e-Learning and Skills Developmentdoc

E-LEARNINGANDSKILLSDEVELOPMENTPositioningtechnology-basedtraininginthecontextofskillsdevelopmentlegislationMikeStantonCONTENTSINTRODUCTIONROADSIGN1–SomeDefinitionsofe-Learning,Computer-BasedTraining(CBT),andTechnology-BasedTraining(TBT)ROADSIGN2–Instructor-LedTraining(ILT)VersusTechnology-BasedTraining(TBT)ROADSIGN3–TheLegislativeFrameworkAndTechnology-BasedTrainingROADSIGN4–TheSouthAfricanQualificationsAuthority(SAQA)AndTechnology-BasedTrainingROADSIGN5–TheNationalQualificationsFramework(NQF)AndTechnology-BasedTrainingROADSIGN6–TheNationalSkillsDevelopmentStrategy(NSDS)AndTechnology-BasedTrainingROADSIGN7–ThePracticalBenefitsOfTechnology-BasedTrainingInTheSMMEWorkplaceCONCLUSIONANNEXUREA–Checklist:DoesYourCurrentTechnology-BasedTrainingProgrammeMeetTheRequiredStandards?REFERENCESABOUTTHEAUTHORACRONYMSCBTComputer-BasedTrainingCMIComputer-ManagedInstructionCAIComputer-AssistedInstructionETDEducation,TrainingandSkillsDevelopmentILTInstructor-LedTrainingSDFSkillsDevelopmentFacilitatorSMMESmall,MediumAndMicroEnterpriseTBTTechnology-BasedTrainingINTRODUCTIONThepromulgationandsubsequentimplementationofrecenteducation,trainingandskillsdevelopment(ETD)legislationhashadprofoundimplicationsonallbusinessesandeducationalenterprisesinSouthAfrica.Notleastamongstthesehasbeenthere-focussingoninstructor-ledtraining(ILT)byETDpractitionersandSkillsDevelopmentFacilitators(SDFs).Indeed,thevastmajorityoftheseactsofparliamentseemtohavebeenwrittensolelyfromtheviewpointofclassroom-basededucationandtrainingpractices,totheveryobviousdetrimentofanye-learningortechnology-basedtraining(TBT)interventions.ThisROADMAPwillthereforeendeavourtopositione-learninginthecontextofthisskillsdevelopmentlegislation,andtoshowtheefficacyofthismediuminmeetingtheSouthAfricanQualificationsAuthority(SAQA),theNationalQualificationsFramework(NQF)andtheNationalSkillsDevelopmentStrategy(NSDS)aimsandobjectives.Ofspecialconcerntotheauthorhasbeenthe‘buy-in’ofthesmall,mediumandmicroenterprise(SMME)sectortorecentskillsdevelopmentinitiatives.Manylargerbusinessesandcorporateenterpriseshavebeensuccessfullyconductinghumancapitaldevelopmentovermanyyears,andallindicationsarethattheywillcontinuetodoso.ItistheSMMEsectorwheresuchvitaleducation,trainingandskillsdevelopmentinitiativesneedtotakeplace,andindeed,thelegislationaboundswithobjectivesandsuccessindicatorswherethisaimhasbeenemphasised.Unfortunately,anecdotalevidencesuggeststhatitisinthisspherewheremostresistancetothelegislationhasbeenencountered.Thevalueandmeritoftechnology-basedtraininginmeetingtheneedsofSMMEemployersandlearnerswillthusalsobeexploredinthisROADMAP.TAKENOTEICONThisROADMAPdoesnotintendtoexploretheselection,design,development,delivery,implementation,orevaluationofe-learninginterventions.ThishasalreadybeencomprehensivelyexploredandsuccessfullydealtwithinanotherROADMAPpublication:Destination–Effectivee-learningbyProfJohannesCronjéandBarryVorster.ReadersareurgedtoreadthisROADMAPinconjunctionwiththatpublication.ROADSIGN1–SomeDefinitionsofInstructor-LedTraining(ILT),e-Learning,Computer-BasedTraining(CBT)andTechnology-BasedTraining(TBT)AsispointedoutbyProfJohannesCronjéandBarryVorsterinthepreviouse-learningROADMAP,findingasuitabledefinitionforthisconceptisbothdifficultandtricky.Accordingtotheseauthors,e-learningis:QUOTEICON“thecontinuousassimilationofknowledgeandskillsbyadultsstimulatedbysynchronousandasynchronouslearningevents–andsometimesknowledgemanagementoutputs–whichareauthored,delivered,engagedwith,supportedandadministeredusingInternettechnologies”.FromMorrison,D.(2003):E-learningStrategies–Howtogetimplementationanddeliveryrightfirsttime.England,JohnWileyandSons(Ltd).Althoughthisisaveycapabledefinition,itdoes,however,excludeanumberofdeliverymediumsthatcouldcollectivelybeincludedunderthesobriquet“technology-basedtraining”–specifically,thosetechnologiesthatarenotnecessarilyinternet-related,suchas:standalonepersonalcomputers,CD-ROMsorDVDs,LANandWANtechnologies,andintra-andextranets.Althoughcomputer-based,ortechnology-based,trainingisbecomingmorewidelyacceptedanddeployedamongsttheSouthAfricanlearningandskillsdevelopmentindustry,itsholdbenotedthatonlyasmallportionoftheseusersactuallyutilise‘internet-technologies’.Formost,especiallytheSMMEs,theinitialcapitalinvestmentandtechnicalinfrastructurerequiredfortrue‘internettechnologies’arenoteasilywithintheirgrasp,andthereforemorecost-effectiveandlessbandwidth-intensivecomputerorelectronictechnologiesareutilised.ForthepurposesofthisROADMAPpublication,then,thenotionsofe-learning,computer-basedtraining,andtechnology-basedtrainingwillbeusedinterchangeably.Similalrly,thefollowingtermsanddefinitionsneedtobeexpoundedon:TERMINOLOGYICONCMIComputer-ManagedInstruction:referstothelearnermanagementsystem(orLMS)whichoperatesindependentlyofthedigitalmediacomprisingtheTBTintervention,andwhichrelatestotheMANAGEMENToflearners,resources,contentandoutcomes/assessmentCAIComputer-AssistedInstruction:referstotheactualprovisionofCONTENTthatwillprovidelearnerswiththenecessaryknowledge,skill