Learner Support Requirements for Online Workplace Training in the South African Furniture Industry

Autor/inn/en	MacDonald, Iain S.; Bullen, Mark; Kozak, Robert A.
Titel	Learner Support Requirements for Online Workplace Training in the South African Furniture Industry
Quelle	In: Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 14 (2010) 3, S.49-59 (11 Seiten) PDF als Volltext (1); PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei (2) Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1939-5256
Schlagwörter	Electronic Learning; Distance Education; Manufacturing; Workplace Learning; Furniture; Feasibility Studies; Training Methods; Industrial Training; Case Studies; Interviews; Participant Satisfaction; Independent Study; Foreign Countries; Student Needs; South Africa + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Distance study; Distance learning; Fernunterricht; Herstellung; Möbel; Didaktik; Trainingsmaßnahme; Betriebliche Berufsausbildung; Gewerblich-industrielle Ausbildung; Industriebetriebslehre; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Interviewing; Interviewtechnik; Selbststudium; Ausland; Südafrika; Süd-Afrika; Republik Südafrika; Südafrikanische Republik
Abstract	A qualitative research project was conducted to evaluate the suitability of e-learning as a means of delivering training to workplace learners in the South African furniture manufacturing sector. Twenty learners participated in a three-month pilot e-learning course and were monitored throughout. While the study was designed primarily to investigate the effectiveness of various pedagogical techniques in a South African context, the importance of providing adequate support to learners emerged as a critical theme during the research project, and this is the subject of this article. Issues included: poor awareness among learners' superiors, IT staff, and financial managers about the e-learning activities that their employees were involved in; sensitivity about costs incurred by employees in connecting to the Internet; a "hands-off" attitude to online training by human resources staff; and a failure in many cases to set aside adequate study hours for employees. Recommendations for companies undertaking training via e-learning include: performing a cost-benefit analysis of face-to-face versus online training; facilitating clear and timely communication within the organization regarding e-learning activities; and establishing a study plan for each learner with the active involvement of learners' supervisors, IT support specialists, human resources staff, and financial managers. (Contains 1 table.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Sloan Consortium. P.O. Box 1238, Newburyport, MA 01950. e-mail: publisher@sloanconsortium.org; Web site: http://www.sloanconsortium.org/publications/jaln_main
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10