Note: This article appeared in Intranet Professional, prior to its relaunch as Intranets (in 2004).

The beauty of Web technologies all along has been the ability to create layered information structures, which users can peel back, link by link, as needed. But so far, design best practices in this area have lagged. Integrating learning tools right into a site's design is an answer that expands context, promotes learning, and, if done well, meets users' expectations, before some users may have even formed any.

—Alison J. Head, a usability expert and principal of Alison J. Head & Associates

What Learning Tools Are
What exactly is a learning tool? Is it different for different people in different environments and with different learning needs? Yes—absolutely. For the purpose of this article, a learning tool is any available resource that can potentially contribute to the ongoing learning and development of an individual or team in a corporate environment. This broad definition includes items like e-books (electronic books). An e-book is a learning resource that can become even more valuable when integrated with other learning tools that are presented in context with the topic of the e-book. This article explores examples from SunLibrary to show the added employee value of having those additional learning tools.

How Learning Tools are Selected
Learning tools, such as e-books, e-journals, market research reports, and technical reports are selected based on their strategic value-add to the organization. At Sun Microsystems, SunLibrary (Sun's corporate library) reviews many factors when evaluating learning resources to bring into Sun or when developing custom resources. Some of the criteria assessed include the following:

• the strategic value-add to Sun
• how they are accessed
• if their usage and impact to employees and to Sun can be measured
• how many employees and what employees are impacted by them
• if the subject nature of the learning tool maps to a strategic initiative at Sun
• whether or not employees need/want it
• whether or not employees will need training on how to use the learning tool

Learning Tool Integration and SunLibrary's Role
SunLibrary staff spends significant time and energy ensuring that key learning tools (Web sites, databases, articles, people) are connected and integrated with other learning resources at Sun developed by various groups. There is proven value in providing targeted learning from SunLibrary into other resources at Sun. The targeted nature of the strategy is in aligning with basic Web navigation or Web architecture principals that take into account two types of users: those that know exactly what they are looking for and those who do not. For both audiences, if learning tools that relate to a specific area of a Web site are included in a learning path or community of practice, the employee will benefit greatly from the additional learning tools as they directly apply to a learning activity the employee is currently involved in. This is of course a very good marketing and communication approach as well—integrating targeted messages and information in context to what the user is viewing.

SunLibrary recently offered Web-based learning sessions on how best to find company information. The communications strategy was to embed information about the upcoming sessions into various areas of Sun's intranet where employees typically might go to find company information (specific sections of Sun's MYsales portal, Sun's internal university Web site, SunLibrary Web site, etc.).

Marketing and Communications
SunLibrary has its own intranet that includes access to learning resources and custom developed content critical to the on-going learning and development needs of employees (from marketing and sales to engineers, administrators, and human resources). Many knowledge workers at Sun leverage SunLibrary in some shape or form. Ensuring that employees are aware of the learning tools via SunLibrary is a critical part of staff deliverables.

Marketing and communications can include alerting targeted communities at Sun via aliases (e-mail) of new tools, resources, or knowledge that is available and most likely of interest to the particular audience. For example, SunLibrary manages a Knowledge Management (KM) Center covering all types of learning tools. When new information is available and posted to the Center, the KM community is alerted through a newsletter, aliases, and Web sites.

Measuring Success
Usage metrics and integration quality are key measures. Without this information, it is difficult to understand if there is any value-add to the employee's learning experience. When a new learning tool and another tool are integrated, (e.g. course, portal, Web site, newsletter), usage of the tool is monitored in order to keep a pulse on whether that specific integration is responsible for any increase in usage or not. If usage does not increase, the integration context is reviewed to better understand why the learning tool is not being leveraged. If usage increases, it is one indicator of success.

Of course usage metrics only provide so much information. Another determinant of success is finding out how the tools were used and if continued and enhanced learning took place because of the availability and access to the learning tool. In addition, it is important to understand the outcome for Sun. Was the employee who discovered the availability of a specific technical e-journal, due to it's integration with a key Sun technical Web site, able to more quickly solve a problem, get an answer to a question, or impact a new revenue stream for Sun?

Conclusion
The integration of learning tools, in context, into other learning avenues has proven to be an effective way for employees to learn about these additional tools and continue their learning cycle. The outcome is that SunLibrary, in one of many ways, is impacting the learning and knowledge-gathering experience for Sun employees—which can have a positive effect on Sun's long-term success and competitive advantage.