High-Tech Training

“In Chapters one and two we learned of the role training and development plays in plays in helping companies to execute their business strategy and deal with forces influencing the workplace.”(Noe, 2013).  So from the beginning Noe let’s us know how important training and development is to business’ and with that comes the vital use of technology.  Stolovitch tells us that we can realistically expect results from the use of technology in trainnig and development as well.  “More than 60 years of overwhelmingly answers what we can realistically expect from using technology in learning.  Media and technology can substaintially improve the efficiency of training and learning, which is extremely important.” (Stolovitch & Keeps, 2002).  

Here are the four pieces of technology I would like to highlight:

A. Podcast Podcasts are “web-based delivery of audio and video files.”(Noe, 2013)  Podcast are one of the trainings that can be considerd reusable and save time and money over canstantly redesigning and producing the same one over and over.  Podcasts assist the visual learners in understanding and concretely transfer learning.    B. Webinars Webinars are “live web-based delivery of instructions to trainers in dispersed locations.” (Noe, 2013) Webinasrs are the just in time training that can be delivered right to the desktop.  This is realitively inexpensive since there is no travel, it is readily accesible, just-in-time delivery. I attend webinars in order to sharpen my technology skills in the classroom and using it with my students.  C. Chat rooms and Discussion boards Chat rooms and discussion boards are “electronic rooms or message boards on which learners communicate.  Communications between learners can occur at the same or different times.  A facilitator or instructor can moderate the conversations, which may be grouped by topic.” (Noe, 2013)  These are a great way to monitor and create learning.  There is no delay in learning you can build and respond to other learners and recieve instantaneous feedback to questions and answers.  My daughters teacher as well as Walden use these technologies in order to futher discussions and learning through discussion.  D. Social Media Social Media is “online mobile technology used to create interactive communications allowing the creation and exchange of user-generated content. They include wikis, blogs, networks, such as Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn, microsharing sites such as Twitter, and shared media such as YouTube.” (Noe, 2013)  Social Media is known for it’s rapidity of delivery.  You can instant message others and they recieve the message very quickly.  It can aslo be simultaneous to multiple learners.  They are also very easy to update with new information.  I use social media, liked LinkedIn to connect and keep abreast of my industry adn the leaders in our industry.  

In the article I choose to highlight technology in learning is an article from Bized.  To summarize it in a few words thew article talks about companies creating a position  called a CIO or Chief Informational Officer.  This signifies the importance of technology in the business world.  The author mentions that the use of tecnology in training and development is no longer nice to have but a must have.  Business schools have begun to train future Cheif Executive Officers and CIO’s with the same skill sets in order for them to ne day be one and the same office. 

References:

Shinn, S. (2012). The Intersection of BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY. Bized, 11(6), 18-23. Noe, R. A. (2013). Employee training and development (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill. Stolovitch, H. D., & Keeps, E. J. (2002). Telling ain’t training. Alexandria, VA: ASTD Press.