Collaborative Training Environment Solution

  

Scenario:

A new automated staff information system was recently purchased by a major corporation and needs to be implemented in six regional offices. Unfortunately, the staff is located throughout all the different offices and cannot meet at the same time or in the same location. As an instructional designer for the corporation, you have been charged with implementing a training workshop for these offices. As part of the training, you were advised how imperative it is that the staff members share information, in the form of screen captures and documents, and participate in ongoing collaboration.

As an instructional designer I would use CISCO WebEX Meetings in order to host the training workshop for the new automated staff information system.  WebEX is a web conferencing tool which combines file and presentation sharing with voice, HD video and Meeting Spaces. Initially I would send an email with a range of dates to attend the WebEX meeting.  I can either schedule several meetings based on the response of the staff and send out invites to each meeting or I can schedule one meeting and record the session for future viewing.  WebEX gives me the option to record the training session and provide a link on my Meeting Space or on my WebEX site.  As the host, WebEX allows me to share my desktop with the participants at the meeting and conduct the training with the staff at each of the six regional offices.  Documents and other files can be shared by the staff members as well.  Collaboration can be implemented using the chat feature to ensure ongoing collaboration.  Collaboration can take place before, during, and after the WebEX training.  "Although many distance students are cited as being independent learners, they derive value from collaborative experiences... working together creates a richer learning experience for the individual participant" (Simonson, Smaldino, Albright, & Zvacek, p. 165)

Reference:

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.