Implementing elearning: Cascading support from managers to learners

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Implementing e-learningCascading support from
managers to learners

• Dr Genny Dixon
• e-skills UK
• Project team Laura Overton
• Howard Hills, Roy Baldwin

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Frontline background

• Developed and piloted from 2003
• Launched March 2005
• Funded to 2006
• 135 authorities active
• 7 module programme
• Completely targeted at reader development
• Independent case study research

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A Line Manager commented
It has been a real treat to get back to basics
our core service BOOKS! There has been such an
emphasis on IT skills, customer care, etc that
books have been pushed into the background and
this course puts them right back in the centre of
library life.
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Innovative delivery
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Innovative support
Opening the Book
LA Co-ordinator
Supervisor
Supervisor
Supervisor
Trainee 3 becomes Supervisor
Trainee 2
Trainee 1
Trainee 4
Trainee 5
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A good coordinator

• Can manage the quality of learning effectively
• Has job flexibility or can be given the time to
  take the role on
• Has an interest or responsibility for Reader
  Development
• Is in a position to negotiate with library
  managers and have access to a wide range of staff
  meetings
• Can ensure the initial network of trainees and
  Supervisors is sufficiently paced to get up and
  running
• Is interested in a mentoring and assessing role
  as a Supervisor

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• It was vital to have the backing of the Head
  of Service from the beginning for me as a
  Coordinator so I could then feel free to pursue
  the policy of being able to choose and manage who
  is going to do the course and when

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• As Coordinator it was necessary to ensure that
  I backed up the Supervisors until they got their
  rollouts really working
• My role is to step in immediately and help a
  Supervisor who has trouble with a trainee not
  finishing or doing it right.
• I make it clear with my Supervisors from the
  start that I will just be there to help where
  they lack some confidence with a situation or
  cant get around an obstructive line manager

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17 supervisors completed the survey and managed
117 trainees between them
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Features valued by supervisors
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• A good Supervisor needs three skills
  communication, mentoring and stretching the
  trainee!

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Course activities
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Implementation Cascade model
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Benefits
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Communication with Line Manager
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Cascade model works well if

• Heads of Service have a clear vision
• Non-hierarchical approach
• Line managers are well briefed
• What does it mean for me?
• What can I do to improve success?
• Trainees have line manager buy-in

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and has its limitations

• The national rollout of the programme takes time
  to get going
• Limits of ratio of supervisor to trainee
• 4 seems the optimal number for a supervisor to
  whom this is an add-on responsibility
• Built-in procedures for signing off modules

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Can libraries teach us anything?

• Success factors for the course
• Flexibility of e-learning
• ICT knowledge and experience of learners
• Work relevance close match with job role
• Varied learning tasks lead trainees through
  change
• Learning Logs to record activities
• Success factors for the cascade implementation
• Buy-in at all levels
• Supervisors are all course completers
• Time and resources allocated to process

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Frontline Case Study can be downloaded from
www.e-skills.com/elearning

• genny.dixon_at_e-skills.com