Here is a decent article with annoyingly hyperbolic title (which comes by way of elearnspace).
Frankly, “rapid e-learning” (which is probably better titled “quick and dirty e-learning”) is nothing new. In fact, my experience is that it is now by far the norm rather than the exception within corporations, and the LCMS vendors tend to encourage it. What the authors of this article provide that many organizations need is guidelines about when using the quick-and-dirty approach is appropriate (and, by inference, when it is not appropriate):
Examples of When to use Rapid E-Learning
Delta: Teaching the difference between what was learned and what has changed
Disposable: Content that has a short shelf-life and will go out of date
Continuous: Topics that require frequent and regular updates
Urgent: Problems that must be addressed immediately
Introductory: Topics that may preface an instructor-led class or more detailed blended learning program
Notice that, in the list above, we don’t include the mastery or certification of skills. We believe that Rapid E-Learning techniques are best used for teaching conceptual information. Rapid E-Learning courses can be blended with other forms of training to achieve higher level skills, or they may morph into a skills development program over time.
Right on.
I think the other thing that needs to be said about a “rapid e-learning” approach is that it generally works best when you have pre-defined templates that support not content but learning tasks, e.g., a template that supports memorizing a physical procedure or a template that supports reinforcing a certain decision-making process. The best simple example I can think of is something like what epiplex outputs (IE for Windows only, I’m afraid). One of the reasons that epiplex is quick to author in is that the learning tasks (and therefore a huge chunk of the instructional design) is well-known, so content can be automatically poured into templates. I see organizations spending a huge amount of time making their PowerPoint slides or Dreamweaver templates look pretty–an effort that has absolutely zero impact on learnability.
