Adapting for online delivery; selecting the right technology (Part-1)

It goes without saying that whatever technolgies are used, they have to be effective training tools. Previous Updaters have detailed how to determine the profile of the learner and what the training is designed to achieve, you're now in a good position to make an effective decision on appropriate technologies.

The most common difficulty is in balancing operational issues and a need to use existing structures, against the particular needs of the learners. The sorts of operational pressures often encountered include:
- Competing budgetary constraints. Often developmental initiatives compete with other 'special' projects in an environment of reduced and uncertain funding.

- Organisation wide change. Significant as the spread of elearning is, it still must integrate with other organisational change issues such as restructuring and the internationalisation of education.

- Institution-wide IT systems. Often, existing IT systems were originally designed to support the administration of organisations, rather than the provision of training. Where delivery software is purchased, the decision is often based on cost and ease of integration within existing systems.

- The development of courses has traditionally been seen as one part of the job of lecturers rainers. 'Getting a course going' was something that educators did as part of their wider delivery role. It sometimes demanded additional resourcing, which was negotiated as part of annual workload. As such, it was a cost to be minimised.

- Time pressure. Pre-determined course start dates often dictate small development timeframes.

1. Select the delivery tool.

Relevant factors here are:

- The existence of legacy systems such as generic online delivery tools
- The 'best fit' for existing course resources, with a focus on minimising the adaption process. For example, online availability of PDF documents generated from presentation materials.
- Lowest implementation cost.
- Minimising the need for staff training or upskilling in order to implement delivery.

2. 'Path of least resistance' development.

Collate existing resources (usually print) and adapt for online/distance delivery.

Continue reading Part-2

About The Author

Phil has been involved in a number of projects in the field of flexible delivery, both research based and product-based.

http://www.toucanhouse.co.nz