Online learning, which has been around for over 20 years, offers employers a cost and time efficient way of delivering learning and development as well as enriching staff career opportunities. But proving its true impact has always been tricky because of the remoteness.
Employers tell us regularly about online training which is oversold, does not deliver what it promised and that subsequent complaints are not being dealt with effectively.
Following repeated demands from the sector, Skills for Care’s Endorsement Framework has expanded and now endorses online learning. We collaborated with My Learning Cloud to consider the practicalities of how to facilitate and support e-learning providers when gathering evidence to demonstrate the training has had impact.
The quality checks, processes and documentation can now accommodate the type of evidence that e-learning providers are able to produce, while carefully upholding the robustness of the framework, our quality mark and reputation.
How do you measure e-learning?
There are three ways to measure training effectiveness.
- Has the employer visibly seen an improvement? (through testimonials)
- Putting relevant and specific competency and knowledge assessments in place with robust systems of sign off, prior to certification
- Snapshot of the person before the training takes place and then a snapshot after, comparing the two through case studies
In developing the extension to the framework, we’ve developed key questions to guide the gathering of evidence.
- How do you know that what you provide is what the sector wants?
- Does what you deliver really make a difference and how do you know?
- How do you demonstrate that learning has taken place effectively?
- How will you be confident and know that this person is competent in their role?
These questions have enabled good e-learning providers to review what processes they have in place, and with support from employers, they use them to gather evidence on how well the provision is managed and who’s involved.
My Learning Cloud not only supported Skills for Care with the process but also achieved Recognised Provider status in July. Steven Embleton, chief executive and chief cloud tells us: “Every learning journey is personal and unique and any learning platform needs to reflect this. The sector deserves e-learning that is relevant and fit for purpose, which is why we believe that all our e-learning should be developed by subject matter experts who have real life experience and understanding of the sector.”
Evidence of good administration, data collection, logging of tutor and learner submissions, completed learner applications and effective systems to monitor own standards and allow for continuous improvement are just some of the things they’ll be looking for.
For more information about applying for Endorsement please visit www.skillsforcare.org.uk/elearning.
Content on this page is produced and controlled by Skills for Care, sponsor of the Guardian Social Care Network leadership, learning and development hub
