Chapter 8 Multimedia Multimedia has been around too long to be termed a fad within the training industry, so it is worth

considering quite closely, but what is it and how do I decide whether to go down that route? One major factor in answering this question is ultimately down to the budget that you have for your centre. If you only have a few thousand pounds allocated to resources then CD-ROM is not going to be the best route for you. There are (and I am sure there will continue to be) arguments for and against the use of multimedia the traditionalist's view claims that people can only learn from text-based resources, and the modernist who will throw all sorts of technical jargon at you, professing that Internet is outdated. I believe that the best learning centres contain a mix of media. Even if you feel that there really is no place for books you cannot ignore the fact that some people are still very PC shy and prefer a more traditional method.There are all sorts of other

Learning Centres Multimedia

factors to consider before you make an investment into multimedia. First, can you afford it? CD-ROM is still not that cheap, the software alone will set you back around 1000 per course, and on top of that you have the cost of the hardware and maintenance. And this is just the initial outlay as with all media of this nature upgrades will occur and your technology may quickly become outdated, so you have to make sure that you will have

the budget to prepare for these changes. If you do have the resources then you have passed the first obstacle.The second is to think about the needs of the customer. Are you confident that they will use these packages? If, for example, you are in an organization where the technology age is far from prevalent then perhaps you should reconsider and take a more gradual approach. Self-development is one culture change, having a technology change may be more than most can cope with.You also need to identify the leaning styles of the individuals who will be using the centre. If you have a large proportion ofTheorists and Reflectors then CD-ROM may not be the ideal solution. Whatever you decide, do not follow this path simply because you feel that everyone else is.Your objective should be to get the centre used not to be a corporate showroom, and this has been the downfall of far too many learning centres. As you will see from the case studies in Chapter 13 some of the most successful learning centres have been set up with a small budget and limited resources. The important factor was the enthusiasm and drive behind making it work, not the fancy machinery inside. I may have put technology-based training in a negative light this is not my intention as I am a strong believer in its value, but you do need to ensure that it is right for your organization first. Multimedia has many advantages, particularly in the selling stage of the centre. It can act as a great incentive to get people in. P' Key point Many people are worried that their children know more about technology than they do and are desperate to catch up. The learning centre can provide them with this opportunity. You can also take advantage of the change in the culture over the last few years where many managers are now expected to use and understand technology. The demise of the personal secretary has left many managers feeling uncertain and almost embarrassed about their lack of knowledge in this field - and with the information age really taking off, most senior managers are expected to have an awareness of multimedia and its uses. These are the issues that you need to attack and having multimedia can provide you with a great weapon to be used to your advantage. Another great advantage of multimedia is without a doubt the interaction and support that it provides for the learner. Training has moved away from the chalk and talk classroom days; we know that people learn best through experiencing situations and enjoying them, so why should open learning be any different? Going through a CD-ROM package enables people to learn at their own pace, and, if they don't understand first time around they can go back and there is no one else around to belittle them. It can be a personal experience in a very non-threatening environment. Of course there will always be those who prefer to read or to attend a course, but multimedia can provide great support. There are other things that you need to consider before taking the plunge, such as the software. Many producers have been quick to identify the market, particularly within open learning centres, and packages are being produced daily, many of which are unfortunately overpriced and of a very poor standard.You need 52 53 Learning Centres Multimedia to shop around, or go to an independent adviser who will guide you towards the best and most cost-effective packages on the market. Do not cut costs if there is a free hardware

offer do not buy ten packages simply because you may get a thousand pounds worth of equipment free. It will not be a wise investment in the long run, particularly if the majority of packages are not being used. There are some excellent packages available that have been produced by small organizations, so do not just opt for the higher profile organizations. There is some excellent material available at a lower cost which is just as effective. ! Tip Seek independent advice - it does not cost you anything and it could save you a small fortune in the long run. CD-I versus CD-ROM The question 'which is better, CD-ROM or CD-I?' is one which people have been posing for a long time; unfortunately it is not an easy question to answer. Many people want to make a choice between the two media as they see them as similar. This is not the case they are both very different and so are the individual merits of both. Compact Disk Interactive (CD-I) has been around for several years now with products first being developed by Phillips. CD-I, unlike CD-ROM, runs through a television screen, and is connected to a player which resembles a video recorder. The packages are on disk exactly like ROM and are controlled by the user through the use of a joystick or mouse attachment. CD-I was initially designed not purely for open learning and self-study, but to provide an interactive mechanism within a more traditional training environment, and this dual function is really what separates it from CD-ROM.The initial packages produced by Phillips took the format of graphics rather than the full motion video which appears in the new products available from video producers. Some people feel that CD-I was simply an experimental product paving the way for more advanced technology, acting purely as a transitional media which primed people for the use of other interactive systems.The same view was also held with regard to laser disk; however, this does not explain why many learning centres have achieved great success with both media running side by side. The benefits of CD-I The Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust, which has recently opened two learning centres, has invested in both media and quickly seen the benefits of CD-I, believing that it is 'a valuable mechanism for self-paced learning because it engages and involves the user'. It has also taken advantage of its dual function, with the packages being used by managers on the wards and in departments to conduct small group training sessions. The advantages of CD-I are quite distinct: they provide full motion media on the whole screen as opposed to a small element, they are extremely user friendly and are welcomed by those who suffer from technophobia. They can also be utilized within a group situation which is very difficult to do with a CD-ROM. The hardware itself is also less expensive than a multimedia station, and much easier to maintain.

54 55 Learning Centres Multimedia The future of CD-I

CD-I may not be a media that you want to invest in heavily, but it is certainly worth considering as an additional mechanism. It is extremely portable, which means that it can be loaned out to an individual if requested, and team leaders can use it to facilitate sessions with relative ease. It is difficult to say, as with any technology, whether this is the one that will soon be antiquated, but then if we keep thinking of the dinosaur issue, we could foresee that the Internet will be superseded within the next three years. This is why it is important to ensure that not only do you have adequate funds to set up the centre, but that you will have continuing funds to support it. Think of the needs of the users as they are now but just as importantly look a year ahead, beyond that you cannot predict what will and what will not be outdated. ! Tip The key to your choice cf media is to make sure that you understand it. If this means attending a training course then so be it; if you expect your customers to be able to use it then you must be in a position to show them how. Revolving libraries Once you have decided on the path that you wish to take as far as media is concerned then you need to think about the packages to invest in. As these will probably take up the majority of your resources budget it is worth investing time in the evaluation process. As learning centres become more prevalent and the use of multimedia increases so too does the availability of resources producers have found a new market and a big market, and they want you to buy their products. So, which ones are the best, and how do you evaluate them? There are currently three major players in the CD-ROM production field: 1. Training Direct (Longman as was) 2. Xebec 3. Tarragon. However it is worth repeating that there are many other smaller organizations who have developed excellent packages and this is again where an independent resource centre can prove invaluable. As these products are expensive to purchase you may want to consider a library option.This means that for a upfront payment you can have access to a number of packages throughout the year that you can then return and swap for new ones.This system has great advantages: it allows you to have access to new resources, which you can market to your customers; it also means that when you have a new initiative in place you can keep the product until the demand dies down, which in turn means that you are not left with dusty product lying on the shelf. It has been suggested that introverts are more likely to make use of the learning centre than extroverts, which may be down to the fact that learning centres are places in which individuals work on their own with little need to interact with anyone other than a PC. If this is true then you need to ensure that the materials you have are good enough to encourage the loudest of extroverts try to make them aware that the learning centre is not a traditional library, they are allowed to talk and drink coffee etc. (although it would appear from recent reports that traditional public libraries are also suffering a major culture change and are trying desperately to shed the dusty image that they have created over the years).

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Learning Centres Computer-based training (CBT) CBT packages have been around for years and you may think that it would be a step backwards to invest in them; but it would be a great shame if you did not evaluate some of the packages that are currently around. CBT has distinct advantages in the role of open learning; apart from being much cheaper, it is user friendly, portable and therefore easy to loan out. If you have invested in the hardware for multimedia then the investment is relatively minimal as far as CBT is concerned.The graphics may not be as glossy as those on CD-ROM, but the benefits to the user are the same. Research recently carried out by CBT systems showed that computer-based training now accounts for between 20 per cent and 100 per cent of companies' overall training programmes and it is estimated that it will continue to grow at an annual rate of 35 per cent. The use of CBT in these statistics largely represents the field of computer software training, which is good news for open learning centres. If people are getting into the habit of self- development, in whatever area, it means that they will already be used to the process and learning from their desk or from a learning centre is becoming part of their culture.As the development of technology increases and more organizations change to software packages, the need to train people in its use increases. CBT provides a costeffective mechanism in which people can learn at their own pace in their own time. It also takes the pressure away from the IT department, with individuals gaining access to selfdevelopment resources that will help them solve their problems. Multimedia 40 Key point Having IT resources available within your centre will you give a distinct advantage over those that do not. Many of the organizations that have these resources within their centre have clearly stated that they have been a large contributory factor to its success. So if your organization is installing new software make sure that you have the resources in your centre for people to access it. Include basic PC skills training too, as well as touch-typing

courses and' multimedia awareness programmes. These materials need not be expensive CBT courses can start from as little as 50 and there are also some excellent text-based resources around. Self-diagnostics Another point worth mentioning with regard to CBT materials are the packages that allow an individual to assess their own areas of need. Some organizations have made such packages available on a stand-alone PC within a staff restaurant, as it is much easier for someone to identify their own need than it is for someone else to point out an area of development for them. There are some excellent packages around that provide the user with an opportunity to test all sorts of skills, from time management to grammar and delegation skills. If you can provide individuals with a relatively quick and easy way of identifying development needs then they may be more likely to attend to those and will use the centre as a mechanism through which to do so. These packages would by no means replicate any other form of needs analysis but will allow users to identify their own skill gaps that had not already been identified through any other medium. 58 59