Online Learning, Duties of the Training Managers - Coursework Example

Online Learning Name of Student Name of Course Name of Class Date of Submission Online Learning Negotiate the topic focus E learning; is a form of distance education is sometimes referred to as online learning. Courses are offered and delivered online only if one has a computer and can access the internet (Moore 2004). There are two ways in which these courses can be delivered; Delivered at any place or time depending on your personal convenience (Asynchronous) A student is required to be online at a particular time (Synchronous) Research the area and determine the appropriate materials. Online courses are most convenient for people whose work schedule or family commitments may not allow them to advance their studies as they would want to. Some degree courses such as marketing and nursing require a lot of research work and therefore it would be appropriate for the student to use online databases and resources to get information (Lakoff 2004). However, there a few things that one should note before enrolling in these courses; One has to be self motivated and have self discipline Commitment to learning is paramount Understand that there are deadlines to meet with regard to assignments and research work. Online activities and discussions are a must and at times on regular basis Provide all the materials that managers need to learning and guide how they can then apply their learning within the organisation Managers in charge of training and development are responsible for planning and coordinating programs which are meant to improve their employees’ skills and information. They also interact with development specialists as they oversee training of their staff. Duties of the training managers Organize training programs in alignment with the company’s Creation of a budget which includes training costs and operations Ensure that the training programs are current by doing research and updating information. They are in charge of creating education materials and learning modules which should be helpful to employees. Evaluation and reviewing of materials that come from various vendors and select the right content for their institution. They also teach supervisors and trainers concerning different training methods. They do a preview of how effective the current training programs have been and check where there can be improvement. Moreover, it’s their job to ensure that their employees are well motivated to produce quality results. They should create proper communication channels where the employees are free to express their concerns and raise their complaints. They should therefore share this information with the top management and ensure that employees’ issues are settled. Uses of online learning Over time online learning has become very useful to the society. People have become ambitious as the professional world has also become competitive. Everyone wants a better job and a better pay to maintain the standards of living. Education plays a major role in this since most jobs nowadays are offered to people with degrees or even more. This has therefore created a gap for education and with time more academic institutions have filled up the gap by offering alternatives to education. Online learning has become very useful in our generation as most people who have wanted to improve on their studies get a better chance. Nowadays people from all over the world who are ambitious and want to study get a fair chance to do so. The idea of online learning has been supported and encouraged by many who may also be older and never had a chance to study in their youthful days. They can enroll for different courses online meaning that everyone is included. Used in the appropriate way this kind of learning can ensure that peoples’ education dreams are achieved (Moore 2002). However the general public is still very skeptical concerning online learning. A good percentage of adults who have enrolled for online courses agree that the quality of education is the same as that offered in classrooms (Lakoff 2004). Some college administrators though still believe that unless students are in a classroom and have a face to face encounter then online learning is not as serious. Concerns have been raised with regard to the future of online learning but in the end those who have done courses and finished agree that it’s viable and helpful. Pros Online course work makes it possible for many students to pursue further education which may be out of reach at a certain time; A flexible schedule has to be the greatest advantage. People who work for long hours or parents who have family responsibilities gain a lot because one only logs into school when they get time depending on the school permit. Telecommuting: Some of these universities and colleges could be very far from one’s local area. Online learning makes it better because you can pursue a course at your dream school with internet connection in your house. Cost effectiveness: Most of the online courses are slightly cheaper than when you attend a class in person. Furthermore there are many other things one can save on such as fuel for everyday and meals (Duke 2003). Flexibility in the pace: Students who take online courses to some extent can determine whether to move at a faster rate or even slower without delaying the rest of the class. Cons Limited interaction with the instructor: This limits students from asking questions first hand in case they need further clarification. They also cannot pass by the professors office to inquire anything from them which in the end may leave them without all the information they need. Poor social interaction: Students may have forums where they hold discussions with others but there is no meeting on a face to face scenario. As a result, chances of networking and group studies are eliminated. The experience of college as many would love to encounter is also limited. Technological challenges: Sometimes there could be challenges with the network connection and this may affect the pace at which a student learns. The computer could also crush down or have issues and it may cost the student sometime to fix it. Compulsory self-discipline: Students must seek motivation from within and have the discipline to log in to school at least daily. Failure to do so they might end up not delivering their assignments in the right time or missing lessons which may not be compensated (Lakoff 2002). Indicate how to use the technique for learning and how to evaluate learning Evaluating online learning programs effectively could be done by research based on cognitive science where the minds of students are tested. Those who attend class physically are compared to those who do online learning. It would be good to check their frames of reference and how they perceive life after a few months into their learning. Evaluation should not only be about studies but also social interactions. For instance, students who attend classes and meet up with others could have improved their communication skills and confidence over time. This is necessary for the career world out there. Networking with other students from different backgrounds could also expose them to new opportunities in the professional world and different approaches to life issues (Moore 2004). In the other case students who study online could have improved in terms of focus and self discipline because it is required. Evaluation of this kind of learning could be looked at in different perspectives but the most effective way is to check how effective learning has been to these students. Ineffective evaluation on the other hand would be to make conclusions based on misinterpretations of online learning. The perception of online learning could be different for different students depending on their experiences of life. Enforcing accountability patterns by making value judgements which are based on biased judgements is not effective in evaluation. Program administrators emphasize on damage control and improving what was recommended by students. Approaching the evaluation of online learning as a chance for judgement is unproductive and likely to fail (Reeve 2010). It should clearly specify the target audience and objective. The main target audience in online learning is the working class and parents. These are people who could be working two jobs a day they still need to advance their studies. Family commitments may also be overwhelming and cumbersome for parents and they may not be able to further their education. Online learning is therefore very ideal for them. The purpose of education has always been to improve individuals on a personal level by enhancing their skills and abilities as well as impact society so that they can make a change in their communities. In addition, people are taught good morals and basic life values that would help them live peacefully with others. Education also offers exposure in different areas and fields of life as people get to learn new things everyday. As a result, education may open up people’s minds to great ideas that can be enforced to bring solutions to the modern day challenges. Moreover, with good education, one becomes a good candidate for a good job which may also improve their lives and eradicate poverty (Moore 2004). Educated people also have a great sense of confidence while relating with others because they can relate on an intellectual level. Above all the benefits of education are may not be tangible but being educated has a sense of personal fulfilment. Provide a training resource for everyone in the class to use – and you will evaluate the sites produced Khan Academy: Founded in 2006 by Salman Khan. This online source has more than four thousand videos which cover a myriad of topics from arts to finance. Khan’s style of teaching is practical and broken down for everybody to understand. Codeacademy: “Education is broken. Come and help us build the education the world deserves.” The mission statement is well defined and straight to the point. He insists that the educational system in America needs an improvement and Codeacademy gives some solutions. There are interactive exercises and easy tutorials that students can partake to enhance their programming skills. The site can be addictive since he makes it so much fun that students enjoy it. Lynda.com: Her library can be accessed anytime after the user pays $25 a month. With over eighteen hundred videos covering a variety of topics it is ideal for students to learn more about online learning. The site has software that can help in upgrading an old program that was once used or improving a current program. Lynda Weinman the co founder states that the site can improve students’ skills. This can make a huge difference when one wants a promotion in a job or achieving personal professional goals. References Lakoff, G. (2004). Don't Think of an Elephant! Know Your Values and Frame the Debate. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green, pp. xv, 37. Moore, J. (2002). Elements of Quality: The Sloan-C Framework. Needham, MA: Sloan Center for On Line Education. Read More