Tuesday, 07-02-2012
Posted on 2009-04-06 in Training
Online Training: An Irish Success Story
Online Training: An Irish Success Story
Áine Ni Fhloinn explains how an Irish training company was awarded the contract for using e-learning to educate staff at the International Civil Aviation Organisation on the use of ePassports;In April 2005, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) met with representatives from Irish training company, In House Training, to discuss the options available for on-line training and examination tools that could be used to assist countries and authorities with their implementation needs for ePassport technology. ICAO is tasked by the United Nations with developing and implementing standards for world travel documents.
The Challenge
There were several key factors that made an online approach especially suited to training needs associated with the use and management of identification documents and (some very sensitive) data:
1. A shared training experience provides for enhanced communication, essential for cross border communication, helping to both resolve interoperability challenges and increase the amount of feedback reverting to Government organisations.
2. e-Learning can allow for co-ordinated training programs across diverse geographical areas, while lowering costs and ensuring minimum quality levels. e-Learning is perfect for training in a standardised item such as an ePassport. Online testing capabilities offer further assurances relating to skill levels.
3. Vendors and implementers benefit from a common platform of understanding leading to more effective and innovative products/services.
4. As e-learning only requires web facilities such as browsers and network access, individual users are free from diary and travel management.
It became clear from our early discussions between ICAO and In House Training that large national and transnational organisations needed exceptionally affordable standardised training that would also support their inclusive (global) cultures. Literally from the west coast of the USA to the borders of Tanzania, training had to be available, affordable and standardised.
The Solution
In an ideal world, learning would never be blocked by lack of funding. Though we may not live in an ideal world, online approaches often allow us to rethink traditional training and business models. Our approach was to de-couple certification (the result of a successful exam) and the quality, standardised, learning experience that these organisations required. When training is free of charge, all countries, regardless of budget pressures, can participate equally. Countries, vendors and individuals with more accommodating training budgets can still enjoy the benefits of a measurable certification process (including enhanced planning choices).
The courses themselves were developed using 3D animation software and Adobe Flash technology. In effect, every animation sequence (each step in a unit) is a miniature movie.
The exams are open book and self-managed. The State University of New York (SUNY) administers QA and provides requested certifications. The objective of the certification process is not to pass or fail individuals; it is to provide concrete, measurable results. A free quick quiz replicates the format a formal exam and is available for all the online training courses.
As we became better acquainted with the unusual exam conditions that would be faced by ICAO (literally ‘in the field’ scenarios), we also decided to re-examine the traditional role of supervision during examination. What is the solution when reliable supervision is not possible?
In house Training, through the free ‘quick quiz’ service, provides proof of learning. Organisations have the opportunity to supervise on their premises a ‘quick quiz’ facility that lasts 5 minutes. Results are instantly available and will provide confidence in a certificate and learning experience. As the questions for the ‘Quick Quiz’ are kept current with developing technology, employers can feel some assurance that the individual’s knowledge is also current without undue pressure on the interviewer or the interviewing process. ‘Quick Quiz’ facilities combined with open book exams for course participants support a positive long term learning habit. For technology training in particular, a learning habit is as important as course content.
Earning a buck
With so much available for free, including authentication of learning achievement, where is the room for profit? Certification is the only source of revenue for In House Training, other than specialised consultancy projects, so we had to consider very carefully what certification meant to our potential markets. Authentication of the learning experience is not a substitute for certification. A five-minute test offers confidence, but not definitive trust. Certification is valuable for human resource planning, measurement and recruitment criteria. Another dimension to the value of certification is the reputation of those supporting the certificate and their relationship with In House Training. In the identification environment, ICAO is the leading organisation in a global development. Individuals, who have successfully passed exams, are recognised by these organisations that stamp the certificates.
The Future
The Irish market for training in identification documentation is best represented by growing interest in eSecurity course and Information Privacy courses. Both these areas are concerned with protecting information from inappropriate access. Their popularity has been slowly increasing via participants’ ‘word of mouth’, rather than formal contact with training decision makers. Continued growth in Information Privacy and eSecurity training can be expected, through the number of large companies using Ireland as a hub for information movement.
Inhousetraining.ie supplies free, animated online courses, in the area of identification technologies (such as Biometrics, ePassports, Smartcards, eSecurity, Privacy and eGovernment Identifcation).
