There has over time been discussion on this site about e training for employees and who is the best provider etc. However my question is, have any of you produced your own and if so would you mind saying how you did it. I have used a number of database packages including Access and have some limited ability to write VB code. I'm not entirely sure I like the idea of E learning, but there is only one of me (and no chance of external training) and I have identified a mountain of things I think need to be communicated / trained / briefed. Some of these ideally should be done face to face, but is something better than nothing. HASAWA requires information instruction training and supervision (or a combination), so is open to provision of information or instruction. I'm not sure I like the idea of read this, sign that approach, but this is essentially what e learning does, possibly with the addition of a test at the end. I have thought about taking a few people at each site through the training then get them to deliver it out using my long hand written notes. I think however the moment I'm not about that they will just be given the notes and told read this and sign that if you understand. The people may read and will sign, just to make it go away. I have been on a course on how to train adults, but of course they will not have been. What are people views and have you done something e learning which is in house generated. Chris

Hi Chris, We develop our own internal e-learning packages, however we have a video editing suite in our London HQ, an IT team of about 40, media people including 'creatives' and lots of HR learning & development people. It's not an easy thing to do if you want to do things like collect data to confirm that people have attended and so on. At least, it's not easy the way we do it. I guess there might be packages you can buy that will help you build your own internal e-learning, bu we do it the hard way, John

It is developed into a type of powerpoint programme with information specific to the company and our policy etc. The Training Team thenuse short videos and linked scenarios. There is a multiple choice test at the end. Login is individual through employee numbers so we can run off reports on who has logged in, completed the package, pass/ fail the test etc. I must admit i don't know the ins and outs of the tech. because each site is small there will only be one person per site doing the training at a time and we also have a small bank of questions that are picked at random but ensure they still cover the main points of the training. This is just basic training, and then the more site specific induction training is undertaken on the job, with further training for fire marshals, for example. The system was developed so that it doesn't just cover health and safety- it is able to suit all different elements of the business and suit the roles being undertaken and where.

Thanks both, interesting replies Jodie you seem to have quite a system, I will not be able to get that far. Yes Jarsmith83, if it is e-learning or a paper set of information does not make a lot of difference as you say, though I guess you can pace e-learning a bit. I have caught someone cheating on a test a little while ago, which was a simple read this and answer a couple of questions on something that was easy. I have been looking at excel as noted above and I think I have found a way to select different sets of questions each time it is opened. The questions are set when something is typed into a particular cell ( I was thinking name box). This would stop copying and I was just going to have the sheet emailed back to me to mark, unless I decide on multiple choice. However still not there yet, I would like to get it to default to the persons name when saving (Word defaults to the first thing typed, but excel does not). Will save as a template so they can not mess up the original. Real shame I cannot put a macro or some VB in. I think I will end up with a mixture of face to face then test and just read and test. I'm sure lots of us have this issue. Cheers all Chris

Before assuming that elearning is the answer, consider the questions. What is it that people MUST know? and How can this be tested? By concentrating more on how to check, (ie be assured that knowledge / competency exists to the level you require) it may be that the best methods of knowledge transfer become clear. Personal opinion is that, as a profession, we try to 'train' too much, in too broad a range, yet without any real justification. What on earth is 'health & safety awareness' anyway? Skills & knowledge needed to do a job safely, ought to be transferred through the job training. Practice, with supervision, produces competency. Apart from fire and other 'emergency' type instruction, knowledge & skills for lifting, using machinery or plant, or working in certain environments, such as heights, yards, highways, etc. etc. ought to be within the OTJ training, which I would expect supervisors to be doing. If there really is no resource for buying-in training, maybe that is a blessing, as it leaves only the option of structured, but delegated, competency transfer, delivered to clear objectives, (probably emerging from risk assessment controls), and a good testing / checking regime. Concentrating on testing may well identify gaps, which can then be worked on. Some of the support material, (simple procedures / rules etc) could be produced by you if you have the skills, so that supervisors can then deliver. You can also 'monitor' standards as part of your role. As has been pointed out, most elearning is (disappointingly) mainly page-turning powerpoint, with a database tagged on for record-keeping. All can be done in less sophisticated, but possibly more tailored and effective ways.