Seat Time for an Elearning Course

-
This post is in response to a request from elearningtyro. I hope you find it useful.

What is seat time?
Seat time is variously described as:

* Amount to time a learner spends to read through each page within the course (Does that include all the related tools and supplementary document? Does the learner need to read every glossary term? What if the learner already knows the terms?)
* Amount of time taken by a learner to click every link within the course (What if the learner clicks the link but does not read it? )
* Amount of time a learner takes to complete the course

How is it calculated?
One of the ways I know (If you know any other, please feel free to leave a comment):
A sample from the target audience is selected to complete the course. The time taken by each is recorded. Seat time is the percentile time that approximately 80 percent of the learners take to complete the course.

When was it used?
In early elearning days, seat time was taken as a metric to charge the clients. However, there were some issues in using this approach. For one, different learners have different learning speeds. Additionally, complex interactions take longer to produce and need more resources even though it takes lesser time to read or review these sections. For example, simulations or game-based learning. Finally, usage of multimedia for example, sound, video animation make elearning more expensive to produce. As a result, today most elearning companies charge their clients on the effort taken to develop the course or curriculum rather than the seat time. Different companies have different methods and standards to calculate this effort.

Related link
http://internettime.com/blog/archives/000327.html

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hi Aradhana,

I am one of the frequent visitors of your blog (http://aradhanar.blogspot.com/)
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and keep posting useful information on e-learning.

By the way, I have been working as an Instructional Designer in Chennai. I need better clarification for calculating the seat time of a course.How to calculate the seat time of a course? Please share your knowledge on the same.

Regards,
elearningtyro
4:38 AM
Aradhana said…
Thank you for visiting My Learning Blog! I am happy that you find the posts useful. I have dedicated this new post to your question. Please leave me a comment if I have missed out any information that you might be expecting.

I have used your email alias (elearningtyro) to refer you since I wasn't sure if you wanted me to use your name or not in the post.

Best,
Aradhana
4:59 AM
Anonymous said…
Thanks a ton Aradhana. You have placed an end period for all my queries for claculating the seat time!

Regards,
elearning tyro.
3:24 AM
Anonymous said…
Hi Aradhana
I am a friend and college of elearning tyro. I am working as an instructional designer and training manager for a while.
These are some of the questions, which I have for you....
1. How could we effectively train an ID?
2. What could be the ways that learning can be made enhanced?

Please share your knowledge on these aspects.
12:57 AM
Aradhana said…
Hi,
Thank you for your question. I am currently stretched for time. I will get back to your question very soon. Till then...

Cheers and keep learning!
7:37 PM
Anonymous said…
This page definitely has all the information and facts I needed about this subject and didn't know who to ask.

My blog post: college help
1:38 AM
Anonymous said…
Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all people you actually recognise what you are speaking approximately!
Bookmarked. Kindly also discuss with my website =). We will have a hyperlink alternate agreement among us

Also visit my page: Lifestyle Liberation Blueprint
7:26 AM
Anonymous said…
Hello there! I could have sworn I've been to this site before but after reading through some of the post I
realized it's new to me. Anyhow, I'm definitely happy I
found it and I'll be bookmarking and checking back often!

My web site Inbox Blueprints ()
5:38 AM
Marisa Keramida said…
Thanks for this post. As an instructional designer for eLearning I’m very much interested in the opinion of others about the seat time issue. I’ve read another article recently on the same topic that mentions some excellent factors that may influence seat time for a particular eLearning course such as the complexity of subject matter, type of screen (multimedia or text), degree of user interaction per screen, time allowed for critical thinking, whether content can be skipped or not, among others. I provide the link as a reference to those interested: http://elearningindustry.com/5-factors-to-consider-when-calculating-seat-time-in-elearning.

I agree with you that different learners have different learning speeds. With respect to the 80% estimate you mention in order to calculate seat time for the eLearning course is it something you have confirmed from practical experience? Can you provide any documentation on this? I would be very much interested in reading more on this.
8:27 AM
Anonymous said…
Greetings from Florida! I'm bored to tears at work so I decided
to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break.

I really like the information you provide here and can't wait
to take a look when I get home. I'm surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile ..
I'm not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, fantastic blog!
3:05 AM
Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Best Practices: Using Webex for Online Collaboration

-
Find out if all members of the audience know how to use Webex. If not, train them on the basics and the specific features they would need to use to collaborate in your session. For example, if they need to use the whiteboard, show them how prior to the session. Send the URL and log in steps prior to the meeting. Teleconference details (if required) should be sent along with the log in information. This ensures that all relevant information pertaining to the session is provided in a single email. Keep the password for the session short, easy to remember and easy to spell out over phone. Advise the clients that installation of Webex software would take about 2-3 minutes before they are initiated into the session. Be well-prepared to conduct the session in the absence of the Webex tool: Plan for technical snags (which occur occasionally in online collaboration tools) by sending the presentation and supporting material to the audience ahead of the meeting. Be sure to have contact numbers ...
Read more

Competency Development Plan-At a glance

-
Objective Provide comprehensive competence management with an account focus where training function is an active partner to the business objective. Process Step 1: Analysis Step 2: Design Step 3: Develop Step 4: Implement Step 5: Evaluate Determine the measurement matrices Define critical success factors The forthcoming postings will cover the above aspects in greater depth.
Read more

Job Aid for Coaching and Feedback

-
I created the job aid as part of my job application with one of the Fortune 10 companies. Check it out here .  This was one of the steps in the selection process. I moved to the next level. I must say, I am quite proud of this job aid because I think it creatively blends various management and leadership theories to create a useful tool for the managers. This is four days of stimulating work. I loved it! I even worked through my birthday for this document.  I did not get the job though. I lost my nerve during my interview with the hiring manager's manager. The sixth and the final round of selection. I guess I tried too hard and balanced too many things that day for a 15 minute call. I honestly believe the decision was unfair, but then who's listening?
Read more

Learning Retention

-
It is well known that active learners learn better. More the number of sense organs employed in learning, better the retention. People generally remember: 10 percent of what they read 20 percent of what they hear 30 percent of what they see 50 percent of what they hear and see 70 percent of what they say and write 90 percent of what they do and talk about This thought is exemplified by the unique learning style of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. He had very little formal schooling and was mostly self-taught. Abraham Lincoln read aloud the newspaper everyday (see, speak, hear). This habit enabled him to remember what he read, improve his language skills and overcome his speech disorder to become one of the best orators of all times.
Read more

Competency Development Plan-Design

-
Step 2: Design Create a skill-rating scale (1-5) against each identified competency (Learning Consultant (LC)) Benchmark rating on desirable competency performance Indicate where the star performer currently is at Indicate acceptable competency performance Create weighted competency-rating scale (1-5) (LC) Prioritize competencies in the competency dictionary using weighted scale (Account leadership) Determine conditional competencies (LC and account leadership) Outcome Skill-rating scale Weighted competency-rating scale Li st of role-based competencies in order of their importance to the account Teams involved LC Senior account leaders
Read more