Heres a statement your friends in technology-based training dont want to hear: Technology does not build effective employees. Based on the evidence, its a statement most corporate training departments dont want to hear, either.

Consider the trend: In 1997, 80 percent of all training was led by instructors. By the end of 2000, that number had shrunk to about 55 percent. Perhaps most tellingly, the e-training industry alone is projected to be an estimated $40 billion market in 2005, with a five-year growth rate of approximately 42 percent. Corporations more and more frequently use technology to provide just-in-time, just-whats-needed training to their employees. But theres a potential disconnect here: If Marshall McLuhan were still with us, hed tell us to make sure technology remains the mediumand does not become the message.

In fairness, the trend is understandable. In the first place, the education and training industry has the appearance of being recession-proof. And why not? As the economy contractsmaking jobs more scarcecorporations, out-placement services, and individuals increasingly turn their time, attention, and resources toward the pursuit of additional education and training. Accordingly, as other industry segments contract with the economy, the education and training industry enjoys continued expansion.