BKGETPOT.RVW   20120907

"Guide to Effective Technologies for Providing Online Training",
Joanne Kaattari, 2012
%A   Joanne Kaattari
%C   80 Bradford St., Suite 508, Barrie ON, L4N 6S7
%D   2012
%G   ASIN B007CMLLRA
%I   Community Literacy of Ontario
%O   705-733-2312 clo@belnet.ca http://www.nald.ca/clo.htm
%O  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B007CMLLRA/robsladesinterne
  http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B007CMLLRA/robsladesinte-21
%O   http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/B007CMLLRA/robsladesin03-20
%O   Audience n- Tech 1 Writing 1 (see revfaq.htm for explanation)
%T   "Guide to Effective Technologies for Providing Online Training"

This is a rather odd book.  It possibly is a guide, but is based on a
questionnaire survey of opinions and tools from other organizations. 
The survey asked for types of training and technologies used, benefits
and problems of using online training (for both the organization and
the staff or clients), and new technologies that the organization
might want to try.  There is little analysis of the results, and a
great deal of duplication.

The book lists, as chapters, fifteen categories (which should probably
more properly be seven).  For each there is a brief description, but
most of the material is comprised of lists of Websites.  These could
be useful as a set of contact points for a variety of technologies.

In regard to the tools themselves, the work lists, as separate
categories of tools, online video, Webinars, and online presentations,
which are all, in terms of training delivery, substantially the same
function.  Similarly, the categories of online conference resources,
Moodle, social networking, and Web-based training modules are all just
collections of online training tools.  On the other hand, Wiki and
cloud computing are included together as one functional category,
despite having almost no connection.

For the pros and cons, again, there is little consideration and a
great deal of reiteration.  The listed benefits go on for pages, but
boil down to greater distance and/or audience, speed of creation of
materials, lower costs and increased communication for the enterprise. 
For the staff, there was convenience of access and schedule, and the
ability to repeat a module for remediation.

The challenges showed a much greater range, noting increased budget
requirements for the technology, lack of technical skills and
awareness for the trainer, as well as a learning curve prior to
delivery, conflicts in learning styles and poor learning experiences,
a variety of topics found to be unsuitable for online delivery, lack
of policy, a digital divide in the learners, and interactivity and
community communication and formation problems.  In addition, staff
noted problems with the technology itself, technology and device
requirements and lack of availability, poor quality in the courses,
and a significant self-management requirement.  (Note that the text
makes no attempt to assess or rectify the contradiction of cost and
communications being described as both a benefit and a problem.)

As a list of Websites for finding tools and resources this guide may
be of use.  However, the analysis and descriptions will provide no
assistance, and the reader will have to perform his or her own
assessment of the tools and uses.

copyright, Robert M. Slade   2012     BKGETPOT.RVW   20120907