working with SME

SME HELP

"One of the most difficult challenges I face is working efficiently with subject-matter experts (SMEs) to create online courses," says a reader. "I'm constantly trying to identify better ways to work with new SMEs, to motivate them, and to make their task of communicating the necessary content easier." Can others offer advice, insights, and/or tips regarding how to work effectively with SMEs?

Here's your advice:

"I spend a lot of time working with SMEs," says Paul Hart (paul.hart@dynamex.com). "I usually encounter reluctance to get involved; perhaps the individuals don't want to share what they know because they feel threatened, or they are too busy and don't see the value in making the effort to help."

To combat this, Hart takes a "holistic, three-pronged approach" when soliciting help from SMEs:

1. Be firm and clear regarding the reasons for the intrusion into their work life -- that is, to capture their skills and experience to train on processes and procedures; how their job impacts other teams in the organization; and how the organization will function better if everyone understands the role of others in the "big picture."

2. Offer an avenue for improvement. There may be disconnects in their current tasks, and you can help SMEs out by bringing their suggestions for improvement to those that can affect change. Training, remember, has a unique role in the organization: It can interface with many groups and bring them together.

3. Go for their ego! Massage SMEs' self-image ("but be subtle!") by explaining that they possess valuable information that the rest of the company needs to know.

"I find myself building communication bridges among many roles within the organization. In the end, everyone has a clearer understanding of how we work together to improve."

Hart is an instructional designer at Dynamex Inc., a courier and transportation company in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

FIVE KEYS

At Greg Friese's ( gfriese@eps411.com) company, five keys for engaging health-care SMEs to develop rapid e-learning include the following:

1. A shared vision about the content format, production process, and the SME’s role.

2. Templates, which serve as a map for the SME regarding how to develop the topic.

3. An asset library, which includes clip art, images, audio and video that can be inserted into the content.

4. An assigned spot in the process for the SME, which is depicted within a clear process map for the entire project.

5. Honoring time demands by engaging SMEs at one of three spots in the process, including content review and comment; expert interview; or content development.

www.elearningguild.com
Click on the above link to view a session Friese presented recently for the eLearning Guild Rapid E-learning Online Symposium. See session 701: "Engaging Healthcare SMEs to Deploy Rapid E-learning."

Friese is president of Emergency Preparedness Systems LLC in Plover, Wisc.

Source: Online Learning - www.vnulearning.com