Learning Light
Second Floor, Gladstone Building,
1 St James Row, Sheffield, S1 2EU
Tel +44 (0)114 223 2442; Web www.learninglight.com
7th March 2011
Learning Light creates 'Learnscape' - a business-orientated
approach to learning consultancy
Learning Light has developed a consultancy model intended to move an
organisation from operating a traditional, 'command and control led
training' model to becoming a 'learning organisation', where
learning makes a positive impact on the organisation's 'bottom
line'.
Known as 'Learnscape' - a term initially coined by the US-based
e-learning specialist Jay Cross relating to informal learning - the
Learning Light consultancy model has been piloted among companies in
Yorkshire for the last two years.
Gillian Broadhead, of Learning Light, the Sheffield-based
organisation which focuses on promoting the use of e-learning and
learning technologies, explained: "When businesses want higher
returns in shorter timescales you need to be sure you make the right
investment in learning and development.
"In an ever growing global marketplace, employees are a great asset
but they must have the right skills and knowledge to be able to keep
driving your business forward. We believe that investing in
e-learning to develop your employees is key to maintaining a
competitive edge."
Broadhead stressed that Learning Light is totally independent of
e-learning vendors and distributors and so guarantees to give
clients impartial advice, while aligning clients' e-learning
strategy with business objectives and identifying where e-learning
can address the client's organisational needs effectively.
"We guide clients through the process of developing an e-learning
strategy and then measure the impact of that strategy on the
client's business - ensuring that clients see a positive return on
their investment," pledged Broadhead.
David Patterson, Learning Light's operations director, commented:
"The Learnscape approach seeks to create an environment that
nurtures continuing learning. That encompasses both formal and
informal learning.
"We feel that the Learning Light 'Learnscape' approach is unique in
allowing organisations to benefit from the power of social
networking tools - moving from, perhaps, fear of, or fascination
with, social networking to create a Learnscape which unlocks the
power of social learning," he added.
Learning Light consultants work with client organisations to
discover their organisational learning strategy and then assess this
against the organisation's business plan. Among other things, this
produces a list of skills and knowledge gaps that need to be filled
within an agreed timescale.
The next step is to evaluate the organisation's 'learning maturity'
and facilitate changes so that the organisation becomes a learning
organisation, where all staff development activities - both informal
and formal - contribute towards the organisation's business plan and
'bottom line'.
Learning Light's aim is to enable organisations to move from a low
level of learning maturity - characterised, among other things, by
training being seen as an overhead cost rather than an investment;
training comprising generic courses, and being reactive - to a high
level of learning maturity, characterised by workers being
considered as a pool of intellectual capital and learning being
related to business strategy and business imperatives.
"There are four key concepts around which we base the principles of
a learning organisation," Patterson said. "These are: information
gathering and openness; conceptualisation; action learning, and
reflection and renewal.
"In order to create a learning organisation, we need to address the
organisation's culture; leadership; processes, and infrastructure,"
he continued. "Having had some two years' experience of implementing
this approach within Yorkshire, we're confident that rolling out
this approach throughout the UK will bring benefits for our clients
- in particular, it should help them ally learning and development
activities to bottom line results."
Moreover, in its capacity as a centre of excellence in promoting the
use of e-learning and learning technologies, Learning Light is also
able to facilitate and manage the learning and development
procurement process for client organisations. While being 'vendor
neutral', Learning Light has access to over 450 reputable companies
in the e-learning sector through its long established Vendor
Network.
For further details of Learning Light's Learnscape consultancy
model, visit
http://www.e-learningcentre.co.uk/About_us/Consultancy and/or
contact Learning Light at
information@learninglight.com
End
About Learning Light Ltd
Sheffield-based Learning Light is a centre of excellence in the use
of e-learning and learning technologies in the workplace. Its
knowledge base contains over 400 papers offering insights and advice
on how to use e-learning & learning technologies.
Learning Light, which operates www.e-learningcentre.co.uk one of the
leading resources on e-learning in the UK, works closely with the
Universities of Leeds and Sheffield and has undertaken a Systematic
Literature Review of the available papers on the effective use of
e-learning in conjunction with the University of Sheffield.
Learning Light occupies a unique space in the e-learning and
learning technology sector networking with:
-
Suppliers of e-learning and learning technologies to support the
growth of the sector
-
Buyers
seeking out learning technology solutions to improve the
effectiveness of their business or organisation
-
Leading organisations worldwide who provide it with market knowledge
from around the globe
It:
-
Provides unbiased and impartial advice to both suppliers and
buyers
-
Hosts events and workshops that provide the platforms to impart
and gain knowledge by encouraging collaboration and sharing of
best practice
-
Acts as a conduit between suppliers and buyers to forge
successful business partnerships
-
Provides market intelligence and benchmarking information gained
from its many contacts and networking partners
-
Provides access to research materials from leading learning
technology professionals
Further information from:
David Patterson/ Gill Broadhead, Learning Light, +44 (0)114 223 2442
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, +44 (0)1727 860405
www.learninglight.com
