Now that we know what the 2.0 trends and technologies are, we need to understand how these trends and technologies are applied to eLearning. It is important to remember that the end user is the learner; and that the supplier is the course creator, trainer, or training organization. Companies that provide LMSs, Authoring tools, and simulation tools are the “enabling technologies” used by trainers to provide 2.0 services to end users. LMSs, authoring tools, and simulation tools are to trainers what a database is to Google: the behind-the-scenes engine to provide their service.
My mother would say that not all fashions are for everyone. The same statement works when applied to technology. Because a technology is in fashion, does not mean it has to be deployed. The goal is to provide effective, accessible learning - not to show off that you can use a new technology.
Applications services - Courses are the application service. An end user takes a course over the web. They do not need to download any software or learn any new application. Like all effective application services, an effective course adheres to the principles and practices of good web publishing. Pages should display quickly without the need of a plug-in, appropriate navigation should be used, and integration to other services (like an LMS) should be transparent.
- The long tail - eLearning's long tail consists of all those industry or company-specific classes that are appropriate for a relatively small audience. Rapid eLearning is the trainer's solution for accessing long tail users. Most training needs fall in the long tail, while most off-the-shelf courses are produced for the sizable (bell) market.
- Mashups - taking multiple sources to provide additional services for a learning experience. Don't make the mistake to think that by combining different online pages from different courses you can produce a mashup course. More likely, you will only produce a ransom-note course. Look at the broader goal of training: eLearning has been providing mashups for years. We call it “blended eLearning”. A good trainer will look at the different technologies and delivery systems available and mash up a solution that is effective for their learner base. This may include text, pictures, multimedia, quotes from different authors, hands-on training, live presentations, and self-paced delivery.
- Harnessing end users to add value - Forums, blogs, Wiki's, etc. can all be created to surround your course with an expanded set of learner resources. You need to be very careful to be sure that you understand your learner's culture. (Most mid-level and senior level employees are too busy to contribute to blogs and Wikis.) You will never get these expanded resources off the ground if you don't have a culture that fosters and gives value to adding and joining Wiki's, blogs, and forums. Also, don't make the mistake to think that Wikis blogs, and forms are eLearning. They are resources. eLearning needs structure and instructional design to be effective and provide return on investment.
- Microcontent - moving learners from training to learning. Required training will never go away. Microcontent is small training sessions that are taken as the need arises. For instance when an employee needs to access a corporate service, they type the name of the service into the corporate search engine. A link to the service, along with a short course on how to use the service comes up at the top of the search. The employee takes the short training, and then uses the service correctly.
- Services above the PC - when you create a course you don't know how a learner will be accessing it. Create your courses using technologies
(HTML, CSS) that are supported by all of the devices including PC of any configuration, PDA's, and phones. Avoid authoring tools that force you to choose the size of the output screen before you produce your course or provide absolutely positioned pages. To be effective you need to use the web (and specifically a browser) the way it is designed to be used.
- “Intel Inside” - In the case of a course, the content is the core value. If you establish a reputation for providing good content that is easily accessible, and that does not require recurring delivery maintenance costs, you will improve your ability to brand yourself through your material. With eLearning your courses should be more than a one-time event. Courses should be searchable and accessible on the network. Employees should be able to type in key words and have access to course pages that apply to what they are trying to do at that moment.
- New technologies - just because it is new does not mean the old is bad and the new is good. Your goal is to get the end user to learn. A new technology is only effective if it provides you with a better service. Podcasts are on everyone's lips right now. The benefit of Podcasts is the delivery mechanism and the popularity among the consumer electronic market. It is much easier to put an audio on a web site and let iPod users download it then it was to send people tapes and have them play the tape in their car or walkman. However, the new technologies have not added any value to the content. A boring speaker will be just as boring on an iPod as they were on a walkman. They will be more boring through a recording than when they gave the live presentation. To work well for organizations, Podcasts should be professionally produced by audio specialists, should be narrated by professional actors/narrators, and should be entertaining. That's why the most popular podcasts are radio shows and music.
