E-Learning 2.0: Modern Training for the Frontline Clerk
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E-LEARNING 2.0: MODERN TRAINING FOR THE FRONTLINE CLERK Institute for Court Management ICM Fellows Program 2015-2016 Court Project Phase May 2016 Iryna Spangler Court Coordinator Johnson County Court at Law No. 1 Cleburne, Texas ii Acknowledgments I want to express my deepest appreciation to my judges— Hon. Judge Jerry D. Webber, Hon. Judge Robert Mayfield, and Hon. Judge F Steven McClure—for being true advocates for my professional development, excellent teachers and mentors over the years. I also want to thank all my wonderful co-workers at the office for their loyalty, genuine support and cheering on during the course of this program. It is an honor and joy working with you. My deepest gratitude also goes to my dear colleagues at the Texas Association for Court Administrators who set the standard for professional court administration in Texas and gave me, with kindness, great inspiration and support necessary to participate in this program. I would like to use this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to Dean Daniel Straub, the President of the National Center for State Courts Mary Campbell McQueen, Vice President John Meeks, all our instructors and the staff at the National Center for State Courts for providing guidance through the various phases of this project, offering the priceless gift of their knowledge, and creating unique and unforgettable learning experience. I especially thank Amy McDowell, my project supervisor, who tirelessly combed through the numerous submissions of the project report helping bring focus and clarity to what I was trying to express. Amy, thank you so much for your guidance, patience, insightful comments and countless words of encouragement during the development of this work. It has been a joy to get to know my classmates of the ICM Fellows Class of 2016. Your incredible personalities, knowledge and understanding of processes and people have enriched me tremendously. The Residential Phase in Williamsburg was the best educational and learning experience in my court career. Thank you for sharing it with me! iii I deeply thank all County and District Clerks of Texas and the Judicial Educators around the nation for their time in responding to my surveys. Without your genuine interest and support this project would not be possible. I could not have completed this project without the help of my family and friends. I am indebted to my parents for their encouragement, endless love and devotion, as well as the invaluable lesson of hard work and commitment; and to my husband Kevin for his unending support and the priceless sense of humor that has proven to be the most effective antidote to stress, worries or disappointment. My very special thanks go to my daughter Nadia who without any hesitation has always been my biggest fan. Your support and sweet prayers are precious to me. You are my inspiration, my reason for the things I do. I am proud of you and I love you dearly. I truly appreciate and value everything I have learned from each and every one of you. You will forever remain the most important contributors behind my achievements, big or small. I offer each of you my heartfelt thanks and wish you all the very best. May God bless you. iv Table of Contents Acknowledgments………………………………………………………………………………..iii Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………....v List of Figures………………………………………………………………………………...…..xi List of Tables…………………………………………………………………………………….xii Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………….13 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………16 Literature Review……………………………………………………………………………...…22 The Context for Deputy Court Clerk Training in Texas………………………………....22 State-Specific Factors Affecting the Texas Judiciary……………………………23 Geographic, Demographic, Social and Economic Factors………………23 Court Structure…………………………………………….……………..24 Court Caseload…………………………………………………………...25 Current Statewide Training Initiatives for Deputy Court Clerks………………...25 The Cost of Failing to Find Information………………………………………....28 The Impact of Generational Attitudinal Differences on Workplace Training…...30 Instructional Systems Design Models…………………………………………………...32 E-Learning and E-Learning 2.0……………………………………………………….....34 E-Learning Defined……………………………………………………………...35 Foundations of Educational Theory for e-Learning……………………………...36 Behaviorism, Cognitivism and Constructivism………………………….36 Connectivism…………………………………………………………….40 v Adult Education and Lifelong Learning…………………………………………41 E-Learning Technologies…………………………………………………...……43 Blended Learning……………………………………………………...…43 E-Learning Methods………………………………………………..……45 Streaming Audio and Video……………………………………..45 Web Whiteboarding ….……………………………………...…..45 Blogs………………………………………………………..……45 Wikis…………………………………………………………..…46 Virtual Worlds and Digital Games………………………………46 Learning Objects……………………………..…………………..46 Nano-Learning…………………………………………………...47 Subscription Learning……………………………………………48 Current and Future e-Learning Trends…………………………………..49 Self-Directed Learning - Learners Take Control………………...50 Personalized (Adaptive) Learning……………………………….50 Curation……………………………………………………….…50 Anywhere, Anytime and Any Device – Development on Demand…………………………………………………….….…51 Cloud……………………………………………………………..51 Learning 2.0. Informal Learning and Social Networking…………………………………………………...….51 Outsourcing………………………………………………………52 Organizational Readiness for e-Learning………………………………..53 Technology………………………………………………………54 vi Innovation………………………………………………….…….54 People……………………………………………………………55 Self-Development………………………………………………..55 Methods………………………………………………………………………………………….57 Survey 1. E-Learning for Deputy Clerks………………………………………………...58 Survey 2. E-Learning Training Initiatives……………………………………………….59 Findings………………………………………………………………………………………….61 Finding 1: There Is a Significant Population of Digital Natives among Texas’ Deputy Court Clerks……………………………………………………………………..61 Finding 2: The Most Popular Training Methods Used Are Paper-Based………………..63 Finding 3: Some e-Learning Methods Are Used for Training by the Clerk’s Offices……………………………………………………………………. ……………..64 Finding 4: There Is Interest in Expanding Use of e-Learning Methods for Training………………………………………………………………….………………64 Finding 5: There Is a Perceived Need for e-Learning Technical Support……………….65 Finding 6: There Is a Gap in Familiarity with Use of Social Media for e-Learning Purposes……………………………………………………………..…………………...65 Finding 7: There Is Limited Budget for Training Initiatives…………………………….66 Finding 8: Other States Are Exploring Use of e-Learning Approaches for Both Judicial Employees and Deputy Court Clerks……………………………………..67 Finding 9: National Use of Web 2.0 Approaches to Training Has Mixed Results……………………………………………………………………………………67 Conclusions and Recommendations……………………………………………………………..69 Conclusion 1. All Deputy Court Clerks in Texas Should Be Provided with Training that Supports the Mission and Vision of the Texas Judiciary……………. ……70 Recommendation 1.1 The Texas judiciary Should Create a Standardized Statewide Education Program for Deputy Court Clerks.................................................................... 69 vii Recommendation 1.2. The Texas Judiciary Should Implement a Governance Body to Oversee the Statewide Education Program to Address Issues that Arise and to Provide a Forum for Discussion. .................................................................................. 70 Recommendation 1.3. The Governance Body Should Identify Statewide Performance Standards for Deputy Court Clerks ............................................................. 70 Recommendation 1.4. An Assessment of Deputy Court Clerk Training Needs Should Ce Undertaken by the Governing Body. .............................................................. 71 Recommendation 1.5. The Governance Body Should Consider Implementation of a Tiered Certification Program for Deputy Court Clerks ............................................. 72 Conclusion 2: E-Learning Can Play Critical Role in Facilitating Statewide Deputy Court Clerk Training that Is Flexible, Cost-Effective, and Convenient to Meet the Needs of a Changing Workforce ................................................................................ 72 Recommendation 2: The Texas Judiciary Should Embrace e-Learning as a Supplement to Traditional Educational Methods for Deputy Court Clerks ..................... 74 Conclusion 3: Effective Training Requires More than Making Materials Available Online .............................................................................................................. 74 Recommendation 3: To Make the Most of the Opportunities that e-Learning Can Offer, Adult Learning Principles and Motivational Techniques Should Be Incorporated into Training Materials ................................................................................ 75 Conclusion 4: There Is Significant Interest in e-Learning Resources Among Elected Clerks. The Texas Judiciary Should Develop a Train The Trainer Program to Increase Conceptual Understanding of e-Learning Methods and How It Can Be Used as a Resource ........................................................................................................... 76 Recommendation 4: The Elected Clerks Should Be Provided with Information, Support and Hands-On Experience Regarding the Use of e- Learning ............................ 77 Conclusion 5: An Active Online Learning Community Supports and Encourages Learners ......................................................................................................... 78 Recommendation