Converting to a Distance Learning Format

The scenario was: "A training manager has been frustrated with the quality of communication among trainees in his face-to-face training sessions and wants to try something new. With his supervisor’s permission, the trainer plans to convert all current training modules to a blended learning format, which would provide trainees and trainers the opportunity to interact with each other and learn the material in both a face-to-face and online environment. In addition, he is considering putting all of his training materials on a server so that the trainees have access to resources and assignments at all times."

I personalized it and created a scenario that showed how a repair shop in an auto dealership could use online course management system to better train their mechanics new and old.

Converting to a Distance Learning Format
The service department in Duluth, MN for a Ford dealership has hired a new
service manager, Jack Thomas, and he was placed in charge of training the mechanics
that are newly hired and continuous education for current employees. Using the former
training program of face-to-face learning, the manager did not like the quality of
communications among trainees. He went to the boss with the idea to change the training modules to a blended learning format by continuing the face-to-face training for hands-on learning and learner interaction, but also utilize an online environment to further learner and trainer interaction. This would give access to training materials, such as, videos, worksheets, web links, databases, assignments, etc. by using a server.

With the boss’s approval, Jack starts the preplanning stage for the program. The
main ideas he considers are online accessibilities for all employees and technology
capabilities. Jack has to reflect that “the issues to consider is how the choice of a
particular method can be used to involve the students in all the instructional settings” in order to effectively create a blended formula (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, 2009).

By using the online environment, Jack believed it would be a better way to give
the employees a chance to focus on what they need to know. He hoped to create video
tutorials of certain aspects of automotive repair, as well as access to extensive databases for different models of vehicles and repairs. With the idea that “instructors can rely on existing media to help enhance learning experiences” Jack hopes to use videos and, especially, databases that are already available on the internet, saving him time and money (Simonson et al., 2009). With this information, if the student did not feel confident about his in-class learning, he would have the resources to fall back on.

One major goal that Jack hopes to enact is assigning current employees to keep a
dialogue open with new employees. With the variance in work schedules, having the
online access would make it a more realistic goal and more of an encouragement for all learners to communicate online.

With his goals and ideas formed, Jack starts the process of developing, designing,
and deciding what would be best for the trainees.

References
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2009). Teaching and learning
at a distance: Foundations of distance education (4th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.