e-learning

You can use e-learning and on-line WEPs as a cost-effective way to improve your employees' workplace basic skills inside or outside the workplace.

This publication presents information about technologies used for distance education and web-based training for practitioners in adult, career, and vocational education.
     URL: http://www.ericacve.org/majorpubs2.asp?ID=20

You can access a free Internet-based Classroom Assistant with conferencing, personal messaging, document sharing, scheduling and link/resource sharing. A fully dynamic site, the ICA is customized at two different levels: 1.) the user and 2.) the class.  You can set up a class in minutes and allow others from your workplace to join:
    URL: http://www.nicenet.org

eGroups is a free email group service that allows you to create and join email groups.  You can archive messages and schedule meetings or group chats that can help you and your employees share information, ideas and plans:
    URL: http://egroups.com

Download free adult basic education teaching materials for classroom activities that teachers  can carry out with adult students to build literacy skills and knowledge in a particular content area at the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL):
    URL: http://gseweb.harvard.edu/~ncsall/teach.html

Access a vast array of free training materials and activities in reading, writing, grammar, math, science, history, vocational education, and more through the Blue Web'n - a gateway to online training, lesson plans and Hot Links.
    URL: http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/bluewebn/

The Employee Training Institute has over five years experience in multimedia training development.  ETI has created Web-based Training and CD-ROMs for small and large companies, and for educational institutions.  Its expertise is in adapting instruction to low level literacy and basic skills.
    URL: http://www.workplace-eti.com/cbt/

Obtain a quick self-quiz to help your employees assess if distance learning is right for them.
   URL: http://www.pbs.org/als/college/index.html

Use the Small Business Classroom for Small Business Administration online training resources.
    URL: http://classroom.sba.gov/courses.html

Access information on Adult Transportation Education from the Life-Long Learning Center for the U.S. Department of Transportation.
    URL: http://www.dot.gov/edu/lifelong/index.html

Search the Workforce Development in New York State website for thousands of educational programs, classroom courses, distance learning opportunities, web-and computer-based training and apprenticeship programs to find training opportunities and providers that best suit your needs.
    URL: http://www.wdsny.org/provider/

Aztec CD-ROM "Action Learning" series uses graphics and sound to teach workforce and academic skills. Correlated to ACT'S Work Keys, the TABE, and the latest GED tests, this versatile multi-level web enabled product can be configured directly to the adult students' needs. You may review a free demo of this company's new CD-ROM internet-enabled multimedia "Aztec Learning System" by submitting a request on their website.
    URL: http://www.aztecsoftware.com/demo.htm

Blue L Media LLC - Virtual Electrician Series is an interactive computer-based training series covering power quality issues and investigative techniques for various components of the premises wiring system. Using up-to-date information and 3D graphics, it is designed to present wiring conditions and investigations similar to those encountered in the field.
    URL: http://www.bluelmedia.com/

DigitalThink is a provider of over 1500 hours of Web-based information technology training. The DigitalThinkSampler demo includes examples of lessons from the company's actual courses and a web-based training overview illustrating the company's instructional design methods.
    URL: http://www.digitalthink.com/catalog/free/

PLATO Learning provides foundation skills and life and job skills to increase employability skills for job placement and/or additional skills training. PLATO Learning's ABE programs (low level skills), GED Prep and ESL programs also provide instructional technologies for learners leading to further academic or vocational training, upgrading or job placement.
    URL: http://www.plato.com/

Computer Curriculum Corporation's Destinations Internet is a comprehensive, online learning program that addresses national, state and local standards in reading, writing, math and life/learning skills.  The online courses are designed to stimulate interest in literacy and learning among adult learners seeking to attain high school diplomas, pass GED exams, or prepare for the workforce.
    URL: http://www.investlearning.com

LiteracyLink is creating an integrated instructional system of video and online computer technology to help adult students advance their GED and workplace skills
    URL: http://litlink5.pbs.org/litteacher.html

LINCS is a gateway to national and international literacy resources, providing access to a broad scope of literacy-related information from state and national policies to innovative classroom practices.  All users can join electronic discussions on its 50 discussion lists.
   URL: http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/index.html

The Workforce Education LAB (Learning Activities Bank) is an free interactive resource of work-related basic skills lessons for use by instructors in the workplace or in traditional adult education programs and by adult learnings.  Instructors can use learning activities developed by others or submit their own to the LAB.
    URL: http://slincs.coe.utk.edu/gtelab/default.html

The Adult Literacy Media Alliance helps adults gain basic reading, writing, and math skills through entertaining television-based teaching materials that support learning at home, at work, in the community.
     URL: http://www.tv411.org/

The Community Technology Centers program assists with the creation or expansion of community technology centers that will provide disadvantaged residents of economically distressed urban and rural communities with access to information technology and related training.
     URL: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE/AdultEd/CTC/index.html

This article discusses why it is important to connect e-learning initiatives with defined business needs. E-learning can be a flexible and cost-effective alternative to classroom training, but it can also be a colossal waste of time and money if not implemented correctly.
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/section/11/feature/23/41/49/index.html

Here are some tips for increasing e-learning completion rates. Ideas for employers included developing a culture that respects online learning, role modeling, tracking performance and rewarding.
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/22/26/22/223517.php

This article presents ideas on how to evaluate basic computer skills. Effective computer-skills training provides employees with the tools needed to perform well in their jobs, which ultimately reduces turnover and saves the company money.
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/22/16/72/223876.php

One company shares its training success story using e-learning. In addition to saving $1 million on training during the first year e-learning was implemented, the company says that the real value came from improved customer service.
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/archive/feature/23/27/95/232798.php

In the past, companies often looked to e-learning as a cheap solution, without considering its effectiveness. This article discusses the pros and cons of e-learning as a training delivery method and how companies now turn to e-learning as a strategic solution to training.
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/section/11/feature/23/62/89/index.html

Brandon Hall provides information, trends, best practices, tools and vendors about using technology for learning to help employers make the right decisions for their organization.
     URL: http://www.brandon-hall.com/

This article identifies some of the most common and critical patterns to know prior to developing adult learning opportunities. Employers and adult educators can learn about what it takes to teach adults effectively, and the implications for traditional and online learning.
     URL: http://adulted.about.com/cs/learningtheory/a/lrng_patterns.htm

This article discusses how retailers, who are often faced with high employee turnover, rely on e-learning to deliver training. Shorter online courses are more convenient and cost effective than traditional classroom training for these employers.
     URL: http://www.workforce.com/section/11/feature/24/12/94/index.html

ALISON is a free resource of high-quality interactive certification-based learning. Courseware includes: ECDL/ICDL, e-Citizen, BCS Unit E, Psychometric Testing and Financial Literacy. ALISON's mission is to enable anyone, anywhere to educate themselves for free.
     URL: http://www.alison.com

A new report from the League for Innovation, "Basic Education Online: Providing High-Quality Courses as Open Educational Resources" shows ways in which the internet can be used to facilitate universal basic education through open-content courses. (abstract)
URL: http://www.league.org/publication/abstracts/learning/lelabs200510.html

The Small Business Training Network, sponsored by the Office of Entrepreneurial Development, is a virtual campus housing free training courses, workshops and knowledge resources designed to assist entrepreneurs.
     URL: http://www.sba.gov/training/

Basic Computer Skills Curriculum -  a downloadable, comprehensive curriculum with Word, Excel and PowerPoint activities for beginning, intermediate and advanced ESL learners. Activities start from very basic skills such as turning on the computer to higher level word processing activities. http://www.nzliteracyportal.org.nz/imsdirector.php?resid=2677&ruid=2182

The Sloan Center on Innovative Training and Workforce Development has developed a Training Manual: "Online Learning Programs for Low Wage Workers within the One-Stop Delivery System".
     URL: http://itwd.rutgers.edu/research/TrainingManual.pdf

GCFLearnFree.org, formerly GCF Global Learning, offers a variety of free online computer, technology, and life skills training programs with support from GCF Community Foundation.
     URL: http://www.GCFLearnFree.org

Communicating at Work is a free web resource for immigrant adults. Interactive features, dialogues, scenarios and quizzes are designed to help adult learners improve their communication skills with supervisors, co-workers and customers.
     URL: http://aaca-boston.org/caw/

For problems or questions regarding this web site contact campbell@conferenceboard.ca.
Last updated: November 28, 2008.