Getting IT support for e-learning

Getting the attention of information technology (IT) executives these days is not easy. But, in their push for e-learning, many training professionals are realizing the value of developing a relationship with IT staff that sy nchronizes their desire for scalable e-learning with the capabilities and c lout that their IT people can provide. In some cases, partnering with IT is a simple matter of building on a solid foundation of past collaboration and positive uses of e-learning to train IT staff; in others, it's more about extending an olive branch or reboundin g from earlier e-learning disappointments. Working with IT staff, trainers can talk to company executives armed with a rguments about scalability, consistency, and efficiency-words executives li ke to hear-in addition to IT's input on the feasibility and impact of e-lea rning on the organization's IT infrastructure. Many trainers have gone a step further, gaining the necessary technology sk ills themselves. A growing number of training professionals have developed into e-learning content developers, with new titles that reflect their addi tional knowledge. Combining:education know-how and e-learning development s kills, these folks are uniquely suited to make the case for e-learning inve stments. External hosting is another option for shifting to e-learning that has beco me increasingly popular among mid-size and smaller businesses. This is a go od option for training managers who win support for e-learning from managem ent and have either a mandate for fast implementation or an IT department t hat is overwhelmed with other projects. External hosting can also be a way around irreconcilable differences. Barron offers four vignettes on how inhouse trainers in different organizat ions have attempted partnerships with IT.