SPARE US THE DO-IT-YOURSELFers

October 20, 2014

The evolution of new learning technology adaptation has —- too-many-times —- been delayed by the do-it-yourselfers.

I first saw it with the introduction of videotape training in the 1970s.

“Just give any employee a camera and he, too, can create a meaningful learning experience,” was the mantra then.

In the 1980s, the same misguided conclusions were reached when the CBT and CD-ROM learning technologies first appeared.

Only Interactive Laser Videodisc (IVD) training skipped the intrusion of that well-intentioned crowd of do-it-yourselfers —- probably because too much hardware was required. (Is it just coincidence that the best technology-based training programs ever created came during that short history of IVD???)

Today, with the advent of e-Learning, there is too much fascination with authoring software technology.

“Do it yourself, and while you’re doing it, do it our way using our latest and greatest PowerPoint conversion tool,” is shouted out loudly by almost every authoring software vendor.

Those authoring software providers would like us to believe that their do-it-yourself authoring systems are the magic wands necessary to improved information flow, training, and education.

They may be right about better information flow. The newer digital technologies are certainly a boon to information storage and retrieval.

But they could not be more mistaken when it comes to making an immediate impact on education and training.

Take your choice. Teaching is either an art or a highly developed skill. Few people can teach well. And, since it follows that few people can create meaningful instruction, few multi-sensory media programs will ever teach well.

The presumption that just anyone can design an effective training or education program is not only flawed — it is dangerous.

And, particularly so when the many useless PowerPoint or written procedure
conversions become the end product. E-Learning they are not — and, will never be.

Few of us are professionally successful inventors, mathematicians, chefs, athletes, writers, etc.

Does it not stand to reason that few can be creators of sound technology-based instruction — creators of programs that can actually teach in order that the users can actually learn?

And that written-in-stone conclusion is why the “do-it-yourself” purveyors will fail. They always do!

More on Wednesday – – – – –

— Bill Walton, c0-Founder, ITC Learning
www.itclearning.com/blog/ (Mondays & Wednesdays)

“THE WORLD RELIES ON THE HANDS OF ITS MEN AND WOMEN”