September 23, 2011

ACDI/VOCA’s ‘Culture of Learning’ Featured on LINGOs Blog

Staff Worldwide Use Online Technology to Increase Skills, Knowledge

Since a company is made up of individual employees, a key to performance enhancement is staff training and development. That has always been the case, but in the digital age robust online learning tools have enriched staff development possibilities and made offerings widely accessible.

ACDI/VOCA’s Director of Training John Leary recently blogged on the promise of online training on Learning in NGOs (LINGOs). In “A Culture of Learning That Starts with Staff,” he describes how “access to information is one of the key benefits ACDI/VOCA brings to our program beneficiaries—and to our staff around the world.”

E-Learning Key for Company Success, Staff Development

Since ignorance impedes progress, sharing information is a bedrock ACDI/VOCA value. Providing the opportunity and encouragement to transfer knowledge contributes to the welfare of our beneficiaries, the effectiveness of our projects and the professional growth our staff, Leary says.

He pointed out that in addition to our employees training and teaching others, ACDI/VOCA provides staff with access to 700 e-learning courses to gain the tools to continue their own education. These tutorials and programs are accessible through ASPIRE, an online learning management system that employees use at their convenience from anywhere they have an internet connection.

Technology Takes Onboarding Online

A wide range of e-learning tutorials assist new ACDI/VOCA staff to acclimate themselves, whether learning about administrative procedures, technical interventions in the field or department roles within the organization.

These tutorials can be accessed over and over, so even seasoned staff members can use them as refreshers. Or, company divisions may elect to prepare online instructional materials that help them efficiently achieve their goals.

A World of Resources

Besides tutorials centered on the organization itself, ACDI/VOCA offers employees outside resources, including online classes through Cornell University and language-learning programs from Rosetta Stone, Livemocha and OpenEnglish.

The ASPIRE website and many of the courses offered there are provided to ACDI/VOCA through its membership in LINGOs, allowing ACDI/VOCA to fulfill its role as a learning organization without boundaries.

Learn more on the LINGOs blog.

Read our recent World Report issue: Building Connections Through Technology.

Learn more about how ACDI/VOCA uses technology in our work.