May

Last night I went to a meeting of NZATD. The speakers were Roydon Gibbs and Claire Derham, from Creative Family Ltd who spoke about Industry Training and e Learning.

Creative Family specialises in producing training material for ITOs, Government agencies and training providers.

Claire recently undertook research, from an ITO perspective, on using ELG (eLearning Guidelines) in a workplace environment, as part of a cohort of tertiary educators, co-ordinated through Massey University. In addition to this, Claire has worked for
CORE Education where she mentored the eFellows in 2005 and 2006 and was responsible for disseminating their research to teachers and other educationalists. She has also worked for CSSITO (Community Support Services ITO) writing learning and assessment materials for career pathway qualifications from the NQF.Claire had been up to. The key lessons I was able to take away from the evening was the way in which a very blended methodology and stakeholder needs had been put together to create a sound learning package for different ITO's. The interesting point that Roydon brought to the discussion was the motivational factors influencing the different learners. Anyone who has been involved with TD or LD for any length of time knows that motivation to learning is an important factor that needs careful analysis when getting learners to engage with a learning package. They seem to have taken this into account and it will be interesting to revisit these solutions in 6 - 12 months time to see if they have got it right.

The interesting factor that is incorporated into there work is the ongoing ability to adapt and change there project. My concern here is whether this will change on what could be considered whims or will it be as a result of full evaluation and validation of training. When questioned on this a the meeting I don't believe Clarie had the background to truly grasp the concept of evaluation and validation of training. I would guess and may be completely wrong that this will be changed because some one with a loud voice usually the minority or a person of influence will say it is needed without any true data to back up there suggestion. Anyone who has been in this game long enough knows about those people and how hard it is as a contracted TD OR LD professional it is to get them to look at reason once they have made up these mind.

Though the concept of the project and they way in which it has been designed to meet the organisations needs, all the time taking into account the learners needs, seems to me to be a good product that will hopefully meet industry training needs. My only concern here is that what has begun with passion and good sound knowledge of educational principles will be distorted in time as those in power or with loud voices adapt the Learning to suit what they believe is right.

I hope I am wrong but without a clear validation plan from the onset I've seen this happen again and again.

When designing training we must ensure our stakeholders are involved in not just the design of the learning but in the validation plan as well. That way they know what the process will be for change as and when it is required. Not when one person gets an idea!