Towards Maturity - Improving the Impact of learning Technologies at work Policing Learning Technologies Conference 2nd April 2008 Laura Overton Director, Towards Maturity Project

Today’s Agenda Learning Technologies at work What might success look like? Growing in Maturity

Hit or Miss What makes the difference?

What are we talking about? the use of any technology across the learning process, including skills diagnostics, learning delivery, support, management, assessment, informal and formal learning

Towards Maturity Employer survey: 200+ employers participated in online survey Participants from a range of industry sectors All were existing users of e-learning –28% 0-2 years experience –45% with 5 years or more –Half had > 90% of employees as computer users –Variety of location types and size of employer Most had in house training capabilities: –85% have dedicated training staff –67% have dedicated e-learning staff Learner survey: 1000 Learners participated in all or part of an employee survey: –52% male, 48% female –Distributed across all ages –60% graduate level or above –Regular computer users Employer respondents by sector Employer respondents by employees use of computers

Learning Technologies at Work

What skills are delivered with e? IT and company specific skills are most likely to have an e-L component in the mix Few subjects taught by e- L alone (less than 3% of total responses)

Current and planned use of Learning Technologies Significant growth areas: Blogs/wikis & podcasting – massive growth expected – mainly in mature organisations Competency management (84% expected growth although still minority,only 40% of orgs Moderated chat/discussion (54%) Record keeping critical in next 3 years 82% agree organisations should have access to electronic plans 76% agree all employees should have access to electronic records and plans 27% continued growth for LMS, 40% for CMS systems

What online learning services are offered? Top 3 services are traditional e-learning offerings –Electronic learning materials –Online assessment –Online administration Followed by 3 informal learning –Access to relevant online resources –Online access to company expertise –Online collaboration between learners Significant areas of growth in next 3 years: –increased expectation of accountability Online evaluation of business impact (34% expected growth on current use) –exploiting collaboration E-tutor support to learners ( 28% growth) Online collaboration between learners ( 24% growth) –Competency Management Needs and skills diagnostics ( 14% growth)

How are learners learning outside of formal provision?

The rise and rise of informal learning Learner perspective –‘60 % of what is learnt is from informal methods 40 % is from formal learning course irrespective of delivery methods –26% regularly share their knowledge with others –58% would share, given the opportunity Organisations are waking up to this: –79% agree that they will place greater emphasis on supporting informal learning within the organisation

What does success in the workplace look like? And does this change with maturity?

Maturity – what do we mean? The Novice ‘We know very little about e-learning’5% The Sporadic user ‘Our use of e-learning is localised or sporadic (used in some departments or for some courses) ‘ 21% The Developing user ‘We are developing and coordinating our use of e-learning’ 35% The Established user ‘e-learning is established across the company and is transforming the way we manage our learning and development’ 17% The Embedded user ‘e-learning is thoroughly embedded within the company – we have a learning culture which influences our everyday work ‘ 5% The Innovator ‘We are thought leaders and innovators in the way in which we are using e-learning – prepared to experiment in new areas and with new technologies’ 17%

Benefits of Maturity E-learning maturity Benefit Business impact Staff impact Take up Availability Tangible business benefits Ability to respond to business Application of skills on the job Intangible benefits Staff motivation Increased interest in learning Extent of engagement with e- learning Individual Organisation Extent of access to learning opportunities Location & time Options

Growing in Maturity

Impact of Strategy on success Decision making –1/3 of companies have a board strategy –Improved success Increased impact on business metrics Increased financial impact & cost savings Improved business focus More likely to –Quickly implement –Have effective application of skills

What stakeholders influence success? Key influencers of success: –Early stage adopters Training Support functions – Mature organisations Learners Line Managers

Impact when Top level management are learners 50% of respondents said that their directors used e-learning More likely to use in mature organisation

What do mature organisations do differently? E-learning maturity Inputs Change Management Promotion and marketing Piloting and briefing Communication of success Empowerment Information available to learners Freedom to get learning they want Managerial Support Appraisal Coaching Training Function capability Skills of trainers Links with IT functions Willingness to change

Skills of Trainers – building the blend Use tools that help Interaction Eg wikis & blogs, virtual conferencing, moderated & un- moderated chat Provide workplace support Eg Mentors, manager as coaches, appraisal Support Learners on the job Job related assignments Electronic job aids Reference Books Printed job aids Online reference Followed by support in person or via Mature organisations are more likely to

Challenges Strategic behaviour change needed in a busy part time work force No training staff on the ground Country wide audience Traditional e-learning but with new twists Community exercises as part of learning Cascade approach to support Community to support the supportersSolution Learning at the Frontline Lessons from the library sector

Opening the Book LA Co-ordinator Supervisor Trainee 3 becomes Supervisor Trainee 2Trainee 1 Trainee 4Trainee 5

Challenges 160,000 staff globally Disparate processes for learning 500 competency sets make personal career mapping difficult e-learning offerings provided too much choice & paralysed learners Review of all learning assets Meaningful search Branded and trusted content Google, amazon and match.com in one!Solution Connected learning Lessons from BAE systems

E-learning ‘super foods’ Visibly demonstrate e-learning successes within the business Regularly communicate e-learning successes to managers Senior Management regularly demonstrate commitment Quickly implement new learning programmes Ensure change management is integral to deployment and planning Provide each new e-learning initiative with a specific identity and brand Help staff quickly put into practice what they learn from e-learning Implement new programmes quickly across the organisation Personalise the learning experience for each learner Clearly understand of what e-learning offering your internal IT systems can support From Towards Maturity Jan 2007– factors that affect business impact, staff impact and take-up of e-learning

Defining impact/ Results required Learner Context Business Context Ensuring engagement Building Capability Demonstrating Value Aligning to need Delivering Impact

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