The sales and management training we have been offering our teams is 95% classroom training.  Since most adults only get about 15% of what they learn from structured training and they get 85% of what they learn from informal learning sources we are changing learning at AutoNation.

Our manufacturer partners have used blended learning approaches for years, combining online training, with live events and in-dealership consultations.  We have the later two covered very well but haven't used online training to suppliment and compliment our classroom training as effectively as we could/should.  That is changing.

We have been using a bit of webex training for Phone, eCommerce and software training.  Now we're going expand the blended learning approach to many more areas of our business.  Leveraging technology in learning just like we do in every other area of our business.

As we all know, the really good learning comes from our successful peers.  Those who do what we do rather than the training "expert."  There are many tools out there to facilitate peer-to-peer social learning across entire organizations.  Why wait until peers have an opportuntiy to get together face-to-face?  Why wait for 20 group meetings to learn things from other dealerships?  Can we leverage our considerable talent pool to help each other get better all the time?  The answer is yes.

I'd love to hear what other dealerships are doing to use technology to help make their training programs and the learning and development of their teams more efficient and effective.  Who is having success using online training for other things besides product knowledge?  Who, if anyone, is using technology to facilitate social peer-to-peer learning?