Instructional Designers understand that technology has changed the world very quickly over the past century, and if education is going to continue to reach those people who have grown up with technology, it is going to need to find ways to educate while providing access to technology. The addition of technology must be more than just putting content online, the Instructional Designers must repurpose it to me the needs of the students and the curriculum “Remember that just putting text online isn’t necessarily an effective way to learn. Repurposing refers to directly translating an instructor-led, face-to-face training program to an online format.”(Noe)
One way technology has truly helped training and education is the way it allows trainees to collaborate with each other. “Digital Collaboration is the use of technology to enhance and extend employees’ abilities to work together regardless of their geographic proximity.”(Noe) Tools like electronic messaging systems or even program’s like Google Docs allow students or trainees the opportunity to work together on the same project even if they are physically in different locations. A shared Google Document will allow multiple people to work on the same document at the same time regardless of location and difference in technological devices.
The integration and use of social media has also greatly influenced training. Besides the obvious bonus of advertising and inviting people to take part in different training opportunities, social media has also proven useful in a classroom setting. “Social Media can provide links to resources such as webinars and videos, it can help determine the training needs and issues, it can reinforce and sustain learning, while linking learners before, during, and after the formal training event.” Tools like blogs and wiki’s give trainers a online local to share their ideas and tools while providing the trainees the opportunity to access important information during post training activities.
While Simulations are nothing new to education, the use of technology and its involvement in simulations has most certainly affected the way trainers are able to train. Most importantly, it has allowed companies to use the same training techniques regardless of location, while providing the trainee with real world experience without wasting the companies time or money. Miller Brewing Company’s use of Tips on Taps is a great example of how trainees can use technology to train in non technological fields, by using technology to teach how to pour beer using proper angle and height. “The online game does a better job of replicating how to pour correctly than traditional classroom instruction, its more convenient and accessible for trainee practice, and the real product is not used eliminating waste and reducing costs.
Most importantly, a trainer’s use of technology prepare students to live and work in the 21st century. For example Adult English as a Second Language (ESL) educators use technology as a vessel in which to strengthen their knowledge of the english language while giving them opportunities to develop their job related skills “The computer, Internet, and cell phone, by nature, provide more opportunities for authentic input and interaction, and can contribute to ESL learners’ communicative ability, which is a primary target in English language learning.”(McClanahan)
Noe, R. A. (2013). Employee training and development (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
No comments:
Post a Comment