High-Tech Training

Thoughts on High Tech Training 

 

Regarding research on High-Tech Training, I chose the following from the Noe text:  CD-Rom, Intelligent Tutoring, Simulation and Virtual Reality, Intelligent Tutoring (Noe, R. A, 2010, Employee Training and Development, pages 294-344)  I chose to offer websites for within the precis.

I feel that CD-Roms will be a part of our future, within the realm of Computer-Based Training.  One of the features of CD-Rom training is that it presents the material to the student, it analyzes what the student’s responses are, in the training module and it gives both the training department and the trainee feedback.  The modules are easily updated.  It is relatively inexpensive, too. (Noe, R. A., 2010, page 303)

www.computerhope.com/help/cdrom.htm  

www.cdrom-guide.com/  

www.taxresourcegroup.com/news/magic-cd.shtml

Intelligent Tutoring was something that I was unfamiliar with.  “Intelligent tutoring is a structured attempt to increase trainee understanding…” by letting the student, train in artificial environments through the medium of artificial intelligence:  it can differentiate for the learner’s needs; interact with the learner; evaluate how the learner learns; make decisions about the learner’s progress and future needs, to name some things.  I think that this would be perfect in any environment where different levels of learning are necessary… progressing from one skill to the next.  Multiple trainers are unnecessary.  It can be changed as information changes.  (Noe, R. A., 2010, page 324 and 325)

www.astd.org › Learning Circuits › 2000 www.educause.edu › ... › Volume 33, Number 1, 2010

http://scholar.google.com/scholar_url?hl=en&q=http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~plb/ITS96.html&sa=X&scisig=AAGBfm1SjbkBdeB9immWqcRiD6p--ygOzQ&oi=scholarr

( Published as: Brusilovsky, P., Schwarz, E., & Weber, G. (1996). ELM-ART: An intelligent tutoring system on World Wide Web. In Frasson, C., Gauthier, G., & Lesgold, A. (Ed.), Intelligent Tutoring Systems (Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 1086). Berlin: Springer Verlag. 261-269)

I found a few different articles about Simulation and Virtual Reality and medicine.  Just from what I’ve read I would say the difference between Simulations and Intelligent Tutoring is the fact that sequential learning takes place and the learner’s needs are specifically targeted on a long-term, varied array of educational material.  With Simulations and Virtual Reality it is more targeted for practicing behaviors/reactions to specific situations, be they, as the book says, “trainees… progress through the simulation based on their choices. It’s a “set piece,” not a case of artificial intelligence.  Simulations and one of their venues, Virtual Reality “Using specialized equipment or viewing the virtual model on the computer screen (3d), trainees move  through the simulated environment and interact with its components.”  Of course the military and aeronautics use simulators to provide practice in certain situations… I noticed that medical procedures are practiced this way, too.  There is a tremendous future in Simulation and Virtual Reality.  (Noe, R. A., 2010, pages 318-320)

www.bilawchuk.com/mark/      

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CFMQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonlinelibrary.wiley.com%2Fdoi%2F10.1197%2Faemj.9.1.78%2Fpdf&ei=GoLhTsPcKsm0iQLSx_DzDg&usg=AFQjCNHeE-IfWgNyWnjT5NsKDvV_pf_Xiw

http://scholar.google.com/scholar_url?hl=en&q=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1191568/pdf/annsurg00009-0021.pdf&sa=X&scisig=AAGBfm1LmJ0aMlty5xg478UlDfH3X6v5Pg&oi=scholarr (Published by Thomas M. Krummel, MD John A. and Marian T. Waldhausen Professor of Surgery Chair, Department of Surgery Penn State University College of Medicine As quoted in the State College, Pennsylvania ANNALS OF SURGERY Vol. 228, No. 5, 635-637© 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkens)

The Intra-Net is a specific company-based web-based training.  This reminded me of the article by which introduces the fly-in-the-ointment to all training, the human factor.  Apparently something like this occurred at IBM.  The company has developed the Smart Phone mobile device as a vehicle for employees to receive training “Presently, of IBM’s 400,000 employees, only 25,000 have Smart Phones that can access internal IBM services. The users include all current IBM executives, and the number of registered IBM Smart Phone users is increasing by nearly 1,000 each month. Each user’s department pays a nominal fee for the service, and thereafter, employees can access their work email and calendar, as well as the company intranet.   They can also use their mobile devices to take online mini-courses and more extensive virtual learning programs as part of their professional development plan.”  However, IBM and Columbia University did a study which determined that employees used the Smart Phone not for “ online courses. Instead, they were using mobile phones almost exclusively for two main purposes: in-field performance support from colleagues and access to late-breaking information.”  This translates to networking and keeping current with important information regarding clients, products, etc.  Few employees access Smart Phone for on-line courses.  Additionally, the study found that many employees preferred fewer applications on their phone, or “simplicity.” 

The article stated that the future of mobile devices will be less “learning” and more… “just-in-time performance support systems. IBM is now building a new system for executive sellers that provides, via mobile phones, reference checklists of critical information that is useful when preparing or client meetings.”  (Noe, R. A., 2010, page 305)

www.useit.com/alertbox/intranet_design.html

www.intranetjournal.com/

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.palgrave-journals.com%2Fjit%2Fjournal%2Fv18%2Fn2%2Fabs%2F1990186a.html&ei=6ZjhTuf-OojkiAK3pIiODw&usg=AFQjCNEKSVrFuVBptGDwoEY8E6rci8SuXg found in the Journal of Information Technology (2003) 18, 103–119; doi:10.1080/0268396032000101162)

I chose to investigate a little about “SmartBoards.”  These are devices used, in our district, as state- of the art technology for learning.  (I discovered there are quite a few different models from which to choose with varying capabilities.)  It combines properties of the whiteboard, you can write on it, with a computer display.  You can record things that have been written on it.  It can be used as a document camera.  Even “canned” lesson plans are prepared for teachers to down-load on many different topics.  I can see that this technology, or something similar, will be available in both education and in the business-place for many years to come.  Just the feature that what is written can be saved (this would be a good application for engineers and mathematicians, too, I think) makes this device worthwhile. (Ahmad, N., & Orton, P., 2010, Smartphones make IBM smarter, but not as expected. Training and Development, 64(1), 46–50.)  

smarttech.com/SmartBoard http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.edweek.org%2Few%2Farticles%2F2011%2F03%2F17%2F25ileap.h30.html&ei=UX7hTuXXIOXJiQKw7pGGDw&usg=AFQjCNFsUdZ6M6220WdAUn9jwxqzpRpE-A

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CHEQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnyteachers.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F05%2Ftechnology-in-the-classroom-too-much-of-a-good-thing-by-bonnie-thone-boylan%2F&ei=5oPhTsb1KKeNigK75OXtDg&usg=AFQjCNHDrThB_nVthq279aKD_FzBa9ECvg

https://www.google.com/url?url=http://www.internet4classrooms.com/k12links.htm&rct=j&sa=X&ei=K4ThTt3pNKqmiQKY07GkDw&ved=0CLoBEOkFKAAwDA&q=smart+boards&usg=AFQjCNEeiIH3epzCUj_HosICQdK1IKmk8g&cad=rja

References:

Ahmad, N., & Orton, P. (2010). Smartphones make IBM smarter, but not as expected. Training and Development, 64(1), 46–50. Retrieved from the Academic Search Complete database

Noe, R. A. (2010). Employee training and development (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.