Training and Development

The purpose of this study is to assess the desire of participants of the Technical Instructor Institutes, offered through the University of Wisconsin-Stout, for the development of online course work in the disciple of training and human resource development at the graduate level program and vocational education at the undergraduate level. The Technical Instructor Institutes is a professional development program offered by the University of Wisconsin-Stout for persons working in the field of technical training. The World Wide Web is changing how society operates in ways that are hard for some to imagine or understand. From on-line banking, shopping, vacation planning, home buying, and formalized learning, the World Wide Web phenomenon, or more precisely on-line learning, is becoming a pressing reality for institutions of higher education. The Internet has created a new medium for coursework delivery for educational institutions across the globe. Institutions of higher learning are beginning to create a presence on the Internet, offering their programs to student anywhere around the world with access to a personal computer and an Internet connection. This has caused increased competition for technical colleges and universities everywhere because a student now is not limited to an institution based on location. The data was collected in the form of a written survey to past-participants in the Technical Instructor Institutes over the last six years. This created a baseline of data determining the interest of working professionals and their desire to continue their education with the University of Wisconsin-Stout over the Internet. The survey was developed to determine the level of interest participants have in enrolling in an on-line course, past experience of on-line learning, level of comfort with the internet, access to hardware necessary to enroll in an on-line course, and how they would identify themselves as a learner. The research indicated there is a strong interest for both an on-line master's degree in Training and Human Resource Development and an on-line bachelor's degree in Vocational Education. A model of web-based instruction is recommended that will assist University of Wisconsin-Stout in developing an implementing a successful program. Along with this model outlining strategies for designing on-line instruction and making them work was developed based on the survey findings. These models can be used to develop strategies and make decisions when creating on-line courses. Guidelines for developing on-line courses can be divided into three areas: pedagogical, organizational, and institutional issues (Schrum, 1998). Pedagogical issues include identifying learning goals, teaching styles, the instructors role, evaluation, and interactivity. Laurillard (1993) describes four ways of supporting interaction with learners in an on-line environment. They include; using a common language, being adaptive, activities allowing students to demonstrate their understanding of materials, and reflection on student work by other students (Laurillard 1993). A Web-Based University Instruction Model outlines the instructional approach and strategy and compares that with the traditional instructional techniques. This will assist faculty in developing a new instructional teaching method to adapt to teaching on the World Wide Web.

Benkowski, Joseph