging completion in e-learning

“E-learning - at least to the extent that it is delivered in self-study format - suffers in the same way as all of its distance learning predecessors: from high drop-out rates. Although most learners start with good intentions of completing, far too high a proportion never achieve the benefits they were seeking when they were enrolled. In this article, Clive Shepherd explores whether drop-out rates are any real indicator of the success of e-learning and, to the extent that they are, what can be done to reduce them to manageable levels.” Clive Shepherd, tactix, June 2003

Added: 10 June 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
Interesting coverage of the topic of drop out rates

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Terms of engagement: Keeping learners online

“Keeping learners engaged is critical to the success of any training program. Five key elements can determine how well a Web-based training program engages learners: entertainment, interaction, control, usability, and customization.”

Added: 22 February 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
“Programs designed to actively engage learners at multiple levels stand the best chance of retaining learners and achieving instructional goals.”

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Motivating e-learners - A case study of e-learners seeking an advanced degree from UNITAR

“Virtual education is the biggest breakthrough experienced by the education system in recent times. While virtual education stands out as a solution towards elevating the “educated” status of humankind, it also falls prey to the education system’s biggest problem - motivating its audience/students. Maintaining and sustaining the motivational level of e-learners is a big challenge for this type of education.” Dr Kamal Kishore Jain, student affairs online, Fall 2002, Vol 3, No 4

Added: 22 January 2003
Reviewer’s Note:
Some sound advice. The conclusion: “While students who join e-learning courses do so because of their own intrinsic motivation, a lecturer’s role is crucial in maintaining and sustaining students’ motivational level.”

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Read all about it: online learning facing 80% attrition rates

Dr Jim Food, Director of Learning, COROUS in TOJDE, April 2002

Added: 6 April 2002
Reviewer’s Note:
This article uses this attention-grabbing headline to provide an understanding of what e-learning is really all about and why it fails in many cases. Two particular points that appealed to me were: (1) “Many aid agencies working to improve the technology in poor countries recognise that aid needs to be appropriate; to be sustainable it needs to use local materials, draw on local skills and to be in tune with the environment. In terms of e-learning much of the technology currently used is unnecessarily specialised and tends to alienate rather than include people. Some of the complex learning management systems could be seen as the aid equivalent to the $50,000 tractor in Ethiopia.” (2) “There are currently 169 learning management systems for sale in the UK - and none are necessary to begin e-learning.”

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What makes students stay?

“Concern over quitters has online programs stepping up retention strategies” Bridget Murray, elearn Magazine, October 2001

Added: 17 October 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
“The truth is that lack of regular face-to-face contact online means both faculty and students must work harder”

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Why online learners drop out

“High High dropout rates are e-learning’s embarrassing secret. Here’s what you can do about it…. Welcome to the problem a lot of people in the e-learning industry don’t like to talk about — high dropout rates for online courses” By Karen Frankola, Workforce, June 2001.

Added: June 2001
Reviewer’s Note:

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Tips for increasing e-learning completion rates

“Here are some strategies your company can use to help ensure a high course completion rate from Augusto Failde, senior vice president of global development at NYUonline” Workforce, June 2001

Added: June 2001
Reviewer’s Note:
YOU will need to subscribe to Workforce to view this article