New Learning Mediums Stream

In recent years, newer technologies and delivery channels have emerged, leaving e-learning looking quite conventional.

While technology for learning continues to evolve, one thing never changes.  Recent history is littered with examples of technology-driven approaches to learning failing to meet their advertised potential or falling completely flat.

There has never been a wider choice of technologies and delivery mediums available to us. Consequently, there has never been greater opportunity to completely screw up our implemention of them.

This content stream takes a very learner-centric view of technology and new delivery mediums and helps you stay focused on:

• the content first, the delivery medium second
• the way learners actually use technology, as opposed to the way they are supposed to use it
• separating the actual benefits new approaches will bring from the buzz and hype that surrounds their introduction.

 

What are the modules in this stream?

There are five modules for you to choose from in our New Learning Mediums stream:

Module 1: Using problem-based learning

Problem-based learning is an approach used primarily in higher education. Increasingly, non-academic organisations are considering it as an alternative or complementary approach for face-to-face learning. This module focuses on:

• the benefits of problem-based learning and the reasons for its growing popularity
• the three different models/approaches for problem-based learning
• some of the issues and considerations you should take into account when designing this kind of learning.

Module length:

1. Standard version: 1.5 hours
2. Express version: 1 hour
3. Detailed version: 2 hours, 2.5 hours or 3 hours, depending on your needs.

Module code: NLM01

Module 2: Learning on the go - mobile learning explained

Most adults in the UK own at least one mobile device, many own several. More and more employees now spend less and less of their week in a fixed location. Taken together, these two trends alone are making mobile learning an attractive medium for learning. This module looks at:

• why mobile learning will always be about more than 'e-learning on a phone'
• how to decide if mobile learning is a delivery medium suitable for your organisation, and
• the basics of re-purposing existing content and creating simple mobile learning content from scratch.

Note: we already run a specialised range of seminars and workshops to help you get up and running with mobile learning. Get the full run down on these programmes here.

Module length:

1. Standard version: 1.5 hours
2. Express version: 1 hour
3. Detailed version: 2 hours, 2.5 hours or 3 hours, depending on your needs.

Module code: NLM02

 

Module 3: Mixing it all up - using a blended learning approach

Many organiations are, rightly, attracted by the idea of blended learning. A bit of classroom learning, a bit of e-learning, a bit of mobile just for good measure. But is it just mixing it up, or do you need a more sophisticated game-plan? This module explores:

• why blended learning needs to be about more than just delivery channel duplication
• how to use what we know about knowledge transfer to select the most appropriate delivery mediums, and
• why there are three essential elements that need to be present in every blended learning programme.

Module length:

1. Standard version: 1.5 hours
2. Express version: 1 hour
3. Detailed version: 2 hours, 2.5 hours or 3 hours, depending on your needs.

Module code: NLM03

 

Module 4: Using the virtual classroom for web-based learning

If you've attended a webinar or webcast, you'll already know something about the virtual classroom. You might also have realised an online learning event has the potential to be as dry as dust and boring as hell. To avoid these pitfalls, this module:

• identifies the cognitive and technical challenges faced by both the virtual learner and trainer
• shows you how to create a web-based session that is meaningful, memorable and motivating, and
• gives you some practical hands-on experience of planning and delivering a short web-based session.

Module length:

1. Standard version: 1.5 hours
2. Express version: 1 hour
3. Detailed version: 2 hours, 2.5 hours or 3 hours, depending on your needs.

Module code: NLM04

 

Module 5: Social, collaborative and informal learning

This module is coming shortly - please check back in a couple of weeks.

Module code: NLM05

 

What about practice?

All modules contain a variety of exercises and activities, making the learning experience practical, hands-on and highly interactive.

If you choose a programme which is longer than a day, we strongly encourage you to identify some existing content we can work on as a 'rolling case study'.  If you prefer, we can provide generic case study materials.

Browse more content streams

Use the links below (or the menu above left) to browse modules in the other content streams:

• Planning and Analysis
• Instructional Design Fundamentals
• e-Instructional Design
• Visuals to Support Learning

Putting it all together

Ready to think about pulling your selected modules together into a programme? Have some questions about what to do next?

Go to our How Does It All Work? page for a clear nuts and bolts explanation of putting your programme together:

Find out all about how the programme works here.