The ipad - how will it change our lives?

James Rhys-Davies posted in General on 22 June 2010 - 0 Comments

We have recently been playing with the new ipad, specifically with the though in minds of how this new piece of Apple technology will affect our lives.

The result is, we like it, we REALLY like it.  Then again most of the team were saying this whilst hiding their mac books and iphones (somewhat bias me thinks) But the question still remains, will it make our lives easier?  

The answer to this is no, not really.  What it does is make the everyday mundane tasks we do more enjoyable, more fun to do, more user friendly. It feels like you are using a high tech piece of equipment.  Its does not save you time when looking at photos or sending e-mails, it just makes the experience, an experience.

As I am writing, I have been reminded by one of the team, of one area it does make life easier.  When looking at the newspaper, you do not have to fight with broad sheets on trains and one the tube etc...  

As with most Apple products the system is good looking and the ipad is no exception to that rule and with a user interface which makes tasks actually fun, the question must be, when can we start using machines like the ipad with their touch screens and ease of use for the development of our staff and in schools.  With Thousands of books and applications already available, are we entering a dawn of a new time, where text books are a think of the past and all learners / students need is an ipad?

How E-learning can enable new graduates to stand out from the crowd?

James Rhys-Davies posted in General on 24 August 2009 - 0 Comments

You may have just finished a course and feel that you know all there is to know about PowerPoint or Word but do you really understand the business benefits and uses. There is one way to get yourself noticed. If an individual proves that apart from a degree, they have gone that extra mile to take it upon themselves to develop their skills over and above the norm, then this speaks volumes to any HR department.

By taking responsibility for your own personal development, undertaking additional "Work Skills" training you are making a clear statement; you recognise the need to continually develop and you are not sitting back and waiting for the next appraisal to ask for training, but are being proactive by enhancing skills.

With the thought of extra work and mounting student debts, paying for extra training and additional classroom time is not one that all graduates would immediately relish. In fact debts of over £20,000 are now very common so adding to these can be seen as a real problem.

Up until recently E-learning has been solely used by major corporations, it has been seen as expensive and often time consuming. However as technology advances systems have become much cheaper and more highly developed to a point that many skills can be passed on using online based training systems.

Modern online training modules are fully interactive, they engage students far more than ever before and give them the benefit of learning at their own pace, in their own time and from the comfort of their own home. This has allowed training to become more readily available and courses on Microsoft, basic business skills including sales training, office applications or even HR being delivered for just a few pounds.

Many companies are delivering courses online, including insegnisolutions.com, which enable students, or even people in work, to top up their existing skills with practical training packages that are monitored and regulated giving you the advantage over your competitors in the job jungle.

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Guy Watson posted in General on 18 March 2009 - 0 Comments

In an uncertain time is E-learning the only way to train staff?

James Rhys-Davies posted in General on 12 March 2009 - 0 Comments

In an uncertain financial climate the training budget is usually one of first things to be hit.  So, how does a company ensure the continual professional development of its most important asset, its staff.  If the employees are not trained to the highest standards and working to the best of their abilities how can any organisation expect to weather the current climate and come out the other side with a motivated and highly skilled workforce? 

So with these questions in mind, is e-learning the best way to introduce a training program which both delivers, whilst not costing the earth, and if so is there still going to be the demand for the same classroom based training following the upturn in our economy? 

Empowering Employee development

James Rhys-Davies posted in General on 12 March 2009 - 0 Comments

Can E-learning empower employees to take responsibility for their own development?

Having spoken to the employees of a number of different companies recently, one thing that they all have in common is a need to ensure that their professional, development is a priority with their employer.  This in some cases is more of a priority than salary expectations, especially in an uncertain financial climate. 

We have all been in the situation where we have been made to sit internal training courses of which we have no interest in or, have enrolled our selves in training courses as it mean time out of the office.  With the development of e-learning now being utilised for all companies, they can start to develop their own internal academies which can be delivered through an existing intranet. 

The benefits of this are the employee can choose which courses they are enrolled on rather than being forced to learn a subject that might not interest them.  This give a real return on investment with regard to the training and can improve staff retention as they can see a visual representation of their development plan and the courses available to them, rather than having to wait for their annual appraisal.