Making Learning Rock: Four Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Distance Learning Experience
Imagine that you can see two colleagues walking side-by-side as they exit a doorway. One colleague, with a widening grin gestures a "high five" wave to the other. The second colleague puts up a hand in apparent agreement. Nodding their heads simultaneously they yelp, "that video conference ROCKED!"
Okay, so maybe you haven't experienced this. Let's be honest, participating in a distance learning program isn't like going to a concert. In fact, distance learning is usually quite the opposite. Upon completion of a distance learning course, you tend not to come out humming the "e-learning tune." And who's heard of anyone saving the ticket stub from their last virtual seminar? Nope, this just doesn't happen.
Instead we're more likely to feel isolated, often unable to directly interact with our facilitators and our learning colleagues. The result is a seemingly unsurmountable distance from the overall experience. But it doesn't have to be this way. You can unleash the power of distance learning!
The emergence of new technologies makes distance learning an effective way to pursue learning and development activities. The value of distance learning is quite clear to organizations seeking to promote learning while managing costs. SLA's Strategic Learning and Development Center (SLDC) is leading the way by presenting various types of distance learning opportunities. For years, SLA's informative video conference have been regular occurrences in the spring and fall. SLA's Self-Paced Online courses are available to information professionals anywhere and at anytime. More great distance learning opportunities are planned for later this year: a November video conference on e-commerce and two sessions of the 2000 Virtual Seminar Series on September 27 and December 6.
Whether you attend the occasional video conference, log onto our Self-Paced Online courses, or participate in our Virtual Seminars, you can have a distance learning experience that ROCKS! In this column, we will explore ways in which you can make the most of your next distance learning experience.
You're Learning, Not Playing Around!
Ruth had waited all week for her web-based seminar. It was absolutely perfect for her busy schedule, and it did not require any travel. She couldn't believe her luck! She was logged in and just becoming engaged, when the a co-worker from another department walked up. Eyeing the colorful graphics on the screen, he asked, "Are you playing around again? What a waste of time!" As the person walked by, guilt and frustration slowly settled around Ruth.
Participation in a distance learning program is not playing around. It is building your skill base and value through learning. Unfortunately, many distance learners grapple with others' perceptions that such learning activities are unrelated to work. Some learners believe that if they're learning at work, their co-workers will interpret their actions as "wasting time" or "avoiding work." These misconceptions can be overcome by employing a few simple strategies.
Before registering, jot down one or two reasons why you want to participate, focusing on what aspects of distance learning work best for you. This not only gives you a clear response for the "naysayers," but also validates your participation in the experience. In fact, this is the first step to understanding how this session will meet your specific learning needs.
Once you're registered, try to get the word out about your plans to participate in a distance learning experience. After discussing it your immediate supervisor, share your plans with colleagues. Tell them about the session, and let them know what they can learn if they choose to participate. With any luck, your enthusiasm will win them over. Even if they are unable to attend, they'll still appreciate your efforts and will see that you take learning seriously.
Finally, set the mood and tone. If your work space isn't conducive to learning, find a more appropriate setting. You don't want someone looking over your shoulder unless he or she is an active participant in the experience, so plan ahead and borrow an office or reserve the conference room. Any quiet, comfortable space with access to the appropriate technologies will do. Set up your surroundings and you'll set the right tone to learning.
Shut Out the Workplace, Open Up to Learning
The ability to "multi-task" is viewed as a critical attribute by most companies today. Professionals must be able to juggle various tasks and responsibilities effectively. I don't think any of us will argue that being able to multi-task is very important (I do it!), but it is equally important to ask yourself how your finely-tuned ability to do many things at once can get in the way of the learning process.
A vital part of learning is the experience. Many distance learners, however, deprive themselves of a truly meaningful experience by working right up to the start of or throughout a distance learning session. The flexibility offered by distance learning is a major attraction for many professionals. Unfortunately, this flexibility creates a real possibility for distraction. After all, the instructor can't see you, so who will know if you're working during the session? Well, you will, so don't cheat yourself out of the learning experience.
I suggest that you set the non-course related work aside at least fifteen minutes prior to the course. If your distance learning experience is off-site, avoid the impulse to take work with you. Replace your work-related activities with articles or books on the subject of the distance learning session. Instead of making those last minute calls, try to prepare yourself for the learning experience by asking yourself the following questions:
•What do I hope to learn from this learning experience?
•What do I hope to bring to this learning experience?
•How can I be the best learner and learning colleague that I can be?
Shift the focus away from daily demands and imagine the impact that this learning endeavor will have on you. You must make a personal commitment to creating the best possible learning experience for yourself. By taking the time to address your learning needs, you'll set your course towards a wonderful learning experience!
Don't Forget to Get Ready
So, the distance learning program you signed up for is just a day away. The packet you received said something about "advance preparation." But, why bother? You're got endless tasks to accomplish before and after the session. You just can't fit it into your schedule.
Whether you're learning how to balance a budget or to promote the value of your resource center, it's important to follow through. In most cases, the facilitator of your distance learning experience creates a bibliography or provides an article or two to review in advance. Other distance learning experiences incorporate networking and knowledge-sharing before the session and thus rely heavily on the active participation of each attendee. Entering late, departing early, failing to actively participate or neglecting advance preparation diminishes the impact of the learning experience for yourself and for other learners. If possible, make known to your facilitator and learning colleagues any scheduling difficulties and time limitations that may affect your ability to prepare or participate for the session. Your facilitator should be able to provide some suggestions on alternative forms of preparation. The key thing to remember is that advance preparation does matter and should be taken seriously.
Find Value in Looking Back
Even after the session is over, the learning experience can still continue to grow. It doesn't stop once you've submitted the evaluation form. While most of us tend to quickly jot down our thoughts based on our initial impressions, it is best to look deeper. So, before getting back to work, consider holding your own "after-action review." You may wish to reflect on the following questions:
•How can I apply what I've learned to my work?
•How will I share my new learning with my colleagues?
•Who is the one person in my organization (other than myself) who can benefit from this new learning?
After the distance learning experience, make plans to share what you have learned with others. Learning is best when it's applied. By applying new ideas and concepts to an old task, or sharing your learning with others, you are more likely to retain what you've learned. You might consider writing a learning synopsis or leading a small workshop for colleagues who were unable to join you. This kind of sharing is invaluable in today's fast-paced, knowledge-driven organizations.
Don't let yourself be "distanced" from the learning experience. Try these techniques and create a distance learning experience that truly rocks! And let us know how you make the most of distance learning experiences. What great strategies can you share with your information professional colleagues? E-mail us at } and we'll be sure to share the best responses in the near future.
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