“However, this ‘traditional’ approach to positioning e-learning isn’t working,” he added. “E-learning completion rates are low and even the starting rates for such things as e-learning delivered compliance training are much lower than they should be.

“In addition, organisations have used facilities within e-learning, such as online assessment and testing, because they exist rather than because they are helpful. It’s time to use e-learning to give the end users what they need at the moment they need it – which is what we’ve done in the case of CSL™,” Lasher added.

“In order to find out the information they need to do their job, many people have to log on to e-learning courses,” he said. “They find what they are looking for and then leave the course – without doing a prescribed assessment and so, according to the organisation’s learning management system, they have not ‘completed’ the course, although they have learnt what they needed to learn.”

In CSL™, Trainer 1 is using the latest version of software it developed first in 1998 that can give users access to a ‘mini-course’ on a particular topic – known as a ‘2 minute module’ ™. These 2 minute modules™ are context sensitive because users are automatically provided with a module that relates directly to the screens that are open on the user’s desktop at the time they ask for this learning.

“This is very different from the context sensitive help already found in many programs,” Lasher explained.

“CSL™ provides training materials rather than the pure information given through context sensitive help. It can be applied to any program running on the client machine including web based applications and bespoke created software.

“CSL™ provides the information people need without them needing to ask their neighbour or calling the helpdesk, thus reducing time wastage and reducing cost,” said Lasher.

The learning materials that comprise these 2 minute modules™ are written by the user’s organisation, following a five screen template developed by Trainer1. This ensures that the information they contain are exactly and entirely applicable to those who will be using them as job aids.

“If an organisation wishes, it can link these 2 minute modules™ to its learning management or knowledge management system so that it can track users’ access to these short, snappy job aids,” added Lasher.

“An organisation that combines CSL™ with Trainer1’s recently released knowledge management tool, Argonaut, along with an authoring tool, such as Lectora, to create the templates and content of the learning modules and a learning management system, such as Coursemill, to track usage, has – for the first time - a complete e-learning and e-information system,” he said.

CSL™ is a program that needs to be installed on each client’s desktop. It constantly monitors which screen(s) the user has open on that desktop and, when prompted by the user, it will search and retrieve the relevant learning module that applies to the particular open screen.

Lasher added: “A great deal of technical know-how has gone into making CSL™ work. Provided that they have been written, CSL™ can even provide relevant learning materials relating to taskbars!”

CSL™ is priced from £10 per client machine, while Argonaut costs £8,250, with an annual support contract available for £800.

About Trainer1

Trainer1 is an independent e-learning specialist and creator of sophisticated courseware for learning, with a long experience in computer delivered learning. In particular, Trainer1 supplies and supports:

Authoring tools - for the creation of content, meeting SCORM, AICC, LRN, XML, and QTI standards.
Learning Management tools - for the management and distribution of content, including accreditation and reporting of data within existing databases.
Tools and libraries to create multimedia content, including image editors, easy to use Flash production tools, libraries of sound, graphics and animation.
Specialist training events to assist trainers become self sufficient in e-learning design and production.
Development services in the creation and maintenance of learning content.
The full range of Peter Honey Online Publications including the world famous and industry recognised Honey and Mumford Learning Styles Questionnaire.

Trainer1 is privately owned and remains a small, friendly company providing high quality product combined with personal service to Blue Chip Companies, as well as small and medium sized enterprises. Trainer1 is a member of many e-learning organisations and works with standards bodies to ensure technology is meeting the needs of users worldwide, as well as the guidelines determined by the governing groups in the e-learning industry.

www.trainer1.com