session overview

Wednesday 25th January 2012

14:00 - 15:00 Track 3 Session 2

Learning engagement

Alignment is essential. Competencies can underpin great learning, too, but without learner engagement everything else is pointless. With budgets are being cut the pressure is on. Learners and managers often have more to do and less time to do it. In these circumstances any argument persuading learners to engage in learning has to be that much more persuasive. In this practically-focused session we explore how two organisations have managed - often in the face of some scepticism - to help learners get engaged.

P1: Engaging the unwilling learner

Mark Berthelemy, IT Solutions Architect, Capita

As we move a great deal of our learning intervention effort online, we need to be aware that this puts almost total control in the hands of the learner. What can we do to help them get the most out of carefully designed materials and programmes? In this interactive session, Mark will look at lessons learned from 20 years of supporting learners - both on and offline - highlighting some of the key elements that lead towards success:

Removing the blockers
Understanding the motivating factors
Encouraging behaviours that work
Providing clear communication from the start
Engaging with management

P2: Planning for great adoption rates

Gareth Williams, Head of Learning and Development, Cambian Group

Change will always face resistance. When that change is expecting people to adopt e-learning in a rapidly growing company of nearly 4,000 people spread over 60 sites, you might expect adoption rates to plummet. That was not the experience of Gareth Williams at Cambian, which had a near 100% adoption rate across a wide range of learners following implementation in Spring 2011. The secret: careful planning and communications, linking to organisational goals, and – above all – setting the learning in context for the learner.