Collaborative Training Environment

Example 1: Collaborative Training Environment
A new automated staff information system was recently purchased by a major corporation and needs to be implemented in six regional offices. Unfortunately, the staff is located throughout all the different offices and cannot meet at the same time or in the same location. As an instructional designer for the corporation, you have been charged with implementing a training workshop for these offices. As part of the training, you were advised how imperative it is that the staff members share information, in the form of screen captures and documents, and participate in ongoing collaboration.

To help this corporation implement a training workshop with emphasis on sharing information and ongoing collaboration, I have researched distance learning technologies that I feel will benefit.  As the instructional designer I believe that a course management system (CMS) and email would benefit the trainees of this corporation. 

 Course Management System (CMS)

In understanding that the staff is located throughout different offices and cannot meet at the same time or in the same location I recommend using a CMS.  A CMS would allow the corporation to track the progress of the trainees, allow them to collaborate, and post/share documents. 

A course management system allows teachers to manage their classes, assignment, activities, quizzes and tests, post recourses, and offer a more accessible online learning environment.  Students can log on work anytime anywhere (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, Zvacek 2012).  In this example a CMS will allow the corporation to implement the training throughout the six different regional offices.  It will also allow the trainees and staff to share documents and participate in ongoing collaboration. 

 Email

In addition to the CMS I would also recommend each trainee be set up with an individual email account.  The advantage to email communications includes versatility and convenience.  In addition to sending straight text, most email systems allow students to attach files (Computer technologies, 2009).  The trainees will be able to share and attach documents with each other and staff benefiting the corporation.  The convenience of email will allow access anytime and anywhere.  Email communications are asynchronous, meaning that they do not take place simultaneously (Computer technologies, 2009).  This will benefit the corporation because the trainees/staff are located in different places and will allow them to check and send email anytime and anywhere. 

Resources

Byme, T. (2012). How to use internal collaboration and social networking technology. Retrieved from http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/03/internal-collaboration-and-social-meida-technology.htp

Computer technologies. (2009). A teacher’s guide to distance learning. Retrieved from http://fcit.usf.edu/distance/chap8.htm