VIA and Walmart Recognized with Prestigious Award for Excellence in Global eLearning

PORTLAND, Ore. - May 19, 2015 - PRLog -- VIA was recognized by the Horizon Interactive Awards, a leading international interactive media awards competition, for its excellence in the Training/E-Learning category with a Bronze Level award for the “Global Investigations Training Academy” the company created and translated for Walmart.

VIA partnered with Walmart to create a best-in-class, blended Global Investigations Training Academy. Utilizing best-practice instructional design and usability heuristics, VIA broke up the comprehensive program into five easily digestible topics with a video-on-demand (VOD) component and an interactive E-Learning component for each. These modules laid the groundwork for follow-up face-to-face classroom experiences. By blending delivery modes, VIA was able to leverage a proven spaced learning model to increase the effectiveness and engagement of the learners.

“We are very pleased with the final product that the VIA team developed in both the E-Learning and Instructor Lead Training content,” said Frank Johnson, Senior Director, Global Investigations Training Academy, Walmart. “The VIA team worked very hard to make sure the modules were everything we needed them to be. Our associates have especially enjoyed the interactive portions throughout the E-Learning modules.”

Moreover, the VIA team was able to leverage its extensive experience with translating English course content in order to build the training academy with localization in mind. This allowed VIA to reduce the total cost and turnaround time for this course, as well as future revisions or modifications, to be localized into Spanish, Simplified Chinese and Portuguese.

“VIA is proud of the global blended learning program we developed with Walmart,” said Nic McMahon, Chief Operating Officer, VIA. “This recognition underlines that VIA is a trusted and proven partner for companies seeking to train their global workforces. Walmart has been a valued partner throughout the collaborative process and the course is a testament to the creative spirit of the company and its employees around the globe.”

The 2.5 minute VOD quick learning modules covered core concepts, vocabulary, and policy regarding Corporate Investigations. Playable on any device, they could be consumed on mobile devices and the non-interactive audio component makes them ideal for learners to engage in any location… even while commuting or walking. In addition, the sequence of 15 minute interactive E-Learning modules expanded on the core concepts and provided Walmart employees with an opportunity to practice what they were learning in a safe space through interactive scenarios, case studies and other techniques with immediate remediation and feedback.

“We have continued to see a trend where an emphasis is placed on consistency of the digital experience across all touch-points of user interaction from desktop to tablet to mobile phone,” said, Mike Sauce, Founder of the Horizon Interactive Awards. “The bottom line, our 2014 winners truly do exhibit a mastery of the optimal blend between aesthetics, outstanding content, innovation, usability and performance.”

The 13th annual, international competition saw over 1200 entries from 27 countries around the world. An international panel of judges consisting of industry professionals with diverse backgrounds, as well as an end user panel, evaluated categories ranging from online advertising to mobile applications. The 2014 winning entries showcase the industry’s best interactive media solutions including web sites, mobile applications, print media, interactive displays, public exhibits, online advertising, video, email and more. For more information visit the Horizon Interactive Awards online: www.horizoninteractiveawards.com.