Biscayne National Park is implementing an e-Learning training plan for its Visitor Service staff, including both paid employees and volunteers. The program aims to equip new staff with essential tools, skills, and knowledge to effectively conduct public boat tours.
e-Learning Training Plan This training plan is for Biscayne National Park Visitor Service staff, both paid and volunteer employees. The e-Learning will be applied to a training program designed to provide new staff with the tools, skills and knowledge necessary to develop and conduct public boat tours
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E-Learning can provide motivation to learners in many ways. The following examples are tied to Malcome Knowles "4 Principles of Andragony"(Knowles, 1980).
Experience provides the basis for the learning activities. E-learning activities should be designed to draw from adult learner's life experiences. Working in small, collaborative teams, learners can share their experiences and apply the group wisdom to solve problems.
Adults need to be involved in planning and evaluating their learning. A variety of e-learning activities provides learners with flexibility. They can work on tasks at their convenience and in a non-linear fashion. Frequent and regular instructor feedback lets the learners know if they are on-track.
E-learning activities should be problem-centered. Using case studies and simulations demonstrates the real-world application of the learning. Students can easily see how the knowledge and skills will benefit them in their work and life.
The boat tour guide training and learning will be immediately relevant and have a clear application to learner's professional or personal development. E-learning goals and objectives will define what the learner will be able to do with the knowledge and skill they're learning in the boat tour guide training course.
This training will utilize elements of Constructionist, Behaviorist and Cognitive Learning Theories
Cognitive Learning Theory view of how learning takes place is based on how information is processed, stored, and retrieved in the mind. Effective learning is a blend of interactions between personal and environmental factors and behavior (Swann, 2013).
The training program will create activities that allow adult learners to delve into specific tasks, such as simulations, that enable them to store the information in their long term memory through repetition and experience. Students will also shadow boat tours to observe appropriate behavior modeling.
Behaviorist Learning Theory focuses on observable behavior. According to Tolman (1948), purposeful behaviorism is behavior that uses insight and reinforcement through feedback and experience to achieve an ultimate goal.
The e-Learning program will break main tasks involved with leading boat tours down into smaller tasks and offer on-line video clips of proper and improper behavior. Learners will identify appropriate characteristics and submit their answers for review.
Constructivist Learning Theory revolves around the notion that "knowledge is constructed by the learners as they attempt to make sense of their experiences" (Driscoll, 2000)The learning process is continuous as the learner builds critical thinking and collaboration skills.
The audience for this training program bring a mixed level of personal experience related to natural resources, Biscayne Bay and boating. The training program will use real world situations and problems for the student to collaboratively work through and solve.
Main topic
References
Arneson, J. (2013). Training and development competencies redefined to create competitive advantage. Retrieved from https://www.td.org/Publications/Magazines/TD/TD-Archive/2013/01/Training-and-Development-Competencies-Redefined Caffarella, R. S. 1., Daffron, S. R., (2013). Planning programs for adult learners: A practical guide (Third edition.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Driscoll, M.P. (2005). Psychology of learning for instruction (pp.384-407; Ch.11-Constructivism). Toronto, ON Knowles, M. (1980). The modern practice of adult education: From pedagogy to andragogy (Rev. ed.). New York: Cambridge. Pearson. Tolman, E. (1948). Cognitive maps in rats and men. Psychological Review 55, 189-208 Swann, W. w. (2013). The Impact of Applied Cognitive Learning Theory on Engagement with eLearning Courseware. Journal Of Learning Design, 6(1), 61-74.
3 relevant training program competencies related to social media: 1) Make learning social and collaborative. 2) Plan and meet training needs of employees. 3) Keep up with technological advancements and use them appropriately (Arneson, 2013).
The park will invest time and resources necessary to stay abreast of new and emerging technologies and match the appropriate technology to specific and appropriate learning opportunities.
The park will use gap analysis to assess and anticipate training and development needs of a diverse workforce and contribute to talent development where and when the organization needs it.
The training program will use e-Learning and social media to fostering a culture of connectivity and collaboration around learning. Students will work in small teams to develop boat tour outlines and themes on Google Docs and film one another to create online video clips for class review.
Ethical considerations for boat tour training program planning. According to Caffarella & Daffron (2013), three ethical considerations are: 1) personal values of program planners; 2) professional principles of practice or codes of conduct; 3) organizational values. These values underlie our work, how we interact with each other, and which strategies we employ on a day-to-day basis to fulfill our mission.
The National Park Service (NPS) is a federal organization, is accountable to the public and expected to abide by all governing rules. Our organizational values are: shared stewardship, excellence, integrity, tradition and respect.
All staff and trainees will be provided professional principles of practice and codes of conduct policy documents. Boat tour guides will follow all protocol such as safety, professional conduct, appearance and uniforms.
The personal values of program planners and instructors will be unapproachable and in perfect alignment with park mission, expectations and goals. This boat tour is operated by a concession and is built upon a formal partnership. Staff cannot promote or recommend any business over another and remain unbiased regarding issues involving policy, politics or finances.
