Founded in June 1999, Bridge People and Technology is a specialist e-learning organisation. We have a solid reputation built on our successes with our extensive global and local client base.
We blend excellent software with a distinct implementation methodology to ensure that users enjoy, and derive measurable benefits from, using our e-learning content.
Our solution comprises three key offerings, namely:
- KnowHow - a web-based, learning management and evaluation system
- CourseWare - a suite of software tools that allows developers to create web-based tutorials and streamed simulation lessons.
- The E1 Methodology - a proven, pedagogically-sound implementation methodology that ensures that e-learning is successfully implemented, with measurable benefits to your organisation.
KnowHow - Learning Management & Evaluation System
Bridge's e-learning solution centres on KnowHow, a web-based, database-driven software solution. KnowHow delivers, tracks, reports on and manages learning content, learner progress and learner interaction. It is also an extensive evaluation tool. KnowHow allows us to evaluate learners' knowledge and competencies, and ultimately allows us to evaluate electronically whether the e-learning implementation has worked, and what difference it has made to the business.
KnowHow improves the efficiency with which learners acquire new skills and knowledge. With KnowHow, learners determine the pace at which they learn, choosing which material to access, and at what level of difficulty. Comparative studies of classroom learning and e-learning have shown that e-learners achieve the same learning objectives 30% faster than learners who only have access to classroom instruction.
This flexibility, and faster acquisition of new skills, is critical in today's business environment, where processes and responsibilities change frequently. Employees are required to learn faster, acquire a broader range of skills and knowledge and use complex technology with confidence. Classroom training on its own tends not to be flexible enough to meet these challenges - but with KnowHow, learners can access learning anytime, anyplace.
CourseWare - Content Development Tools.
KnowHow is SCORM compatible, allowing users to launch and record any SCORM 1.2 content from KnowHow. While this is useful for generic content, which can be bought off the shelf, core business learning always needs to be customized to your own business. Just as companies with large business systems such as SAP, PeopleSoft, Siebel, etc., always customize these systems for their own requirements, so the learning content needs to be customized too. Similarly e-learning materials developed for more practical application - such as health and safety training, or training on how to operate machinery in a chemical plant - also need to be customized to the specific processes and standard operating procedures that apply in a particular organisation.
It is for these customized learning needs that Bridge developed the CourseWare suite. CourseWare comprises:
- FlowHow - a java-based software tool that allows users to create flexible html tutorial sets. These can be linear, for example teaching learners how a particular business process works, or non-linear, teaching around a particular topic. FlowHow comes with a built-in flowcharting tool that allows for the easy mapping of graphical business processes - we have found this particularly useful for SAP implementations, where we use FlowHow to ensure that users can easily understand the whole business process (e.g. the purchasing cycle), and, more importantly, understand when and how to perform the tasks required to ensure that the cycle runs smoothly. FlowHow can also be used to build tutorials with embedded Macromedia Flash, Authorware and other objects, to create an interactive, multi-media learning experience. Process Flows can be imported from and exported to Microsoft Visio 2000.
- ShowHow - an xml-based software tool that allows users to build simulation lessons from a series of screen captures. These screens can be transactional screens captured from a system like SAP; or can be screens captured from a video or series of photographs. Users move through the screens and follow specific instructions for successful completion of each screen. ShowHow uses the widely used Macromedia Authorware player to distribute the lessons over the web.
E1 Methodology - Implementation Strategy
The five processes that make up the E1 cycle are:
- Business process documentation - this process in the cycle focuses on careful definition and documentation of business processes relevant to the learning intervention . Part of this process is the definition of business goals. Once goals are defined, the success of the learning intervention can be measured against whether those goals have been achieved or not. Business processes are documented using the FlowHow tool.
- Training materials development - once the learning goals are defined, the web-based training materials are developed using the CourseWare (ie. FlowHow and ShowHow tools). In this process we focus on creating content that is carefully targeted at achieving the learning objectives, as well as being easy to use and engaging. When users are exposed to thought-provoking learning material, they retain far more and remember what they have learned.
- Training - in the early stages of the change to an e-learning culture, e-learning material is presented as part of a carefully planned classroom training program. This means users are not intimidated by the new learning medium, and have the support of experienced trainers who can help them with the transition. Later, as e-learning becomes more widespread, getting together in the classroom is still important for networking and relationship building - but now, classroom time is more valuably spent on targeted workshops and feedback sessions.
- Evaluation - There are several levels of evaluation in the E1 methodology: we evaluate what users thought of the e-learning intervention; we also evaluate how well they learnt the materials through online quizzes and the progress-tracking functionality built in to the simulation lessons. On-the-job competencies can also be tested - our Manager Evaluation Tool allows managers to complete online assessments of staff competencies to round off the process.
- Impact - Finally, and most importantly, we evaluate whether the e-learning implementation has had a measurable impact on your organisation. Here we focus on measurables such as how much business processes have improved in terms of quality, efficiency and productivity.