Frontline Group's e-Learning Course Named One of the Top 10 Training Products of 2000.

Business Editors/Technology Writers

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 2000

Human Resource Executive magazine has selected Frontline Group's Web-based course, eLearning: Pathway to Performance Excellence, as one of the top 10 training products of 2000. This interactive course, created by the Frontline Group Technology Center in Boulder, Colo., offers practical guidelines and workable solutions to one of the most confusing and technology-fueled issues facing corporate executives: How do you use e-learning to attract, train and motivate workers in a knowledge economy?

"For more and more organizations, e-learning represents a bridge to a future that will be dominated by knowledge workers," says Sheila Paxton, Frontline Group's executive vice president of instructional design, technology and deployment. "But most managers are unsure what to look for in effective e-learning approaches and don't know how to overcome the cultural barriers associated with self-directed learning. When we looked for a way to demonstrate the capabilities of our new e-learning development tool, we decided to create a course that would help busy executives and managers learn about the application of technology to corporate learning."

"eLearning: Pathway to Performance Excellence is something every HR professional should consider, especially if he or she wants to make more sense of the often confusing world of online learning," say Human Resource Executive's editors in the magazine's September issue. One of the highlights of the course, note the editors, is "Frontline Group's R.O.L.E. (Real-world Online Learning Experience) simulation, a complex series of interactive exercises that, among other things, offers managers multiple ways to respond to sticky situations."

An integral part of Frontline's highly scalable courseware architecture, the R.O.L.E. simulation is a powerful learning tool that...

-- challenges the learner to make choices and decisions with realistic
simulations of workplace scenarios.

-- provides e-learning that goes beyond baseline knowledge to building skills.

-- offers multiple paths within the practice exercises, which results in a
number of different outcomes.

-- enables the learner to repeat all or parts of the R.O.L.E. simulation to see
how other paths unfold or how outcomes might be improved.

-- tracks, scores and reports results.

-- fosters immediate use and application of the behaviors modeled.

"We are thrilled that this course was selected as one of the 10 best training products of 2000 and that the editors of Human Resource Executive specifically called attention to our R.O.L.E. simulation," says Marguerite Sallee, CEO of Frontline Group. "We believe that realistic simulations which immerse learners in the attitudes, behaviors and emotional reactions of others are key to engaging and helping learners apply and retain their new knowledge."

eLearning is an excellent example of Frontline's design philosophy, adds Paxton. "Along with rich multimedia technology and well-written content, we build in methods to help the learner apply the knowledge. Everything we do is built around adult-learning theory and anchored in instructional design. The information is also `chunked' so that learners can find what they need quickly."

eLearning: Pathway to Performance Excellence is available free at www.frontline-group.com. Visually arresting and easy to use, the course allows people to experience Web-based training at the same time that they are learning about the subject. The course begins with a short assessment of a user's understanding of the e-learning and then allows him or her to explore five topics:

-- advantages of e-learning

-- essentials of e-technology

-- principles of powerful instructional design

-- elements of effective learning management

-- e-learning return on investment

Learners can follow the course outline or choose a self-directed path. The administrative function behind the course tracks their progress regardless of the chosen direction. The last segment of the course is an evaluation of a user's comprehension of the material. Frontline also has included suggestions for presenting e-learning to top management, evaluating outside e-learning curricula and promoting a self-directed learning program within an organization.

After completing the course, users will have a solid understanding of the technology, techniques and theory that make e-learning successful.

About Frontline Group

Frontline Group is a leading consulting and training company that focuses on improving workforce performance. The company develops and provides performance solutions for more than 500 companies in key industries such as financial services, high tech, telecommunications, health care and industrial/manufacturing. Frontline, which employs nearly 500 people, has corporate headquarters in Nashville, Tenn.; the Frontline Technology Center in Boulder, Colo.; and seven other divisions with operations in numerous locations across North America and globally. The company has financial backing from GTCR Golder Rauner, LLC, a leading private equity investment firm with over $4 billion in capital under management, and debt financing from its senior lender, Heller Financial.

Media Kit and Logos: Download available in Newsroom at www.frontline-group.com