Tata Interactive Systems chalks up its fifth major award of 2006
Global e-learning producer Tata Interactive Systems (TIS) won its fifth major award of 2006 when its Story-based Learning Objects (StoBLs TM) information security programme - 'BA Confidential' - won the APEX 2006 Award of Excellence.
Global e-learning producer Tata Interactive Systems (TIS) won its fifth major award of 2006 when its Story-based Learning Objects (StoBLs™) information security programme - 'BA Confidential' - won the APEX 2006 Award of Excellence.
BA Confidential was selected in the 'Campaigns & Programs - Employee, Benefit & Membership Communications' category at the 18th Annual APEX awards.
There were 4,942 entrants in 11 categories, with 281 in the Campaigns & Programs category. Other winners in the same category included Aon Consulting, Mercer and Watson Wyatt.
Information security is critical to the smooth functioning of British Airways (BA)'s business, and creating employee awareness about information security is a vital organisational requirement. Earlier attempts at training in this domain had not produced the desired results.
BA wanted to create a course that would have enough engagement value to offset the avowedly 'dull' content. TIS used its proprietary StoBLs™ approach to create a product that set the learning in the context of a realistic and pertinent narrative.
The primary objective of the TIS-developed programme was to sensitise employees to the importance of information security and the implications of not following good practices. The secondary objective was to familiarise learners with good practices and policies regarding information security in BA.
The story running through the programme, structured as an investigation into an embarrassing security leak, provided the necessary immersion to keep employees engaged in the learning. The StoBLs™ structure also allowed BA to shorten the seat time of the course - from 90 to 40 minutes - and the positive completion rates have been matched by positive employee feedback about the course.
"TIS's analysis of the previous course and the learning goals of the new course suggested that, although the content was factual and conceptual, it was important to address the affective aspects of information security as well," explained Alan Samuel, head of UK operations for TIS.
TIS's use of StoBLs™ methodology for this course made effective use of a time-tested medium - stories - to deliver not just cognitive content (facts) but also engage with trainees' beliefs and subsequent behaviour (the affective domain).
"The key affective message of the course was that information security began and ended with the individual and was for his/her own benefit," said Samuel.
"The affective content demanded treatment that was immersive and not just interactive in the conventional sense. Interactivity was primarily employed to encourage the learner to draw out the learning from the story, creating greater 'learner engagement'."
The course is mandatory for all BA management staff, and is also made available for all BA employees. So far, user feedback on the course has been highly positive.
End