E-learning guidance from Open Mind

These days, the term ‘e-learning’ can mean an interactive CD-ROM, an online course from the internet, a course on your organisation’s intranet, an online reference library, streamable digital video clips or even learning via an iPod or mobile phone. Planning and implementing an e-learning strategy can be a minefield and trainers may be confused by all the ‘technology hype’ surrounding ‘e-learning’.

As an independent e-learning provider, Open Mind - the UK’s largest distributor of learning resources - is offering organisations guidance and advice on finding the right e-learning solutions for their training need.

Alun Harvey, Open Mind’s managing director, explained: "We start by asking trainers two key questions: ‘What do you want your e-learning to achieve?’ and ‘What do your staff need to learn?’ We can then work with the trainers and their IT department to assess their technology, identify suitable courses and recommend the best delivery methods and management system for their needs."

Open Mind can supply over 300 generic e-learning courses from 20 producers covering such topic areas as management skills, health & safety, workplace legislation, diversity, stress, IT skills, languages and so on. Open Mind also has a growing range of online assessment tools, reference materials and a library of 800 streamable video clips.

"We can also supply learning management systems and authoring tools for trainers to create their own courses," added Harvey. "Or we can design and develop these systems and learning materials for them."

Many of the DVD and e-learning titles that go to make up Open Mind’s catalogue of 4,000 or so separate training materials from 130 producers, indexed against 160 topics, can now be previewed online, via Open Mind’s website: www.openmind-learning.co.uk Professional trainers are also welcome to visit Open Mind’s free Preview Centre at its offices in Henley-on-Thames, where there are over 2,000 titles available for evaluation.

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Notes for Editors:

About Open Mind
Formed in 1991, Open Mind distributes and develops resources to help organisations to develop their people. As such, it provides customers with broad access to over 10,000 learning resources in all forms of delivery media and is frequently referred to by customers as the ‘Trainers’ Toyshop’.

These resources include:
• Videos
• CD-ROMs & DVDs
• Online learning
• Audio tapes & CDs
• Books
• Workbooks
• Games & activities

Topics covered include:
• Management
• Sales
• Finance
• Commerce
• Information technology
• Languages

Open Mind also offers:
• Free independent advice on
• Selecting from over 10,000 titles from 100 publishers - in all media – on any business topic
• Selecting appropriate resources to fit clients’ budgets
• A free Preview Centre facility
• Practical help with establishing – or re-launching - managing and marketing a Learning Resource Centre (LRC)
• The STAR intranet-based Learning Centre Management System to manage LRCs
• An online directory of resources, allowing users to search and view on-screen details of over 5,500 titles on 200 topics from more than 100 publishers – and purchase securely online

Further information from:
Alun Harvey, Open Mind, 01491 411061
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 01727 860405

www.openmind-learning.co.uk