South African-based Internet learning technology provider SkillCentric has launched a new slant to using Web 2.0 which is set to revolutionise the effectiveness and efficiency of online corporate communications and training, and may well surpass offline studying.
SkillCentric's unique approach to Internet learning has always set the company apart from other e-learning programmes. SkillCentric's Shaun Lake says the e-learning industry has blundered by marketing itself as out of the ordinary, thereby giving the impression that existing structures will need to be redesigned and teaching methods changed in order to implement it.
This marketing method also makes learners fearful of failure, and many will pass on e-learning to stay with more conventional education systems. Lake says: “This is crazy. This is a turnoff for companies that have invested good money and hours into their current in-house offerings. Our ideas came about from investigating what the Internet does best and how companies can use this for the key areas of performance management, training administration, on and offline training delivery, corporate communication and scheduling.”
SkillCentric came to the realisation that the road to success lay in examining the many ways in which the Internet can support training programmes and choosing the most effective methods. Just some of the methodology that SkillCentric focused on included online conferences, scheduled workshops, and the online delivery of the learning material. Lake says: “You could even manage a project off the system.”
After much investigation and analysis, SkillCentric now offers its clients a package deal whereby companies can enter a contractual agreement that includes a fully-hosted and totally Web-based solution. This package provides clients with unlimited courses, 20 hours worth of online technical support per month and two setup workshops, one on implementation and the other on course development.
SkillCentric constantly updates the platform to guarantee its clients only the best. The versatile entry-level package is provided at a very affordable monthly fee and will accommodate up to 1 000 users with ease.
The support that comes with the package may be used for student support and course development assistance, or companies may choose to make use of added assistance in programme implementation, tutoring and mentoring, or training.
When questioned on the many complimentary options, Lake says: “Sure, you can download a number of free platforms, but many who have done this will concede that that is as far as they got, and these platforms are now gathering dust on company servers. The reason is that successful use of Web technology lies in the approach, support, and quality assistance in the initial stages. This is not easy, but we have what it takes to make it succeed.”
SkillCentric's vast knowledge and innovative methods are abundantly obvious on their http://www.skillcentric.com site, and their extensive local and international experience in developing online training programmes, including e-learnerships, is without peer. Lake says that most e-learning programmes' downfall is the lack of a human touch. He adds: “We need to guard against thinking that using new technologies can replace a teacher.”
When asked to describe some of the company's secret recipes, Lake hinted that many of the new ideas revolve around social networking, and a dynamic learning profile compels learners to achieve because they know all their friends can view their successes and failures. Peer pressure is a powerful motivator that has been proven to work excellently in this instance. “With our solution we can increase a company's learning effectiveness from an average of 30% up to 70% and beyond.”
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