The Effectiveness of Online Training by Peter Peterka
Online training is known by numerous names and
acronyms--computer-based training (CBT), web-based training
(WBT), cyber-training, distance learning, e-learning, etc. By
whatever name, online training is a method of delivering
training through an electronic medium without the immediate
presence of a human instructor. By taking advantage of
technology, online training can be more cost effective by
delivering more knowledge in a more flexible and efficient
manner.
There are distinct advantages to online training that may apply
to your organization. With an online training course you have
the ability to consolidate education and training across
geographical and time constraints. Courses can be delivered to
people in different offices without the expense of travel and
with less interruption of work schedules. For individuals with
busy schedules, online training courses offer the flexibility of
being available when the people are able to take the training.
This flexibility is the strongest facet of online training and
the flexibility extends beyond scheduling. For many people, an
online training course supplies material in a more palatable
manner then instructor-led courses. This certainly isn't true
for everyone, but the power of online training to help many
people makes it an important tool for your training program.
Online training is self-paced and includes interactive
tutorials, questionnaires, case studies, self-assessment, and
other features that easily assimilate to individual learning
styles. Because people have more control over their training
experience, online training offers the opportunity to learn in a
non-stressful environment.
An online training course combines the advantages of uniformity
in training and self-paced training. The basic course is the
same for each trainee (while still offering you the chance to
tailor instruction more easily) but can be delivered to
different people at different times. While a human instructor is
only available a limited time, online training materials don't
"go home" and trainees can review the subject matter as needed
or desired. Support can be supplied via e-mail or phone.
Online training most likely will not require any additional
equipment at your location. Training is delivered through
existing computers and an Internet connection. Most online
courses will run through any Internet browser on any operating
system. You will need to dedicate newer and powerful computers
to the training is the course has graphics, sound or video.
Don't make the mistake of using old castoff computers as your
training computers. That will just make your trainees frustrated.
Still, being in an electronic format alone does not ensure that
training is effective. How do you make the online training
course effective for your people? To be effective, an online
training course must be interactive without being messy. Bells
and whistles are not always a benefit if they overburden the
user. The course material and its interface should be
streamlined. So, while you can incorporate video and audio
instructions, interactive simulations, testing modules, and the
like, the question you should be constantly asking is: "does
this add to the substance of the course?" Does the way
information is being portrayed supplement the learning object of
a particular topic. If it does not add to the real content of
the course and increase the knowledge of your trainees, then all
of the flash and pizzazz will end up being more distracting than
helpful. Likewise, always be sure that the learning interface,
navigation graphics, and control buttons are easily understood
and useable.
The self-paced flexibility of online training can also be a
negative as well as a positive. Flexible should not mean
unstructured. Yes, people can take the training when it fits
their own schedule, but that schedule should still be a
structured, set time, not just starting and ending when they
feel like it. Thus, you probably want to have the online
training course only available on computers inside a dedicated
training room. Assign specific times for trainees to come for
training in an environment where they can train undistracted.
Really, your online training environment should be similar to an
instructor-led training environment--a room conducive to
learning and concentration where trainees can get the most out
of their time.
When designed and carried out systematically and in an organized
manner online training can be highly effective. Either as an
addition to or a replacement for the face-to-face classroom
environment, online training can be a strong part of your
organization's training environment.
Peter Peterka is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt for Six Sigma us and
has implemented Six Sigma in a variety of organizations. For
additional information for Six
Sigma Online Training please contact Peter Peterka at http://www.6sigma.us/