In This Issue
	Who We Are Selecting the Right Media Sign Up for the ASTD Webinar - June 5 Lessons Learned: How to Select and Implement an LMS Training Analytics: The Time is Now

Selecting the Right Media

Blended Learning is one of the hottest topics in e- learning. So how do you decide among the many media options available for disseminating the training materials? There are instructor-led classrooms, web-based courseware, on-line video, webinars, and plain old email and conference calls, to name a few. Choosing the right media depends on many factors. We have identified the five most critical factors as: Instructional Value (ability of learners to retain knowledge) Cost/Budget Time to develop Scalability (number of learners and locations) Measurability (ability to assess learners and track results) Each media type has its pluses and minuses. For example, traditonal classroom instruction has very high instructional value but is very costly to deploy and not very scalable. As part of our Blended Learning research study we have devised a methodology to help you in determining which media type or mix is right for your training needs. We have found that successful e- learning groups use such a tool when developing their training initiatives. We strongly recommend that companies develop such a methodology and apply it consistently to ALL learning programs - and, over time, improve it based on results achieved. Click here for our Media Selection Guide... »

Sign Up for the ASTD Webinar - June 5

While blended learning is not a new concept, many organizations are innovatively combining electronic delivery with other media to do more with less. In our recently released study on blended learning, we have profiled 16 leading-edge corporate applications with populations from 250 to over 25,000 learners. The total audience addressed by this study is more than 1.2 million learners. This webinar will provide an overview of what blended learning is and how it is being used to create tremendous value for organizations worldwide. It will also highlight major lessons learned from these 16 major programs. Learning objectives: Define what blended learning is provide examples of how it is used Understand how technology is used to help (or hinder!) a blended learning program Understand the benefits of a blended learning approach versus other training programs Identify how ROI can be obtained from a blended learning program

Lessons Learned: How to Select and Implement an LMS

One thing we've noticed while helping companies with their e-learning technology choices over the years is that very few of them have a structured approach to making important vendor decisions. Yet when training executives take the time to create a well thought out process for selecting e-learning technology, their projects are more successful. Therefore we decided to document a structured process for selecting a Learning Management System (LMS) to help companies avoid the pitfalls that can sabotage even the most well-intentioned projects. We spoke with over 10 global companies including Fedex, Honeywell, Kinkos, and Vanguard to discover What Works in selecting an LMS. An LMS is one of the most important IT projects that companies undertake for the simple reason that the system will touch potentially every employee in the company - so needless to say, it has a high profile. Taking the time to do it right will save you time, effort, and frustration down the road. We have outlined a very clear process in making this important choice for your organization. The process consists of seven steps: Developing the Business Case Defining Requirements Identifying Potential Vendors Creating an RFI (Request for Information) Creating an RFP (Request for Proposal) Conductng On-site meetings Selecting the Vendor Click here for the full article on Selecting an LMS... »

Training Analytics: The Time is Now

Ever hear of Training Analytics? It is an exciting new category of software solution that delivers the information and measurements you need to track the success and maximize the impact of your training programs. A training analytics system enables you to measure the activity, compliance, efficiency, and effectiveness of your programs. Remember, in e-learning you capture lots and lots of data which is not available in traditional training. Why not use that information to make better decisions on questions such as: Which groups have highest enrollment and completion rates? How do different programs compare in terms of total learning activity? Which programs have the highest impact on real business measures? Are we really getting the "bang for our buck" with e- learning? We have been focusing on this area since 2000 and just published a complete whitepaper to help you get started. Why is this so important? In today's environment of tight budgets and reduced headcount, it is more necessary than EVER to make sure that every e- learning program you develop has the highest possible impact. If you want to learn more about this important new initiative in e-learning, contact us. We will be conducting a series of webinars on this topic - so stay tuned. Click here to download our whitepaper on training analytics... »