Technology Application

Question 1

4 things TD professionals should focus on when selecting and implementing learning technology

Answer 1

1. What the organization needs
2. The user experience they wish to create
3. The mix of modalities that will be the greatest value to the intended audience; they’re all part of the ecosystem and must complement one another
4. how technology relates to the learning and support needs of their user audience

Establish assessment criteria based on the proven needs of the organization.

Question 2

Learning Technology Requirements (6)

Answer 2

• User technology experience: how existing tools may be used (legacy tools and content modalities); identified gaps in the experience; the larger tech ecosystem; tech capabilities of org as a whole
• Workplace context: the day-to-day context of the end user;
• Stakeholder management: Include detailed interviews with them to understand the goals of the organization, beyond the basics of learning and development
• Accessibility requirements
• Reporting: Validate compliance and whether a potential development tool can capture and export the required data before implementation
• IT regulations: Align with established IT regulations and processes; partner with IT to develop an understanding of how they operate before requesting project support

Question 3

What is the decision that TD professional must make about legacy tools?

Answer 3

Whether to retire them or ensure the new technology is compatible

Question 4

Reporting considerations when choosing learning technology (4)

Answer 4

• tools must be able to capture and export information required to meet data strategy and record-keeping requirements (e.g., training record retention)
• Consider technology reporting capabilities, such as data visualization, dashboards, and exports
• Reporting must meet internal and external regulatory requirements
• Ease of use to stakeholders

Question 5

What is the first step to selecting the right learning technology?

Answer 5

The enabling objective: determine if the objective is to gain knowledge, acquire a skill, or influence an attitude

This ensures that the technology is selected and implemented with a clear purpose.

Question 6

What are other important considerations when selecting the right learning technology? (2)

Answer 6

• how the tool helps assess if the objective has been achieved
• constraints that dictate what can and cannot be done

Question 7

5 constraints when selecting learning technology

Answer 7

• organizational: employees are on different shifts or heavy travel schedules
• individual: variation in technology skills or language variations
• managerial: lack of support or limited communication channels
• technological: limited equipment or home office employees using personal computers
• resource-specific: limited budget for technology or understaffed workforce

Question 8

When should a TD professional determine how the technology will be administered and maintained over the life of the platform?

Answer 8

After it’s acquired but before it’s fully implemented

Question 9

How should a TD professional determine the necessary functionality for learning tech?

Answer 9

Through an in-depth organizational needs assessment

Question 10

What does an in-depth organizational needs assessment include?

Answer 10

• the intended user audience’s working experience
• other existing components of the organization’s technology ecosystem

Question 11

What should technology requirement documentation include? (5)

Answer 11

• the problem they are trying to solve with technology
• the desired end user experience
• features and capabilities that will be required to execute the desired end user experience
• stakeholders and partners who will play a role in the selection process
• the full process and timeline for technology identification, selection and implementation

Question 12

What does documenting technology requirements enable TD professional to do?

Answer 12

• Evaluate existing learning technology
• Supplier selection

Question 13

What are some best practices in supplier relationship management?

Answer 13

• regular touchpoints between vendor contact and TD POC managing the relationship or platform
• clear guidelines should also be established for technology training, troubleshooting, downtime administration, and disaster recovery

Maintaining regular contact with a supplier may also help acquire preferential terms for future contracts and participation in planning/roadmaps.

Question 14

Many ecosystems are composed of tools that are a blend of ________

Answer 14

internal development and external acquisition

Question 15

TD professionals can leverage IT expertise to make sure technology is secure and functional, but what should they not do?

Answer 15

defer responsibility or decision making

TD professionals are responsible for delivering a right-fit learning and support experience to end users.

Question 16

Dynamics of IT/TD partnership

Answer 16

• be knowledgeable of and align with established IT regulations and processes
• forge a partnership with IT
• understand how they operate
• clarify which functions should own the tasks associated with the learning platforms BEFORE requesting support

Question 17

What parts of implementing learning technology should be aligned with and take advantage of IT guidelines?

Answer 17

the tech review, acquisition, implementation, and support processes

Question 18

What is the gold standard for how users should be able to report tech challenges?

Answer 18

Technology users should have a simple way to report technology challenges, such as a contact email, phone number, or online submission form

Question 19

What is the value of an SLA with a technology vendor?

Answer 19

Service level agreements (SLAs) should be established for each platform based on how critical the technology is to the working experience so users understand how quickly specific problems will be resolved.

Question 20

What is the value of an escalation process with a technology vendor?

Answer 20

They determine when different internal and external partners should be involved in troubleshooting to avoid unnecessary expense, effort, or duplication of work

Question 21

What is included with technology supplier contracts that ensures consistency and platform reliability?

Answer 21

SLAs that establish how critical the tech is to the working experience of users so users understand how quickly problems will be resolved

Escalation process when diff internal and external partners should be involved in troubleshooting

Question 22

How do TD professionals develop their understanding of the technology they are applying?

Answer 22

• learned within the context of the intended audience, org, and how tool will be used
• supplemented by technical documentation, provided by the supplier
• formal training during the implementation process

Question 23

What are the regular maintenance and upgrade processes for hardware, software, and cloud?

Answer 23

For hardware, this would include the expected device life cycle and replacement plans

For software, they need to consider the supplier’s regular update schedule

With cloud, upgrades tend to take place more frequently and require less effort from administrators

Question 24

What to consider during a major platform change?

Answer 24

• Prepare for testing
• change management plan (e.g., communication, training, risk mitigation) to ensure seamless transition

Question 25

Guidelines for content testing and uploading

Answer 25

• content testing and revision processes should fit the needs of the organization
• involve a variety of participants, such as TD professionals, subject matter experts, stakeholders, and end users
• processes should not be overly administrative or burdensome
• content life cycle will vary based on topic and use, but make sure to consider org changes, regulatory requirements, and technology updates

Question 26

What are 2 initial integration opportunities for learning technology, such as LMS or LXP, to support simple user and admin experience?

Answer 26

• single sign-on
• user provisioning

Question 27

What are LATER integration opportunities for learning technology, such as LMS or LXP, to support simple user and admin experience?

Answer 27

• content delivery and aggregation
• data record keeping
• user interface and experience elements

Question 28

Important factor to consider for all integration opportunities

Answer 28

required long-term technical support to maintain the integration

Question 29

What are 4 examples of content and data standards?

Answer 29

• SCORM (shareable content object reference model) 1.2 or 2004
• AICC (aviation industry computer-based training committee)
• xAPI (experience application programming interface)
• cmi5 (computer managed instruction, fifth attempt)

Question 30

Learning tech selection and content and data standards (3)

Answer 30

• apply only the formats that provide the desired user experience and avoid unnecessary technical complexities and conflicts
• make sure all implemented technology supports the necessary content and data formats
• maintain awareness of technical developments within the industry that may lead to the wide-scale adoption or decommissioning of a particular standard, such as Adobe Flash

Question 31

Coding formats for video-based content

Answer 31

MP4, AVI, and MOV

Question 32

What should you do before selecting a reporting tool?

Answer 32

• Develop a reporting strategy based on the needs of the org and their overall learning and support approach
• partner with internal experts to understand how the organization uses data
• look for opportunities to integrate people analytics (e.g., training completion, compliance, behavior change metrics) with existing org KPIs

Question 33

3 examples of TD reporting strategy outcomes

Answer 33

1) demonstrate the impact of TD programs on org results
2) mitigate risk through compliance requirements
3) measure user engagement and feedback after learning activities

Question 34

A reporting strategy should provide ______ data and _____________ to the __________ stakeholders at ____________________________

Answer 34

a reporting strategy that provides actionable data and recommendations to the right stakeholders at the right time

Question 35

Report consumption

Answer 35

• can be integrated with existing dashboards or
• presented as stand-alone tools
• showcase data visualization through spreadsheets, presentations, or documents

Question 36

Section 508

Answer 36

Part of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which guarantees employees “comparable access to and use of information and data as (do these groups) without disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency”

Question 37

How to apply technology in a way that is accessible?

Answer 37

• partner with accessibility expert
• develop guidelines for identifying, developing, applying, and maintaining high-quality technology experiences

Question 38

Considerations for the content life cycle

Answer 38

content life cycle will vary based on topic and use, but make sure to consider organizational changes, regulatory requirements, and technology updates

Question 39

4 components of technology troubleshooting and downtime administration

Answer 39

1. User reporting technical issues
2. Service-level agreements (SLAs)
3. Escalation processes
4. Reporting to stakeholders - regularly report to stakeholders and vendor partners any downtime or functionality issues negatively affecting end user experience

Question 40

General process steps for technology selection and implementation, in order (9)

Answer 40

Process steps:
- Needs analysis
- Document technology requirements
- Determine data reporting strategy
- Determine enabling objective
- Select tool based on needs of org
- Determine how it will be administered and maintained
- Determine with supplier what troubleshooting, downtime, and support will look like
- Content testing and uploading
- Implementation
- Content and system maintenance