Summary of Results

Here is a summary of my results. My v2 draft complete with Bronwyn's comments is on http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcxrtrqz_25gxbtp5fw if you are interested in viewing it.

Summary of Expert Review – Questionnaire and Focus Group discussion
Overall, the feedback was positive. On the whole, the results showed that the module was well designed and the content and resources engaged the learner and would enable learners to meet their objectives. There were a couple of minor hitches, for example, the Excel workbook didn’t fully maximise, therefore the second sheet tab with “model answers” wasn’t visible. Good to get this feedback at this stage so that it could be easily rectified.

The audio visual demonstration and the Excel interactive exercise were most helpful to learning, and it was felt that this design could be used for a variety of online learning topics. Self-paced learning was considered the best use of the learning module.

Improvements could be made to this learning module by providing more practice exercises, making instruction concise, simple, and very obvious.

It was recommended that video demonstrations be created with and without audio to allow easier access to those who may not have sound on their computers (eg if they’re doing the course from home)

Currently a hard copy of a Training Needs Analysis is used to recommend training for new staff during their induction training. Training Needs Analysis is only carried out on existing staff if requested by staff member or manager.

The focus group recommended that an online Training Needs Analysis be used in place of the hard copy of the needs analysis that was currently used. An online needs analysis would be more accessible and more effective than the current hard copy. This could easily be created in WimbaCreate and possibly placed on the intranet site and/or eMIT.For staff enquiring about or booking on computer courses, a short online pre-test could be made available.

Summary of MIT Staff Questionnaire
The majority of respondents 83% responded that online software training would increase their skill set related to using computer software. Although the majority (72%) were familiar with using a Learning Management System, 56% indicated they had no preference either way. This would require follow-up once they have been exposed to the Learning Management System.

As shown in Table 5, the majority of respondents (61%) showed a preference for self-paced learning. However, 56% respondents also showed a preference for blended learning. Given the difficulty these staff have in attending face to face classes during their work time, I assume that these staff would attend the blended learning courses outside of their normal work hours (some of these staff would not work regular Monday to Friday 9-5 hours).

Audio visual demonstrations and interactive exercises were considered the most helpful resource to their learning. Microsoft Office applications was most mentioned as the software course best suited to online training, although other applications were mentioned, such as portal training, and Adobe products.

Comments from respondents indicated that the majority were interested in the flexibility of self-paced learning – the ability to learn in their own time, where and when they wanted to.