SkillSoft

ECS offers organizations the ability to respond flexibly and specifically to the development needs of employees. SkillSoft technology-based courseware offers easy access to more than 4,000 courses that are based on user-friendly, sound learning design. The content is accurate and accessible on-line 24/7, which allows for unrestricted availability no matter the employee's point of access. Help Desk support is also available 24/7 and participants have access a registered course for up to one year which greatly enhances course completion.

With today's work demands and the increased capacity offered by technology, it can be easier to meet the individual learning needs of employees by making development opportunities available to them on-line - compared to the alternative of traditional classroom participation. This technology increases individual control over learning pace and entry point for study. It is recognized that technology-based learning is not for everyone and cannot replace the classroom for some development initiatives. However, it is the preferred strategy for an increasing number of people and organizations. SkillSoft can also be used for (often neglected) follow-up or enhancement of learning after classroom participation.

Online learning offered by ECS through SkillSoft addresses the following issues related to training and development:

• Employees are often prohibited from participating in development that would benefit them in their current responsibilities or prepare them for future work. Some are not able to be out of the office for training and development sessions. There are times that employees enroll in a course and have to cancel due to re-prioritization of work.
• Some employees prefer the use of technology as a learning methodology as opposed to a classroom setting while others like to use both technology and classroom methodologies.
• Lack of control over learning pace, entry point, timing and methodology interferes with adult learning. People learn at different rates. In a classroom setting, it is difficult to address the varying learning needs of the adult learner because of their previous learning experiences as well as their current needs. Some people prefer learning based not only be technology but in a situation in which they have time to do more individual processing rather than in a group situation. Some prefer using time away from work responsibilities to really engage in learning opportunities. As well, individuals differ in the times of day that they learn best.
• When employees do participate in development opportunities, often there is limited follow-up or easily accessible resource materials to encourage retention and mastery of the of learning.
• Quality control or consistency in development systems and methodologies, often when employees participate in the same course offered at different times with different facilitators.
• Employees who are new to the organization or new to a software application need just-in-time, easily accessible learning opportunities.
• Employees increasingly request shorter periods of training time.
• Many training sessions or seminars incur costs to individuals from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.
• There is currently no means of tracking quality or consistency of content and delivery. There is little, if any, follow-up to any of this development. (A web-based product can give such monitoring capabilities.)