The Right Technology for the Right Learning - Learning Technology Plan for the NYU Langone Academy

  • Client: NYU Langone Health - Leadership Development Program
  • Categories: learning technology, project management, learning administration

The NYU Langone Academy encompasses all professional development and leadership development programs at NYU Langone Health, including onboarding and orientation programs, mentoring programs, instructor-led and eLearning courses, and other face-to-face and online resources.

NYU Langone Health is currently in the process of reinvigorating their leadership development programs and developing new programs to meet the needs of leaders at all levels. Their current programs include the Team Member Leadership Development Program (TLDP), the Manager Leader Development Program (MLDP), a program for early career faculty, and various custom programs for specific faculty populations. The Langone Academy also provides executive coaching for leaders.

The Problem


The Langone Academy does not have a formal learning technology management system. The current technologies that are used to plan, design, implement and manage all the Leadership Development Programs (LDPs) are provided by the Institution's Information Technology Department (MCIT). The Langone Academy does not get involved in deciding which technology is necessary or best for any of their functions. Consequesntly, they have an overlap in several techologies. The Langone Academy staff does not have a common language, nor does it have any knowledge on how (or why) a given technology is used for a given task. Also, the emergency transition to virtual learning has forced facilitators to use technology to deliver the LDPs, demanding master skills in the use of virtual learning technologies.

The Assessment


Prior to my assessment, the Director of the Langone Academy conducted a needs assessment among the senior leaders of the Institution. I studied the results of that needs assessment to establish the role of technology within the needs and requirements expressed by the senior leaders. That established context and alignment with the work that the Langone Academy leadership performed.

I conducted a qualitative assessment among most of the staff involved in the development and delivery of the LDPs. This assessment was implemented to gain an understanding of how people make meaning of technology, their experiences in the current environment, and if/how technology supports their work within the Academy.

Guiding Questions

Questions
  • What activities for the Langone Academy do you conduct relying in technology?

  • How comfortable are you using technology to perform such activities?

  • What technologies (software and hardware) do you use?

  • What do you use the listed technologies for?

  • Why did you select or used those technologies?

  • Please name a few challenges using technology for any aspect of the work done for the Langone Academy?

  • Do you have any suggestions or ideas that can improve the use of technology for the Langone Academy?

The Opportunities for Advancement In Knowledge


The two most recurring themes in my assessment were the need for a better LMS interface, and lack of knowledge regarding how to select a given technology over another that (sometimes seemingly) has the exact same use. Additionally, the Langone Academy team does not have a saying over technology selection or acquisition; our Information Technology Department selects most information systems and technology for the entire Institution. However, the team can request and select specific programs or hardware that is unique to their department needs (i.e., Articulate 360 to develop online courses). My assessment revealed a number of opportunities to improve and elevate the delivery of the Langone Academy. They are summarized in the table below.

Knowledge Skills Habits
  • Technology-related terminology.

  • Features that integrate Webex and Zoom with Saba (LMS, branded with the name FOCUS).

  • Enrollment management features of FOCUS

  • Features of WebEx Training that mimic in-person training (i.e., breakout rooms, polling).

  • The purpose and use of files and data repositories

  • The difference between the various websites used (InsideHealth, FOCUS and SharePoint)
  • Use of Webex withn FOCUS for enrollment, rosters and attendance tracking

  • How to perfrom system schecks in virtual sessions for learners and facilitators

  • Communication between systems

  • Manage attendance automatically using FOCUS and WebEx

  • Record a sessions

  • Create and manage breakout rooms

  • Select the different apps in WebEx for surveys (Slido versus WebEx surveys feature)
  • Comfortable with just using basic features of WebEx Meeting..

  • Comfrtable with using one virtual training tool, regardless of integration with FOCUS

  • Lecture/rote delivery of training

The Presentation


Below is the presentation that I created for the Langone Academy team. The purpose of the presentation was to present my findings on the current issues, provide awareness of how technology plays a role in the success of the NYU Langone Academy, and why a Learning Technology Plan for the Academy can address the needs expressed by the Institution's Senior Lesdership. In the presentation I kept in mind that most-to-all of the team members and major stakeholders of the Langone Academy are not highly technical people.