Before you implement eLearning in your organization, you need to ensure that as an organization, youare ready for it... Here are some questions to consider before you begin implementing an e-learningprocess.

Is your company ready for eLearning?ChecklistFollow us!

Implementing eLearning requires minimum technological requirements, including key technologies, resources, necessary hardware, adequate telecommunication capabilities, current browser versions, access to software, etc.

#1 Technology:Is your technology available for delivering eLearning effectively or do you have to acquire it?Do you have the technical infrastructure and necessary resources to implement it?

Make an audit in your organization!Make and inventory of the resources that might behelpful too you in the training.

helpful tipAs part of implementing eLearning, and in order to not create retention and frustration in employees, the organization should makesure there is appropriate technological capability.

Not only is it important to think of the internal equipment and software that deliver web-based learning, but also to think of the end-user’s office and home PCs, and portable PCs.

ChecklistAcces to

a computerInternet

connectionBrowser

Appropriate Technology is a must!

Hardware &Software

Web-based learning is a completely different experience from traditional learning. This transition from a face to face learning to a computer or web-based means achange for the individual will be the presumption of a pre-defined skill set around technology competency. In order to recieve web-based learning experiences andto be succesfull, learners must have an existing facility and comfort with technology.

Learners:#2Are learners ready to adopt the eLearning approach?Do they have the receptivity and capabilities for e-learning?

Are these people comfortable in front of a computer?How familiar are they with technology?Do they have the basic skills they need to take an eLearningcourse with a minimum of supervision?How independently can these learners work with computers?

“Research your audience before launchingan e-learning initiative. Give them what theyneed, then advertise the fact that they’regetting exactly what they asked for”.

Learners welcome new initiatives and innovations in training?

Learn about your

target audience!

Comfortable with Technology is a must!

Is the content available or you have to create it?

Without adequate leadership providing visible and sustained support for eLearning implementation, organizational acceptance would be very slow.

One of the keys to increasing the chances of a succesful eLearning implementation is finding a few strong “champions” who will talk up your initiative. Theseshould be: eager for improvement, supportive,effective communicator, and collaborative specially.

#3 Leadership:

#4 Content:Do you have identified the training projects that you will like to implement?

Have your identified projects that will target many different groups of learners or divisions within your company?

Is there appropriate leadership throughout the organization to support e-learning?

For this first list of e-learning courses, avoid complex content. Choose content that will be easier to deliver inan e-learning format.

helpful tip

Sandra Evans, "Net-based Training Goes the Distance; Employers Find E-learning Saves Costs, Time," The Washington Post (15 May 2000). Back

References:

http://brandonhallnews.com/promos/docs/WhatWorks.pdf

Before you think about e-learning, have a good training strategy in place.

The successful implementation of an e-learning project depends on details such as providing learners with agood place and the right equipment to do their learning.

Michele C. Minton, “Is Your Organization Ready for E-Learning?” Communication Project Magazine, Volume 3.1 Summer 2000© 2000 The Communication Project, Inc.