e-Learning has been used in workforce training and development in the Greater Manchester Police since the late 1990s. They have been one of the most innovative forces in England and Wales in their adoption and experimentation with learning technologies. In 1997, they began working to establish Resource Learning Centres (RLCs) following the evaluation of their early experience of Computer-Based Training (CBT) in the late 1990s and the positioning of CBT as a complementary (and not alternative) resource for classroom-based training. Even at this early stage, these RLCs were envisaged as part of the infrastructure within a broad e-learning strategy.
The early experience with CBT led to their participation in Project Mentor, a partnership formally initiated in May 1999 involving the Police Foundation, British Telecom, the Scottish Police College, Central Scotland Police, Greater Manchester Police, and the Metropolitan Police. The aim of the project was to pilot and evaluate a system for the online management and delivery of flexible learning materials within a police environment. Most of their early expectations were for IT, communications and some management training using generic off-the-shelf programmes - as well as, it was anticipated, policing specific learning requirements.
During 2001, more RLCs were set up to provide a dedicated computer-based learning facilities and the GMP Learning and Development Branch recruited an e-learning development officer. They prepared an annual budget for staffing and resources development, and devoted time to benchmarking and scanning the e-learning activities in other police forces. Contact was established with NCALT (see below) and discussions initiated with learndirect about their courses and about the possibility of becoming a learndirect centre for police training.
In 2002, NCALT, following consultation workshops with a number of police forces and key stakeholders nationwide, announced plans to develop online training provision in a number of areas. Towards the end of 2002, piloting began.
By autumn 2002, GMP had evaluated the option of using learndirect services on the basis of a geographic, large employer or sector hub operating with a number of forces. They undertook a SWOT analysis and review and, even though the learndirect route was attractive, developments elsewhere made the decision to go with the NCALT option a priority - not least because of the specific nature of the approach for and coherence within the police sector.
Towards the end of 2002, with ten RLCs in place and seven more planned, GMP agreed an Alternative Learning Strategy1 led by the e-learning Project Board and chaired by the Director of Training and Head of the Learning and Development Branch. New expertise, consisting of an e-learning Project Manager, Learning Material Designers and Developers, was added at the Sedgley Centre.
Much of 2003 was spent gearing up the infrastructure and access across the RLCs and preparing for implementation of the Training Administration System (TAS). The latter was due to be implemented in summer 2004. All of these activities were overseen by the GMP e-learning Project Board, which included representatives of the Learning and Development Branch, the IT Branch and Line Management. ...continue to History of e-learning at GMP (p2)
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