Getting better results from off-the-shelf content - using a 70:20:10 model

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I’ve always had a love hate relationship with off-the-shelf the content from course libraries. Often off-the-shelf content is a great way to get started in elearning. However clients have found off-the-shelf content can be expensive and are unable to load it into their LMS. The biggest problem I see with off-the-shelf course content is that it’s not linked to the organisation’s business outcomes or context. Off-the-shelf content often also has low quality instructional design and becomes an information dump. This can be a problem with a generic face to face courses as well.

Sprout Labs has just become a partner for Totara and Totara subscribers have access to OpenSesame course library. This has got me thinking about how organisations could get better business results from a generic course library.

Imagine for a moment an organisation is conducting time management training and wants to see better results from the program.

If they applied the 70:20:10 model:

Preparation

1. Assemble a group of learners into a program. This allows for peer to peer learning in the later stages.
2. Organise someone to be a champion for the program. This could be someone from your L&D team or could be a development opportunity for someone in the organisation. The role shouldn’t take a lot of time.

Running the program

3. Using a survey in your LMS get the learners to reflect on what is wrong with their current time management approach. (supporting the 70)
4. Have the champion contact all the participant’s managers and so they are aware of what they are doing in the program and that it would be a good idea to talk the participants about what they hope to get out the program. This could be as simple as an email message. (supporting the 70)
5. Participants to participate in the online course. (10)
6. Have them do a post course survey that outlines their actions (supporting the 70)
7. Then once a month the champion runs a short teleconference or virtual classroom session to see how participants are going. (20)
8. You could organise the participants to act as mentors for each other. (20)
9. The manager also needs to check with the participant about what changes the wider team might need to make. (supporting the 70)
10. The champion might also send out some follow up material over a period of a couple of months. (10)
11. Then have the participants reflect on how their time management has changed. At this stage do the final course evaluation. (supporting the 70)

What this approach is doing

Extending the learning experiencing over a period of time, rather than a one off experience
It’s adding simple peer to peer learning and collaboration
The learner is having identify and articulate what they have learnt by reflection
The learner’s manager are part of the change. The learner can be then be coached and supported to make the changes.

This approach could work for most learning content and could be used to enhance the outcomes from face to face programs well.

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