e-Learning predicted to cut costs

Local government learning and development professionals predict more e-learning and collaboration will help cut costs while improving service levels, according to Brightwave research, reports HR Magazine.

Two-thirds of UK public sector learning, development and training professionals expect to improve the level of service they can deliver to their organisations thanks to an increase in e-learning and collaborative working.

The report found 88% plan to increase their use of e-learning in order to meet new government cost-reduction targets. A further 58% predict more collaborative working and 49% will reduce classroom-based training to help cut costs.

The chairperson of World Federation of Engineering Organisation (WFEO) and Women Engineers, Engineer Joama Maduka, says about 90% of primary school teachers are not computer literate, according to AllAfrica.

She says WFEO, a few years ago, decided to improve the participation of women in economic activities through engineering as well as IT applications and carried out a Needs Assessment Survey on various women groups in Abuja before discovering that over 90% of primary school teachers are not computer literate, hence the need to begin the training with them.

Engineer Maduka, says WFEO proposed to carry out a four-year pilot programme aimed at introducing women to information technology and basic engineering practices, application of information technology as well as social cooperative networks to increase the knowledge and skills of women and promotion of the intelligent use by women (from ages 20 to 50 years) of engineering services and infrastructures to meet their various needs.

California-based Meyer Sound has unveiled a series of online professional audio training tutorials as an extension of the company's worldwide education programme, says Digital Production.

These one-hour Webinars are offered free of charge and give sound professionals an alternative resource for audio education, regardless of where they are located, according to the firm.

The first series of Webinars focus on establishing a solid foundation in the use of the Meyer Sound MAPP Online Proacoustical prediction programme, covering topics that include 'Using Visual Aids,' 'Inputting a CAD drawing,' and 'Flown, Ground-Stacked, and Horizontal Arrays.'