Web 2.0

What is web 2.0? “Web 2.0 is social, it’s open (or at least it should be), it’s letting go of control over your data, it’s mixing the global with the local. Web 2.0 is about new interfaces - new ways of searching and accessing Web content. And last but not least, Web 2.0 is a platform - and not just for developers to create web applications like Gmail and Flickr. The Web is a platform to build on for educators, media, politics, and community, for virtually everyone in fact!” There are many definitions for web 2.0; it can mean different things to different people.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/web2explorer/?p=5

Are we using any Web 2.0 applications in class? In class we are using multiple web 2.0 applications; we are using blogger, wiki’s, and blackboard for communication.

How do you feel about using these Web 2.0 applications? I like utilizing the web 2.0 applications, these applications allow me to write things and get both positive and negative feedback which helps to improve writing techniques from the review of feedbacks.

Which 3 Web 2.0 applications do you think will be the killer apps of 2007? Why? I think that one of the killer apps will be Google apps especially for mail service and file synchronization. I think wkipedia will also be a killer app because many people are still making additions to it; they current have over 1 million articles in English alone. Another killer app will be bittorrent, it offers millions of downloads both legitimate and illegitimate.

Chapter 4 Homework

1) What learning condition do you think is most necessary for learning to occur? Which is least critical? Why?
Most important: providing opportunities for trainees to practice and receive feedback.
Least important: allowing trainees to learn through observation.
It is the least important because although observation is important, the trainees must recognize and understand the prerequisites in order to complete their training.

2) What value would it be to know that you were going to be training a class of persons between the ages of 20 and 35? Would it influence the approach you would take? How?
This information influences the training approach. Knowing the ages of your trainees will allow you to determine what learning style that would be most effective for them. Gen Xers need feedback from their training, they also dislike close supervision. Nexters are optimistic, are willing to learn, and are technologically-literate, because they appreciate diversity they work well with gen xers. It would influence the training approach because each of the groups requires different methods to learn to the best of their abilities.

3) How do instructional objectives help learning to occur?
Noe says, "Different internal and external conditions are necessary for learning outcomes. Internal conditions refer to processes within the learner that must be present for learning to occur. These processes include how information is registered, stored in memory, and recalled. External conditions refer to processes in the learning environment that facilitate learning. These conditions include the physical learning environment as well as opportunities to practice and to receive feedback and reinforcement.

4) Can allowing trainees to make errors in training be useful? Explain.
Allowing the trainees to make errors during training can be important. Many people can learn from viewing the mistakes made by others, if someone sees a mistake they are less likely to repeat that mistake especially if the trainer is able to explain why it was a mistake. Allowing errors in training is much less destructive than an error on the production line.

5) Detailed lesson plans have important information for trainers. List the different types of information found in a detailed lesson plan. Also, indicate the importance of each type of information for learning.
Learning objectives or outcomes – important
Target audience – important
Prerequisites – important
Time – Very important
Lesson outline – important
Activity – less important
Support materials – very important
Physical environment – important
Preparation – important
Lesson topic – less important
Evaluation – important
Transfer and retention – important

TSTM 444 Homework #3

1. Explain how you would determine if employees had the reading level necessary to succeed in a training program.
To determine if employees have the necessary reading level a standard reading test could be performed, have the employee read a paragraph and answer simple questions about the reading. Using definitions in the questions will help with reading understanding.

2. If you were going to use online technology to identify training needs for customer service representatives for a web-based clothing company, what steps would you take to ensure that the technology was not threatening to employees?
I would let the employees know that in the future training will be done utilizing online technologies. I would try to try to train them on computers before they are faced with online training, possibly holding a training seminar showing them how to turn on their computers and showing them the basics of the world wide web and how they will access their online training. If they have basic experiences with the internet they will be less afraid of it.

3. Assume you have to prepare older employees with little computer experience to attend a training course on how to use the World Wide Web. How will you ensure that they have high levels of readiness for training? How will you determine their readiness for training?
I would walk the employees through a basic introduction of the computer and the internet, it will be important to show them the help features that are built into software programs. You can test their readiness for training by asking them to perform specific task on the computer, for example logging into a test training account so that the staff will see if they are ready for training, if they cannot successfully logon to the training page they will need more remedial training or job repositioning.

TSTM 444 Chapter 2 Homework

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a centralized training function?
Advantages of centralized training:
1) Training and development programs, resources, and professionals are held all in one centralized location.
2) Centralization helps to ensure that the corporate training policy will be identical throughout the entire company, ensuring alignment with business strategy.
3) Allows development of a common set of metrics to measure quality.
4) Provides a company advantage in purchasing training from vendors and consultants.
5) Helps to better integrate programs for developing leaders and managing talent with training and learning during times of change.
Disadvantage of centralized training:
1) The training managers must be thoroughly familiar with the business strategy; if they are not fully aware of the strategy the training will be ineffective.

What is human capital? How is human capital influencing the changing role of training from skill and knowledge acquisition to creating and sharing knowledge?
Human capital is the sum of attributes, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, and enthusiasm that a company’s employees invest in their work.
Human capital influences the changing role of training because the more enthusiastic that an employee is the more they will enjoy their job. If employees enjoy their jobs they will be more likely to be willing to ensure better quality and relationships with their customers.

How could SWOT analysis be used to align training activities with business strategies and goals?
SWOT – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats.
A SWOT analysis helps to identify the companies weaknesses and strengths, including people, technology, and the company’s financial resources. The analysis will help align training with strategies and goals because if the company realizes their strengths and opportunities they will know what they need to do to maximize the company’s resources.

Michael Jordan