Q. We have offices and plants throughout the country, and it’s becoming increasingly costly to bring employees in for skills training. We want everyone to get the same message. Video conferencing is expensive, and people have to be at specific places and times. We send out training manuals, but they’re not read thoroughly. Is there another way to train people in several locations? —Frank M.

A. Actually, there are several, and they’re all part of what’s called distance learning. Distance learning can reach those hampered with limited time, distance or physical disability; it can train employees conveniently at their workstations; it can even give adults a second chance at a college education. It uses technology such as voice, video, computer, and print, to bridge the distance. Check out the University of Idaho’s solid web site (www.uidaho.edu/eo/distglan.html), which thoroughly explains distance learning. Some highlights:

Distance learning has several key elements that make it successful:

• A strong print component…

can provide much of the basic instruction

through a course text, readings, syllabus, and a daily learning schedule.

• Interactive audio conferencing…

offers real-time, voice-to-voice

interaction at the convenience of several or all trainees.

• Electronic mail…

is great for sending messages, assignment feedback, and

other messages to one or more class members. It can also increase interaction among students because, with a single e-message sent to the entire group, any participant can share ideas or questions with the rest of the class and the instructor, at the same time. The instructor can focus his or her response only on the person sending the message, or the entire class—something not easily done in a traditional classroom.

• Pre-recorded audio tapes…

can present specific points of instruction or extra

coaching on key points—as well as messages from client experts.

• Computers …

--Function as self-contained teaching machines to present individual lessons or the

entire course.

--Provide fast, efficient ways to organize instruction and track student

records and progress.

--Make it easy to deliver or support any instruction with electronic mail,

fax, real-time computer conferencing, and World-Wide Web applications.

--Allow for on-line learning, in which the entire course is programmed on a

data base for interactive instruction. (This is expensive, and economical only

if several hundred people take the same course.)

Improving Interaction and Feedback

Distance learning can even improve the instructor’s contact with students:

• Pre-class study questions…and pre-lesson briefings can encourage critical thinking

and informed participation. This gives students more time to consider the best answers.

• Students contact the instructor and interact among themselves through electronic mail,

so they become comfortable with the process. Discussing goals and common issues

helps before the actual training begins helps this happen.

• Telephone consultation with a toll-free number makes it easy to stay in personal

contact with each student. You can even set up specific hours for phoning.

• E-mail contact with each student each week. A student who isn’t participating can get

a personal e-mail message or phone call from the instructor.

• Weekly e-mail assures feedback on course content, relevancy, pace, delivery problems,

and instructional concerns.

• The instructor can e-mail individual students as often as necessary to express ideas or

techniques to ensure that all participants have ample opportunity to interact and

determine if there are any problems or concerns. Frequent, personal e-mail stimulates

student attention, too.

• The instructor can make detailed comments on written assignments, and they often

reach the students faster, because there’s no waiting for the next class.

How Good Are Your Trainers?

The success of any distance education effort rests squarely on the shoulders of the instructors. In most classrooms, the instructor assembles course content based on student needs, and delivers the material. There’s time between classes —and individual courses— to fine-tune the material and adjust for special needs. This isn’t always easy in distance learning, because most of the kinks have to be eliminated before the program is launched. (Errors seem bigger at longer distances.)

Special challenges confront teaching at a distance, and only seasoned, successful instructors can succeed in this role. The instructor must:

• Understand the characteristics and needs of distant students, often with little first-hand

experience and limited, if any, face-to-face contact.

• Use a variety of teaching styles that consider the needs and expectations of multiple,

often diverse, audiences.

• Thoroughly understand the technology for delivering the course, while still staying

focused on their teaching role.

• Function effectively both as a skilled instructor, facilitator and content provider.

Distance learning doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Studies show that, in the hands of an experienced instructor, it’s just as effective as on-site classroom instruction.

And, in some cases, maybe even moreso.