Converting to a Distance Learning Format

In week 7 of my EDUC 6135 Distance Learning course, we were asked to consider the following scenario and reflect on the following:

· What are some of the pre-planning strategies the trainer needs to consider before converting his program?
· What aspects of his original training program could be enhanced in the distance learning format?
· How will his role, as trainer, change in a distance learning environment?
· What steps should the trainer take to encourage the trainees to communicate online?

Scenario: A training manager has been frustrated with the quality of communication among trainees in his face-to-face training sessions and wants to try something new. With his supervisor’s permission, the trainer plans to convert all current training modules to a blended learning format, which would provide trainees and trainers the opportunity to interact with each other and learn the material in both a face-to-face and online environment. In addition, he is considering putting all of his training materials on a server so that the trainees have access to resources and assignments at all times.

Before the trainer can convert all the current training modules into a blended learning format, he must first try to determine where the problem lies in the first place. Why is the quality of communication among trainees lacking during face to face training sessions? Once that has been determined that would give the trainer a better idea of which areas to remain in the face to face environment and which to convert to the online portion of the blended program.

Determining what aspects of the original training program have worked successfully in the past will also make a big difference in the delivery of the new blended program. The more successful aspects of the original training program will remain in the face to face portion of the course, while newer and more technology based aspects of the course can be provided at a distance. By splitting the format this way, it will allow for students take a different approach to receiving training and for the less technology savvy students, offer a new way to train and gain further skill sets in the field of technology.

The trainer’s role will not change drastically in his new blended learning environment. He will still be offering training on all levels but will provide a new online format that will hope to excite his trainees as well as increase the lines of communication among trainees and also assure that they are learning adequately as well. This format will also strive to entice more trainees to utilize for modern technology to communicate for work purposes online such as Yahoo Messenger and SharePoint sites that will store all of the training materials online for further follow up or addition of new training materials.