Spheris
Remote Workers' Performance Dramatically Improves Through Interactive Online Learning Program
Situation
Since 1993, Spheris has been a leading global provider of clinical documentation and medical transcription technology to more than 500 health systems, hospitals and group practices throughout the US. With a remote workforce of more than 2800 medical transcriptionists performing this tough but critical job, Spheris operation supervisors needed a program-based learning solution that would target specific skill competencies to insure uniformity and ongoing production of high quality material.
Solution
After identifying a set of competencies they wanted to achieve, Spheris looked to NetSpeed Learning Solutions to provide a program that could be offered in a virtual learning environment to a group of remote workers spread out across the country. They also wanted to provide the training through their own company’s web conference platform. The two companies worked together in partnership to convert one of NetSpeed Learning Solutions' classroom programs into a customized, interactive program consisting of seven different modules centered on communication skills competencies. The modules are trainer led, but provide group learning in virtual breakout rooms, which allows remote participants the ability to actively engage, discuss content and practice their skills. According to Chuck Roberts, Director of Training and Organizational Development, Spheris chose NetSpeed because their content addressed the most critical areas of competency and the material could be quickly and easily adapted into an online format.
Result
Today Spheris sees evidence of the program’s success in multiple areas across their business. “We’ve enjoyed considerable cost savings with this program by eliminating travel expenses for training, but there are other benefits as well. The program has made a big impact on our supervisor retention rates, and we can actually see folks putting the skills of being more clear and direct into place. The program has improved overall work performance and helped us provide a better product,” says Roberts. The resources NetSpeed brought to the table helped simplify development of the program, according to Roberts. “Their ability to work with us, lead us through the process, and adjust content so that it maps to our goals has made NetSpeed Learning Solutions a great choice for us.”
Motor Vehicle Sales Authority of British Columbia
Interactive Learning Platform Creates a Successful, Engaging Learning Experience for Students Across a Vast Geographical Area
The Situation
The Motor Vehicle Sales Authority of British Columbia (MVSA) is an independent agency created by the Canadian government to ensure that business practices and consumer protection laws are properly adhered to by more than 1,700 motor dealers and more than 7,000 sales professionals throughout British Columbia. As part of their mission, the MVSA provides mandatory certification courses for personnel who directly deal with consumers in retail vehicle sales. When their ability to provide training was hampered by logistics, travel costs, and access to remote, hard-to-reach areas, MVSA turned to NetSpeed Learning Solutions to develop a program that would provide timely, cost-effective and accessible training across a vast geographic area.
The Solution
Meet NetSpeed Fast Tracks, NetSpeed Learning Solutions’ online, customizable learning platform that leverages emerging technologies in social media such as blogs, videos, interviews, and podcasts - complete with avatars - to help educate, train, and communicate with participants, while fostering a collaborative learning experience. With NetSpeed Fast Tracks, organizations can use a turnkey, state-of-the-art learning management platform to deliver their own customized learning content, as well as offer employees a wide variety of already developed customizable content on career development, workplace effectiveness, coaching and communication strategies, and management and leadership practices to help managers, supervisors and individual contributors become more successful in the workplace.
With NetSpeed Learning Solutions’ expertise, the MVSA was able to convert their popular, highly successful 2-day classroom certification course into a dynamic, online, blended program that incorporates preliminary self-study online sessions followed by a series of five 2-hour facilitated webinar “virtual classroom” sessions. “What we really like about NetSpeed Fast Tracks is that we’re able to use the built-in administrator tools to go in and see how people are doing. It gives us the chance to reach out and encourage participants to get going and stay involved, which has kept our drop-out rate extremely low. Because this program requires active participation, we feel like our students are getting as much, if not more learning than they had been getting in the face-to-face classroom,” says Doug Longhurst, Director of Consumer Services and Professional Development. The program successfully combines the use of traditional and cutting-edge internet 2.0 learning tools to meet all the needs of their multi-generational audience.
First, the MVSA workbook is mailed to students in advance of the start date. Next, the MSVA administrator sends each student an invitation to register and start their self-study sessions on NetSpeed Fast Tracks. After each self-study session is completed, a facilitated webinar solidifies the learning and reviews all the important points. Students document key information in their workbooks, which later serve as a resource for an open book test that is given at the end of training. “With 25% of their grade dedicated to classroom participation, our students are very aware that their participation and attendance is important. It’s a different experience than the face-to-face classroom. At first we were skeptical about how well it would be received, but we see a lot of relationship-building as people chat and banter on particular topics. The online environment levels the playing field, too. Shy people are no longer hesitant to participate, and it eliminates the ‘blowhard’ syndrome. People like it, and they really have fun with it,” says Longhurst.
Result:
While the MVSA program is only in its second pilot, it has already proved a resounding success. “We had a 100% pass rate on the first group of students tested under this program,” says Longhurst. “Not only did our students succeed, but the online learning environment has established a relationship between us and our students that we know will be helpful in the long run. The communication door remains open, it’s a natural channel, and it will help us do a better job of performing our public responsibility and serving as a trusted and valuable resource for them in the future.” Longhurst also reports that the expense, travel and weather challenges that previously restricted their ability to give classes at remote locations have simply evaporated. “The virtual classroom is a perfect solution for a certain number of our provinces. Working with NetSpeed Learning Solutions made our transition easy,” adds Longhurst.
Florida Virtual School
Connoisseurs of Virtual Learning Find NetSpeed Leadership Webinars a Perfect Fit
Situation
The Florida Virtual School (FlVS) is a publicly funded K-12 online learning school and winner of numerous national and international educational awards. FLVS also trains teachers, administrators, school districts, and states how to deliver a sound, accountable, and successful online learning experience. When this industry leader decided to offer a more cohesive, formalized leadership and management program to their 1000+ employees, they wanted a program that could deliver the highest level of excellence and a learning experience that would keep these connoisseurs of online education interested and engaged.
Solution
The Florida Virtual School chose the NetSpeed Learning Solutions Leadership Webinar Series, which offers a broad range of content, with dynamic presentation and a complete follow-up package. Using 90-minute webinars and web-based reinforcement tools, FLVS participants experience maximum learning without the need for face-to-face contact. Online tools provided with the program give FLVS the ability to measure training impact. “NetSpeed Learning Solutions offered us the kind of online learning experience we only hoped to find,” says Raven McElman, Training and Development Specialist. “They have a deep knowledge of the subject matter, with talented presentation, and truly thoughtful follow-up questions to help with retention. It’s an intelligent, creative series that gets people involved, learning and applying their own experience.”
Result
According to McElman, it’s been a challenge finding an online learning program that will keep her caliber of online experts interested. “My people are always multi-tasking, and they’re very savvy. If they’re not listening because the content isn’t up to par, or it’s just a lecture, they’re not going to learn. With NetSpeed, I have found an engaging, well-integrated program with good follow up. The folks at NetSpeed Learning Solutions are instructional design experts when it comes to virtual learning,” says McElman.