Exploring the Emergence of Virtual Human Resource

Development(VHRD)

A Conversation with the Editors and several Authors of the Special Issue on VHRD

Advances in Developing Human Resources, 12(6), 2010

Presented to the Academy of Human Resource Development

May 12, 2011

VHRD Editors & Authors

Rochell Elisabeth “Liz” McWhorter Bennett

Diane Sophia Chapman Stone

Wen-Hao David Donna Huang Mancuso

Meet the Editors

Elisabeth “Liz” Bennett, PhDAssistant Professor, Medicine at Tufts University

Director of Education at Baystate Health

Rochell McWhorter, ABDSenior Lecturer

The University of Texas at Tyler

A media-rich and culturally relevant web[bed] environment that

strategically improvesexpertise, performance, innovation,

and community building through formal andinformal learning

(Adapted from Bennett, 2009)

A Definition of Virtual HRD

Table of Contents of Advances 12(6) Issue Foreword: Reflections on Virtual HRD from a Scholar-Practitioner Darren Short

* Exploring the Emergence of Virtual Human Resource Development Rochell McWhorter

* The Ecology of Virtual Human Resource Development Elisabeth E. Bennett and Laura L. Bierema

Harnessing and Optimal Utilization of Human Capital in Virtual Workplace Environments Fredrick M. Nafukho, Carroll M. Graham and Helen Machuma A. Muyia

* Measurement of Outcomes in Virtual Environments Diane D. Chapman and Sophia J. Stone

* A Study of Adult Learning in a Virtual World Donna S. Mancuso, Dominique T. Chlup and Rochell R. McWhorter

* Managing Employees’ Motivation, Cognition, and Performance in Virtual Workplaces: The Blueprint of a Game-based Adaptive Performance Platform (GAPP) Wen-Hao David Huang, Seung-Hyun, Un-Yeong Park and Jungmin Jamie Seo

Systemizing Virtual Learning and Technologies by Managing Organizational Competency and Talents Seung Won Yoon and Doo Hun Lim

* The Coming Paradigm Shift: Synthesis and Future Directions for Virtual HRD Elisabeth E. Bennett

Diane Chapman, Ed.D.Teaching Associate Professor

North Carolina State UniversityDirector of Training & Development

Online M.Ed. and Certificate Programs

North Carolina State University

“Measurement of Outcomes in Virtual Environments”

Diane D. Chapman and Sophia J. Stone

Sophia Stone, Ed.D.Teaching Associate Professor

Research Associate forFriday Institute for Educational

InnovationCoordinator of Graduate Certificate

Program in E-Learning North Carolina State University

Our Interest in VHRD Interest in immersive, more engaging learning for students

Work with military and allied health in virtual simulations

Previous research in instructional design, online learning, virtual worlds, and evaluation

Used Second Life for virtual office hours starting 2007

Used Active Worlds in course projects in 2008

2008, 2009, 2010 AHRD presentation about using Virtual Worlds in HRD

UNC-TLT presentations in Second Life

Dissertation research

About the Article Need: no consensus on what or how to evaluate learning in Virtual Worlds

Purpose: address methods and assessment techniques for measuring learning outcomes in VWs

Qualitative case study investigating evaluation practices in VWs & their relevance to VHRD, & literature review on evaluation and virtual worlds

Significance to VHRD Capturing learning that measures performance

Evaluating in context: performance based learning, authentic assessment, social learning, group learning artifacts, peer evaluation

Developing formalized evaluation plans & strategies for VHRD

Reducing barriers for HRD practitioners

“A Study of Adult Learning in a Virtual World”Donna S. Mancuso, Dominique T. Chlup and Rochell R. McWhorter

Donna Mancuso, M. S. Rochell McWhorter, ABD Graduate Teaching Assistant Senior Lecturer Texas A&M University The University of Texas at Tyler

Adult Learning in a Virtual Environment(A 2008 Innovative Session)

Rochell McWhorterDonna Mancuso

Andrew Hurt

Texas A&M University

Copyright 2008, 2011 Rochell McWhorter, Donna Mancuso & Andrew Hurt

Initial Clusters Emerging from Data

Enablers to Learning in Second Life:

1. Variety of Educational Topics Available2. Provides Opportunities for Multi-Disciplinary

Collaboration3. SL Facilitates Collaboration across geographical

boundaries4. Emergent/Immersive Environment and Presence

replaces old technologies5. Stimulates Life-long learning6. Health/Emotional Benefits reported by participants7. Cost savings (eliminating travel expenses/phone calls,

etc.)

45 Qualitative Interviews (approx. 1 hour duration) in Second Life™

Copyright 2008, 2011 Rochell McWhorter, Donna Mancuso & Andrew Hurt

Initial Clusters Emerging from Data

Barriers to Learning in Second Life:

8. Glitches in Technology reduce effectiveness

9. Addictiveness of SL10. Newbie/Learning Curve11. Funding Issues 12. Requires Self-Directedness

Copyright 2008, 2011 Rochell McWhorter, Donna Mancuso & Andrew Hurt

“Managing Employees’ Motivation, Cognition, and Performance in Virtual Workplaces: The Blueprint of

A Game-Based Adaptive Performance Platform (GAPP)”

Wen-Hao David Huang, Seung-Hyun, Un-Yeong Park and Jungmin Jamie Seo

Wen-Hao David Huang, Ph.D.Assistant Professor

University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign

“The Ecology of Virtual Human Resource Development”

Elisabeth E. Bennett and Laura L. Bierema

“The Coming Paradigm Shift: Synthesis and Future Directions for Virtual HRD”

Elisabeth E. Bennett

Elisabeth “Liz” Bennett, PhDAssistant Professor, Medicine at Tufts University

Director of Education at Baystate Health

Organization Learning Transfer Heuristic for VHRD

(Bennett , 2010)

Discussion Question:How are you extending your

work in Virtual HRD?

Rochell Elisabeth “Liz” McWhorter Bennett

Diane Sophia Chapman Stone

Wen-Hao David Donna Huang Mancuso

Q&AQuestions from our Audience

For more informationOn joining the Virtual HRD SIG or Reviewing Papers for VHRD Track at Academy of HRD Conference:

rmcwhorter@uttyler.eduelisabeth.bennett@bhs.org

Contact other Authors at:diane_chapman@ncsu.edu

sjstone@gw.ncsu.edudonnaman@tamu.eduwdhuang@illinois.edu

And, we’re all on LinkedIn too!