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ERIC Number: EJ909882
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Nov
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1939-5256
EISSN: N/A
Learner Support Requirements for Online Workplace Training in the South African Furniture Industry
MacDonald, Iain S.; Bullen, Mark; Kozak, Robert A.
Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, v14 n3 p49-59 Nov 2010
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.)
Sloan Consortium. P.O. Box 1238, Newburyport, MA 01950. e-mail: publisher@sloanconsortium.org; Web site: http://www.sloanconsortium.org/publications/jaln_main
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: South Africa
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A