Process-Integrated eLearning

Many eLearning approaches tend to separate learning activities from everyday work. This working paper presents a case study where closer integration between learning and work was achieved by rather simple means. The case study points out significant opportunities for enriched integration, benefiting course design, organisational knowledge management, and information system customisation. We then outline an approach based on visual enterprise models which realise these opportunities. Three degrees of integration may be achieved with this method: (1) conventional modelling in systems development, (2) automated portal generation based on models, and (3) interactive models that directly control the structures and interfaces of the running system, enabling evolution, customisation and personalisation. These approaches have been prototyped and validated in related projects. Introduction ICT supported learning, like eLearning, approaches have been widely criticised for keeping a distance to the core work. Rather than bringing useful resources for situated user needs, they tend to separate learning and improvement activities from everyday work processes and roles. Increased focus on the social processes of learning, on learning and knowledge support intertwined in work practice, is required (Davenport and Prusak 1993; Schneider 2002). Need-driven, just-in-time knowledge transfer has thus been advocated (Koma-Sirviö, Mäntyniemi et al. 2002). The point of departure for this working paper is a case study preformed in the research project LAP (Learning and Knowledge Building at the Workplace). There we developed an ICT service called the Cookbook to help the employees in an accounting firm to effectively find situated information and training material. The Cookbook is a light-weight portal prototype. Both internal and external services are accessible through organizational, procedural, and technical keywords, which are organized into categories. In the current version, there are seven categories that reflect the company's accounting services, its accounting tool and its Quality Assurance manual, which includes work process descriptions. Although the Cookbook was a welcome addition to the accounting infrastructure, a number of needs were not adequately met by this conventional portal, e.g. change management, customisations, and integrations with existing support systems. In order to construct more sustainable learning systems, facilitating dynamic skills as they develop, we here propose a model-driven approach to information systems and training material design. This paper is organised as follow; first we elucidate the concept process-integrated eLearning, in section 3 we present the Cookbook, and then we present and discuss the proposed approaches to processintegrated eLearning using model-driven development and enterprise modelling. Process-integrated eLearning The ability to change through learning – both in the sense of adaptability and through more proactive or innovative behaviour was increasingly recognised as a key success factor for organisations in the previous century (Penrose 1959; Bateson 1973; Argyris and Schön 1978; Drucker 1991). The effect and perceived value of organisational learning is however believed to differ significantly based on to what extent the learning activity is integrated in the everyday activities of the organisation (Wenger 1998). This means that looking into the potential for learning within existing activities and processes of an organisation should be a fruitful approach. Paper to be presented at Workplace Learning – from the learners perspectives (WL 2004). Copenhagen 25.-27. Nov. 2004 In this working paper we use a rather broad definition of eLearning (Mørck, Engen et al. 2004); we see eLearning as a technology as well as a strategy that should take technological, pedagogical and organisational concerns into account. In addition to support traditional course settings, eLearning can also be used to deliver information and tools to users when accomplishing work tasks, even though learning is not the primary goal of the activity. In this paper we call such just-in-time knowledge support process-integrated eLearning. Case Study: The Visma Cookbook The research project LAP has developed the Cookbook; with the objective to support the employees at Visma Services to effectively find situational needed information. In LAP, the focus is on increasing skills at the workplace as well as supporting knowledge sharing in the organisation.