Joe's Jottings
Jottings Number 50, Reply B, by Joe Podolsky:
From: uunet!HP-PaloAlto-om4.om.hp.com!JOE_PODOLSKY
Date: Wed, 28 Feb 96 18:01:02 -0800
>> Davenport predicts, however, that the rate of
>disintermediation > is about to skyrocket thanks to the killer
>app of the '90s, the > Worldwide Web. The Web is the closest
>thing we have now to a
>> completely open system.
>Indeed. I'm happy to see you write this; from our
>conversations, I'd had the impression you considered
>the Web a passing fad. Good to see this disabused.
I still think that the Web, in it's current form, is
on a slippery slope; so far, I still see only
consultants and technology providers making money
from this version of the Web. Other business people
so far are in investment mode, and that can last only
so long.
Actually, I think that the Intranet has more chance
for long term success.
But, in any case, open systems will succeed in some
form, and, as I said, the Web is, for now at least
the best game in town.
And besides, my predictions are pretty lousy anyway.
======================================================
>> ... Experienced classroom
>> trainers, however, are not likely to have the software
>skills > needed to write computer-based-training packages.
>Even the
>> best coders may not be good at cobbling together business
>> solutions from purchased applications. To survive these kinds
>> of shifts requires a whole new set of aptitudes. Some
>trainers > will evolve to course planners, some programmers to
>systems
>> designers, but, even then, to drive down costs, fewer of
>these > jobs will be needed for a given business set.
>Perhaps, but this implies that the new technology is capable
>of replacing the traditional vectors for delivery of
>technical skills and knowledge. I doubt that you've
>investigated this assumption, though. I have. I believed
>it, too, at first.
>I have made a substantial investment in both my technical
>skills and in the direction of my business (Web-related
>development and services now comprise a substantial portion
>of my activity) and have learned -- from experience -- that
>one of the things the Web is, surprisingly, *not* good at
>is training. I have built on-line tutorials (including a
>high- profile package for HP) and can say that there is
>value
>but nowhere near the baud rate nor the cost-effectiveness
>(yes!) of the classroom.
I'd love to discuss this with you in more detail. You'll notice I talked about
CBT, in general, not about the Web in particular. I'm not at all sure that the
Web is the best way of delivering CBT.
And, I strongly believe that CBT of any kind is good for delivering only
skill-based training or for learning facts. Anything that smacks of "education"
is always better offered with a live guide (sometimes erroneously called a
teacher).