For the first time in 35 years, I’m seeing an absolute “stampede” to a learning technology. Not learning, mind you, but . . .the learning technology. Not only that, I’m seeing a push from the top down. That just has never happened before.

Usually training is under management radar. It’s always been the Training Director who fights hard to acquire courses, facilitators, and equipment for classes; not the other way around. Why the change? Has there been a training epiphany across the financial management world? Nope. It’s actually pretty simple.

To answer this question, I recently had a group of Trainers give me all the advantages of eLearning. As any good Trainer would, I recorded them on a flipchart:

• Reusable content
• Reduced travel
• Faster and less expensive development
• Centralized record keeping
• JIT
• Easily updated
• Simple management

They could have added more, but I turned to the group and asked, “Which one of these is to the advantage of the learner?”

Hmmm! So that’s why management is so enthused about eLearning. It’s not about eLearning at all. It’s about eSaving money, eSaving time, eBeing more efficient, and eCollecting data. Is that a bad thing? Absolutely not! It’s their job.

However, here is where you come in. Now that you have interest and momentum, you become the ombudsman for the LEARNING part of eLearning. Don’t convert material into electronic pamphlets, or bore your participants with long pages of dry text. Provide dynamic and relevant content. Make sure it’s graphically pleasing, experiential, and meets objectives with appropriate and trackable measurement. Be excited that management supports learning, and do your part to make sure the “rush” makes a real performance impact on your financial institution.

Jay Bowden
CEO
TRC Interactive, Inc.