How do you translate a thick reference book with work instructions, practical actions and onboarding information into an interactive learning experience? For a target group that is not necessarily a fan of online and may even have a slight aversion to learning? We speak with Marcel van den Oever, owner of Van den Oever Opleidingen since 2014 and specialist in training programs for personnel in the practical sector, think: transshipment, process technology and ship maintenance. How do you ensure the right translation from a thick reference book to an effective online learning experience?
Marcel van den Oever, a native Dutchman and with a background as an editor of (online) learning materials, made the switch to an educational consultancy about ten years ago. "The knowledge I gained about developing teaching materials for primary education, I started to convert to developing online onboarding teaching methods for practical educators." Marcel, smiling, "These are all doers, with a healthy aversion to learning, especially online. Often these people come in to a company and are given 100+ pages, to go learn on their own time. They are then given a few months, sometimes even a year for that. In practice, of course, this does not happen often enough, such a folder ends up somewhere in the corner of a room and then it quickly becomes apparent that the level of knowledge in an organization is not up to standard. If the information is read, it often turns out to be very outdated in parts.
With all the consequences this entails, if important information about machine processes, safety or one's own organization does not land properly on a new employee. Themes that are important to Marcel's customers. From dock workers to aircraft tankers, from process operators to mechanics, they all have to deal with a large amount of information to process at the start of an employment. "If you're going to bring that material to online, you have to prevent it from becoming just a book on your screen. A glorified handsome PDF. Then you translate the problems along to the computer. That PDF then also ends up in the corner, but off the screen." outlines Marcel.
That sounds logical, but what do you do? How do you ensure the right translation and increase the effect of such a learning trajectory? "It starts with speaking the right language. So we always accompany them for a few days, take pictures of everything and ask hundreds of questions. You have to learn the trade, as it were. You have to use the right jargon and connect to the communication of the trainee. In addition, we agree very clearly in advance what the goal is. What should the student be able to do after the e-learning? We prefer to cover fewer themes in detail, rather than many topics in a superficial way."
Using the existing material as a starting point, Marcel then starts the translation to online. "Updating the information is of course the first step that adds value. Furthermore, for each part of the material we look at what is the most appropriate way to offer it. We aim for as little text and as many images as possible. If the paper manual describes a movement, we film it or, in the case of more abstract processes, we animate it. Not a picture with a talk, but a carefully selected supporting image. We look at the process and keep to the timeline. So, for example, in our onboarding e-learning for aircraft tankers, the learning goes chronologically through being called to refuel, driving to the aircraft, getting there, the actual refueling, and so on. Only then do you ensure that the material sticks. Of course, the module is also determined by a tool such as Procademy itself: what options do I have for offering the material to a student? Fortunately, we do not experience any limitations in this respect."
An interactive e-learning, tailored to the learner and their daily practice. Available online, made in your own time. Does that make e-learning the total solution for every training issue for organizations with technical staff? "Absolutely not," says Marcel resolutely, "The power lies in a blended approach. My target group learns the profession in practice, by doing; the e-learning is supportive in that. You also need coaching on the job, or repeat some material in a classroom with each other. So that makes a training issue much broader than just using a tool. We sometimes come in to companies where, by purchasing a tool such as that from Procademy, they think they have purchased the solution for knowledge management. This is, of course, different. You have to take a step back and look at what the learning objective is. Hanging over that material. As an organization you also have to own the subject, because it concerns your daily practice. This means that our work also touches on organizational advice, because how do you arrange things properly with each other? Together you then look for the best interpretation, of which the e-learning is a part. An important part for sure, but not a total solution," Marcel puts it in perspective.
"What I like about online learning is the social learning. Participants can ask and answer questions to each other in their own community, or raise practical problems and exchange possible solutions. Or they can raise practical problems and exchange possible solutions. Procademy has incorporated this function into the tool in such a way that you are also working on a team spirit online, stimulating peer-to-peer education and making it possible for the learning experience not only to take place during office hours. Procademy also offers a user-friendly interface and a good integration with H5P, so that the most appropriate interactive lesson elements can be included in the online courses."
"In the end, practice sometimes turns out differently. Once it has been worked out, it turns out that the set-up I had in mind is not good enough. That we have done the animation on the basis of too many assumptions, or that the test group asks many of the same questions about a component. That's what makes it fun: you have to be able to frame and coordinate with each other beforehand, as well as be able to let go of your initial ideas. Of course, the more tools you have in your toolbox, the better it goes," concludes Marcel with satisfaction.
