Learning technology
progress and prospects
Martyn Sloman
www.martynsloman.co.uk
m.sloman@kingston.ac.uk

www.trainingjournal.com
‘New technologies are not
just ways of delivering the
same content differently,
they open up new
opportunities for people to
learn’
TJ L&D2020 Emerging
Conclusions

The 1990s: technology transforms training

‘90% of training in
organisations should be
delivered electronically
by 2003’
Tom Peters speaking at the ASTD Conference,
Florida, June 2001

Trust your judgement
“For every complex
problem, there is a
solution that is
simple, neat, and
wrong”
H. L. Mencken

ASTD State of the Industry Reports
“Use of Learning Technology”
1997 – 9.1% 1998 – 8.5%
1999 – 8.4% 2000 – 8.8%
2001 – 10.5% 2002 – 15.4%
2003 – 23.6% 2004 – 27.0%
2005 – n.a. 2006 – 30.2%
2007 – 32.6% 2008 – 31.8%
www.astd.org

• most organisations (57%) use e-learning, it’s available to many
more people than actually make use
• “which learning and development practices are most effective?”
(7%)
• “e-learning is more effective when combined with other forms of
learning”
• “e-learning demands a new attitude on the part of the learner”
CIPD 2008 : Annual Learning & Development Survey
…..and e-learning accounts for 12% of total
training time for those who use e-learning
www.cipd.co.uk/surveys

The potential of e-learning is
huge - but progress to date
has been patchy
E-learning is about learning -
not about technology

Start with the learner
Support and automate
Take account of intermediaries

Good design engages the
learner and embeds activity in
the organisation
Relevance drives out
resistance

Web 2.0/social networking?
“the second-generation of
internet-based communities
that encourage collaboration
between users”
“the business revolution in the
computer industry caused by
the move to the internet as
platform, and an attempt to
understand the rules for success
on that new platform”
www.cipd.co.uk/helpingpeoplelearn

Supporting, accelerating and directing
learning through enhanced technology
information repositories
expert opinion
discussion threads
“googlisation” of learning
on-line assessment

Supporting, accelerating and directing
learning through enhanced technology
online support
webinars
virtual worlds
electronic job aids

Electronic job aids

Face-book at B&Q

Second life

What is EPSS?
“Basically an electronic performance support
system is an integrated, computer-based
environment that provides workers immediate
access to a full range of information, tools and
training – often right on the same automated
information system where workers do their job”
The Mitre Corporation on www.unc.edu/cit

Hattie Harvey’s horse

www.martynsloman.co.uk
m.sloman@kingston.ac.uk
Thank you