Tata Interactive Learning Forum highlights key learning themes for the early 21st century
Games and simulations; performance support; measuring e-learning effectively, and implementing e-learning throughout large organisations were the key themes of this year's Tata Interactive Learning Forum (TLF), held in London, on 6th April.
Games and simulations; performance support; measuring e-learning effectively, and implementing e-learning throughout large organisations were the key themes of this year's Tata Interactive Learning Forum (TLF), held in London, on 6th April.
"Learning is not a 'soft issue'. It's a priority at every point in the business cycle in order to create and sustain competitive advantage," stated Terry Lehmann, director of training and development at the Houston, Texas-based oil products giant Baker Hughes, who outlined how to prevent 'random acts of training' of varying quality within a large organisation.
His fellow American, Gary Dickelman, of EPSS Central, based in Annandale, Virginia, examined ways to improve business performance through human performance - notably through the adoption of performance support systems. He commented that these systems have not only enabled people to become competent in their jobs in 'minimal time' but also eliminated the need for up to 80 per cent of formal training activities - including e-learning programmes.
Keynote speakers, drawn from across the world, included Terry Lehmann and Gary Dickelman, as well as Christiane Zimmer, Germany's leading business simulations specialist and Charles Jennings, head of global learning for Reuters. They were supported by a panel of e-learning experts comprising:
• Toby Thompson, of the Centre for Executive Development at the Cranfield School of Management, part of Cranfield University
• Andy Tucker, of Standard Life
• Jane Knight, head of research, organisational learning technologies at Learning Light, a non-profit organisation that helps to build relationships between learning technology researchers, suppliers, buyers and learners
• Alison Walker, an e-learning consultant, formerly of British Airways
• Christina Humphrey-Evans, an e-learning consultant, formerly of BT
• Paul Landers, training programs product manager at Ericsson
• Tony Weatherhead, of NFU Mutual
• Laura Overton, of e-Skills UK and the UK's official 'e-learning champion'
• David Wilson, of corporate learning analysts, Elearnity
• Sean Ramgoolam, divisional training manager with Vodafone
• Judith Christian-Carter, a director of both Effective Learning Solutions and the British Learning Association
• Steve Rayson, of research specialists and market analysts, Kineo
"Each of the conference's four main topics challenge corporate assumptions on how learning and e-learning will be delivered in the future," commented David Wilson of Elearnity. "I feel that the event was both challenging and stimulating."
Jane Knight, of Learning Light, said: "This was an excellent opportunity both for networking and to hear of new developments in the e-learning world. The issues discussed are all key issues - especially performance support and measuring the value of e-learning - and the TLF provided new and valuable insights into all of them."
Other speakers included Sanjaya Sharma, Tata Interactive Systems (TIS)'s chief executive officer, and Manoj Kutty, TIS's worldwide president of sales and marketing.
Later that evening, the 100 or so delegates to the TLF - drawn from the leading users of e-learning in the UK and Europe - had time for reflection on what they had learnt, as well as relaxation, at a dinner held at the Bombay Brasserie, one of London's top restaurants.
London's TLF is one of a series of similar conferences being held regularly around the world - in the USA, UK and Australia - to bring together thought leaders in the fields of training and online learning. These events are organised by TIS, the global e-learning producer, and attendance is by invitation only.
Delegates to these events around the world have access to a TLF website, which helps to build an online community of best practice through enabling members to network, sharing their knowledge and discussing key learning issues. The online community is an extension of the 'on-ground' event and enables the members to interact with each other through the year.
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