Comments on: Formal Learning is (or should be) Expensive! https://blog.learnlets.com/2013/07/formal-learning-is-or-should-be-expensive/ Clark Quinn's learnings about learning Sat, 01 Mar 2014 21:46:20 +0000 hourly 1 By: Clark https://blog.learnlets.com/2013/07/formal-learning-is-or-should-be-expensive/#comment-543025 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 21:46:20 +0000 http://blog.learnlets.com/?p=3378#comment-543025 Actually, Rapid eLearning works well for the practitioner, but then it’s more of performance support than formal learning. And you’re right, Ryan, you can use the tools to create good elearning if you try, but most don’t, and then it’s not really learning, is it?

Bill, I think there is a dichotomy between formal and informal: formal’s what ‘we’ design, and informal is what learners do on their own. And content delivery isn’t the answer to formal learning.

]]> By: Ryan Tracey https://blog.learnlets.com/2013/07/formal-learning-is-or-should-be-expensive/#comment-542557 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 03:33:20 +0000 http://blog.learnlets.com/?p=3378#comment-542557 This makes perfect sense, Clark. We are habituated into thinking formal first, when we should be thinking informal first, and considering formal only in those situations in which it adds value.

I don’t necessarily agree with your statement “Rapid elearning is cheap and fast, but it’s not going to have any impact.” It may be cheap (well, cheaper than commissioning a development studio to produce it), but I would challenge the notion that it is fast (a common misconception, when done right it takes quite a long time!). Also, I think – again, when done right – it *can* have an impact, just as f2f formal learning can.

However I suspect I’m unfairly picking on what was obviously an instance of poetic licence to make a point: That formal learning (whether f2f or online) may be the right answer, sometimes. But usually not.

]]> By: Bill Brantley https://blog.learnlets.com/2013/07/formal-learning-is-or-should-be-expensive/#comment-378198 Wed, 31 Jul 2013 16:24:09 +0000 http://blog.learnlets.com/?p=3378#comment-378198 Excellent points even though the formal/informal learning is a false dichotomy because the real focus should be on the learning objectives, needs/capabilities of the learners, and evaluating the impact of the learning. There has been too much focus on content delivery in training (especially the fascination with the latest bright-and-shiny tech toy) than utilizing current research on how people learn and designing to that.

]]> By: What's formal learning ever given us? https://blog.learnlets.com/2013/07/formal-learning-is-or-should-be-expensive/#comment-373569 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 23:54:31 +0000 http://blog.learnlets.com/?p=3378#comment-373569 […] apace but a recent exchange via Twitter rather got my dander up!  In response to an excellent blog by Clark Quinn, Jane Hart from the Centre for Performance Learning Technologies (@C4LPT) tweeted that “Formal […]

]]> By: Ara Ohanian https://blog.learnlets.com/2013/07/formal-learning-is-or-should-be-expensive/#comment-364837 Fri, 05 Jul 2013 09:20:43 +0000 http://blog.learnlets.com/?p=3378#comment-364837 re bang on the money when you say formal learning should be done right. And doing something right is often expensive. But it’s incumbent on us as L&D professionals to be clear about when formal interventions are the correct solution. Too often a poor course is the default position for a training or knowledge need when deploying a high quality course only 20% of the time and using informal/social/performance approaches for the other 80%. It’s easy to teach someone to write a good course. I’m not sure it’s true of deciding when to use it.]]> Clark, you’re bang on the money when you say formal learning should be done right. And doing something right is often expensive. But it’s incumbent on us as L&D professionals to be clear about when formal interventions are the correct solution. Too often a poor course is the default position for a training or knowledge need when deploying a high quality course only 20% of the time and using informal/social/performance approaches for the other 80%. It’s easy to teach someone to write a good course. I’m not sure it’s true of deciding when to use it.

]]> By: Jay Cross https://blog.learnlets.com/2013/07/formal-learning-is-or-should-be-expensive/#comment-364395 Thu, 04 Jul 2013 05:56:29 +0000 http://blog.learnlets.com/?p=3378#comment-364395 Right on, Clark!

Formal learning is the default for minds that were brainwashed with two decades of schooling.

]]> By: Nathan B https://blog.learnlets.com/2013/07/formal-learning-is-or-should-be-expensive/#comment-364233 Wed, 03 Jul 2013 17:40:11 +0000 http://blog.learnlets.com/?p=3378#comment-364233 So true! I think the last point you touch on is crucial with regards to rapid elearning. It seems one of the unintended side effects of all the great things happening with rapid elearning (Micheal Allen/ZebraZapps, Tom Khulman/Articulate, etc.) is that elearning now appears to be fast and cheap. But, is anything cheap that takes company time and doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do?

The one proposition I might make is that rapid elearning might be used to demonstrate why formal learning is not the solution. Perhaps rapid development to a prototype stage can be enough to show the customer/partner why another solution will be more effective.

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