E Learning (& Devices) - Any users out there?

[Signal1]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a Training Manager within the Emergency Services in Victoria. I've been tasked to look at e-readers with the view to reduce printing costs associated with training manuals.

Does anyone use an e-reader in their workplace or received vocational training involving such a device? Thougths? Success or failure?

My main consideration is can our trainees who would normally page turn a 900 page induction manual in a face to face training environment get the same engagement if referring to the same manual in a monochrome electronic device which can't easily record comments (when compared to writing notes and highlighting sections the conventional way).

Background
My initial research highlights limitations with traditional e-readers including monochrome screen, small screen size, lack of multimedia support even to the extent of graphs and pictures not easily displayed. Whilst benefits can include, cost, size and portability I don't believe traditional e-readers have a future in an e-learning environment.

What are the options? Ipad, Android Tablet, Netbooks?

Our induction training manual is close to 900 pages long and contains pictures, graphics, tables and is printed in pdf format. I see an opportunity to enhance the quality and effectiveness of training sessions using dynamic electronic methods but necessitates something better than a $150 Kindle.

Options
Ipads are a good option. Sure there are limitations (Flash) but they just work! Hand one to most and they can navigate the device easily within an hour. Expensive though.

Netbook with a 10.1" screen. Pretty much full pc functionality, MSOffice supported, Flash, HTML easily run, blends with our existing workplace standard.

Android Tablets (Asus) - not quite as expensive as ipad but perhaps a little more functionality and not as restricted.

Thanks for any comments.

[woody]

G'day, I know where your coming from as a trainer/assessor within an emergency mob from Qld. I can appreciate the need to reduce paper.

My preference would be for acrobat or pdf files as these can be transported to and from most devices. Don't ignore smaller devices like mobile phones, the ability to view a document on the train going to work from an iphone or android device and then view the same document on a laptop or desktop computer is fantastic. Most modern phones have good touch screens that allow for zooming in and out.

The latest version of acrobat reader allows the reader to highlight text and make notes within the document but not change or alter the text.

Modern devices allow for quite large documents to be viewed but consider keeping the file size down by supplying the manual as chapters. I believe that you can now insert video etc into pdf files. I would not go down the path of a single use style device such as an e-book reader, they are good with text but do not have the processing power for the type of content you wish to disseminate.

As a uni student, my preference is to get information as pdf files. If the files are created properly they allow me to highlight and markup text, print out my notes and annotations without changing the original version controlled document.

It is my experience that the younger tech-savvy students will already have the means to read pdf files on the go and a large percentage of older members have access to a computer.

It's great to see a training provider look for new ways to interact with their target audience, but please look to the future as we are only just beginning to see the future of tablet devices with dual core processors, high definition displays and memory card slots that take cards up to 2 terabytes.

I envy your dilemma. :p

[RangieBit]

Hi Signal1,

Have spent almost an entire working lifetime receiving, delivering and preparing training of a wide variety of sorts.

When I last had anything to do with e-learning (and I've had a few contacts with it over the years) we set it up as a stand-alone application to run on a PC.

We made this decision because just about everyone has a PC these days and the few who don't have their own have access to a PC close by. In our case it was an easy choice as our target audience had company issued laptops or desk bound systems depending on their specific role.

Can't recall the tool we used to prepare the material but there are a number out there that achieve the same ends.

A lot of it depends on what it is you are trying to achieve. How long is your piece of string and all that. The classic case of "What is my instructional objective?" The answer to that question will help shape some of the other choices and selections.

BTW if it can wait a short while I'm happy to chat about this in more detail before/after the LROCV meeting next week. If you are able to attend that is.

Hope this helps a little.

Cheers,
Iain

[Signal1]

Thank you both for your prompt reply earlier today. It was suggested Friday, that I look into this and provide a business case to my boss tomorrow morning. Whilst I can do this - it wouldn't fully explore our options nor identify what we could achieve. Based on ebooks alone I'll happily reply to them tomorrow with the opinion they are not suitable; too limiting.

As a Section Head, I see benefits in a number of areas:
- Flexible and alternate instructional tool
- Repository for all training materials including manuals, policy and procedures, activities, soft resources our trainee calltakers would not normally have available and assessments
- I want our assessments and activities to be completed in soft form
- Format our assessments to be auto corrected (where possible)
- Reduce assessor time in marking assessments, maintaining paperwork and maximise their contact time with trainees
- Be more dynamic and respond quickly to changes
I could go on...

A major consideration is that all trainees should be provided the same opportunity, have access to the same tools and I believe to achieve efficiency, the Training Sections should move solely to electronic formats rather than having to maintain seperate formats, documents and procedures.
Given our current training schedule over three geographically isolated Call Centres, we would need in the vacinity of 50-60 devices. For a base iPad 2, thats an entrance price of $30K.

We don't have a dedicated pc environment, break out rooms or a bank of pcs where trainees can stay back do further study. Everything is paperbased. We have a great computer aided dispatch (CAD) scenario environment but that equipment is extremely well protected and locked down. A trainee would be unable to run an application on that platform. We need the flexibility to use a device that won't limit our instructional design philosophy and intent, only serves to enhance flexibility both in delivery method but also classroom location. Maybe even enjoy the course holistically :-p

I'll suggest we trial netbooks and perhaps 1-3 iPads, develope materials for both in each area of competency and seek feedback, evaluate user engagement and ultimately what efficiencies can be realised.

Iain, would love to catch up Thursday week after the meeting to discuss further. Please look out for me after the meeting; I'm unable to attend on time anymore due to childcare arrangements or lack thereof!