The client
Antarctica New Zealand is the Crown Entity responsible for developing, managing and executing New Zealand Government activities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, in particular the Ross Dependency. 

The challenge
Antarctica New Zealand’s presence on the ice results in the ongoing need to train new staff for base operations in the summer. It also prepares approximately 250 non-employees involved in activities co-coordinated or supported by the organisation.

With a continual requirement to train new people, Antarctica New Zealand was looking for an online solution for delivering aspects of its pre-deployment programme in preparation for face-to-face training. They identified the need for a partner to help build an eLearning strategy and to pilot eLearning in Environmental Awareness. Synapsys was chosen as that partner through a competitive response process.

The solution
Our first step was simply to spend time with Antarctica New Zealand, getting a deep understanding of its unique profile. When we were agreed on the goals, we proposed and executed a strategy that:

• Provided a ‘sandpit’ Learning Management System (LMS) that avoided the need for capex while providing an environment to test the value of eLearning.
• Developed a visual style and treatment of content that built on the Antarctica New Zealand brand in a new context. Templates are re-usable so that further modules can be built easily.
• Worked with Antarctica New Zealand’s subject experts to storyboard and develop eLearning content that was creative, engaging and delivered the pre-learning that was needed.
• Developed assessments and an evaluation process.
• Supported Antarctica New Zealand to implement and administer the system themselves.

The benefit
The primary benefit is that some information is delivered online before the main face-to-face training takes place. This means that the new staff:

• have time to learn about the Environmental Code of Conduct while they are excited and interested about the topic – just as they receive their letter of acceptance.
• attend the face-to-face course with some knowledge of the topic, allowing for a deeper learning experience on the course.
• benefit from greater flexibility in access to learning.

For the client though, being new to eLearning, their own understanding of the real value of this new approach is critical. So too is the expanded capability they have to utilise it further in the future.