The programme can be delivered as web-based training (e-Learning). The advantage over classroom-based delivery is that the programme can be taken on-demand at the participant's convenience, and the material is designed so it can be returned to for reference purposes. The cost is also lower than classroom-based.
This mode of learning is best suited to self-motivated participants. However they are not working in isolation; the programme can include the ability to send questions to a tutor and to participate in an online forum. Samples of writing can be submitted to a tutor for assessment and feedback before and after the programme.
The material can be branded to your company and can be tailored to your requirements. We can host it for you, or if you prefer, you can run it within your own company's Learning Management System.
Blended learning
- We can deliver a blended programme, where the initial theory is covered as e-Learning but practised in the classroom. This offers several advantages: The classroom session can be reduced from two-days to a half-day or one-day duration. This reduces direct costs as well as the amount of time students are away from their normal work.
- Participation in a classroom day focuses the participants on properly completing the web-based part of the learning, because they know they will be expected to be able to apply it in the classroom.
- The classroom day allows participants to clarify any points they found unclear during the e-Learning. The day can be adapted to address their weak points, as evidenced by a writing sample submitted after the e-Learning has been completed.
In our blended approach, foundations in the core skills are built using e-Learning. This helps to build and shape the culture, by providing consistency in approach and a common language. People can then participate in classroom-based sessions, already familiar with key concepts and terminology. Through elements within the e-Learning materials, they have also started thinking about the application of the skills within their own job role. Having developed this foundation and with more input from the participants, the classroom-based sessions become facilitated workshops, focusing on how to put the skills into practice in each person's specific work context in order to achieve results - the real measure of success.
Collaboration technologies can be used to support communities of people across the workplace on an ongoing basis. This enables people to share and discuss their experiences and the results from putting the skills into practice. It can also provide access to additional further e-based interactive learning sessions, support materials for workplace learning activities and professional networks. All of these are important tools for reinforcing and extending learning and skills implementation, which once again are the key to a good return on investment.
The e-Learning modules listed below form the core of the programme. These are recommended modules for all programme participants, irrespective of their job role.
- The process of communication
- Building and maintaining rapport
- Working effectively with a variety of personal styles
A further set of e-Learning modules provide the foundation for job-role classroom-based workshops. Currently the additional e-learning modules are:
- Questioning and listening skills
- The power of language
- Facilitation techniques
- Customer service
The e-Learning content can run in any of the major Learning Management Systems (LMS). Alternatively for clients who are seeking a more gradual and low-cost route into e-Learning, we can provide a solution independent of an LMS. You can run within your intranet or we can arrange to have hosted it externally.
Sunesis provides a suggested set of e-Learning modules and classroom-based workshops for a number of job-roles.
- Manager
- Sales Professional
- HR and Development Professional
- Business Development Professional
- Customer Service Professional
Many professionals in all of these categories would also benefit from our business writing skills programme.
The classroom sessions are practical in nature. They concentrate on how to apply the skills from the appropriate e-Learning modules, along with additional specialist skills that relate to the specific workshop topic - coaching skills, selling skills, facilitation skills etc. Each classroom workshop starts with the assumption that participants familiar with the terminology and key concepts presented in the core e-Learning modules and in any others that are prerequisites. For example, the Facilitation Skills workshop requires participants to have completed both the Facilitation techniques and Language modules, in addition to the core skills modules.
