David Batchelor - MA in Learning and Technology (MALAT)

Why Royal Roads University, and why the MALAT (formerly MADL - MA in Distributed Learning) program? Two good questions.

Well, as a performance improvement consultant in the corporate sector, most of my clients operate in a distributed environment – with employees scattered across Canada, if not the world.

Therefore, as I searched for a post-graduate program to advance my personal and professional development, the Royal Roads MA in Learning and Technology caught my attention immediately.

I was looking for a comprehensive program that I could complete from a distance, given a demanding workload and family life. Specifically, I was interested in studying organizational learning and performance improvement, e-learning and Electronic Performance Support System (EPSS). Unfortunately, I couldn`t just return to school full-time to pursue my academic dreams.

Upon careful review, the MALAT program proved to be exactly what I was looking for!

I was also intrigued by the RRU model, which blends online learning with residency sessions. Then, as I dug further, I learned of the global reputation RRU was building as a first-class, progressive institution. I was sold!

Fast-forward... Now I`m done. In retrospect, the program was great. It exceeded all my expectations. So much so, I`m now an associate faculty member.

RRU`s cohort model made a real difference. Progressing through the program with a community of other learners enhanced the learning experience significantly, and allowed us all to build a lifelong network of fellow professionals, and friends! This cohort approach really differentiates RRU from other institutions.

However, the journey was not easy per se. The workload and academic challenges of the RRU program are real. Trying to fit a graduate school agenda into an already busy schedule was difficult. Luckily, my family was extremely supportive and understanding, and provided me the time and space needed for my studies.

Also, doing schoolwork at home alone is like a double-edged sword. On one hand, it`s great because you can do the work at my own time and pace, rather than having to attend inconvenient night school classes at the same time every week. And on the other hand, it requires a high degree of self-discipline and motivation.

For me, the most powerful learning came from completing the major project (or thesis). This independent study project allowed me to explore a particular field of interest in great depth, thus developing an area of unique expertise.

Specifically, my research involved building a model of strategies to help learners apply their learning from corporate training programs back on the job. The literature suggests that less than 25 per cent of corporate training actually gets applied on the job. As a performance improvement consultant, that`s pretty disappointing to me. Therefore, I was keenly interested in finding ways to help companies improve the return they get from their training investments - and help learners benefit from participating - by improving overall transfer rates.

Another key learning moment came approximately midway through the program, during a team consulting project. The experience of working together with a team of colleagues on a highly practical, applied, problem-based learning assignment, really helped to crystallize much of the learning from previous courses... it made the learning much more "real".

It`s valuable to note that contrary to other post-secondary learning experiences I`ve had in the past, I began applying what I learned at RRU the first day I returned from my kick-off residency. The MADL program has impacted the way I undertake consulting projects, the recommendations I offer clients, and the types of contracts our firm can pursue.

In fact, in the past 12 months I have conducted two consulting projects that would have never been possible without my RRU education. And since my employer sponsored my participation in the MALAT degree, our firm can now show a 685 per cent return-on-investment based on these two projects alone!

David Batchelor, MALAT (formerly MADL) graduate and now associate faculty member, vice-president HORN (a performance improvement firm)