Ways of comparing methods
AS WE HAVE SEEN, the criteria to be used for evaluating alternatives can vary enormously. On top of this, the differences between the various methods are numerous and quite subtle. As a result, there is a wide range of questions that has to be answered to specify exactly what the situation is and how the various alternatives match up.
Population variability
The first area to address is the variability within the population. Ask yourself (against a scale from 0 to 4) to what extent the trainees ...
- vary in terms of their current level of knowledge or skill of the subject
- vary in their aptitude for achieving the required knowledge and skills
- vary in terms of the learning they will need
The implication here is that high variability suggests an individualised or maybe a small group approach, where trainees can work at their own pace and the material can be organised in a more modular fashion.
Population preferences
Of course trainees come with the own prejudices, experiences and learning styles. Their preferences do matter. Using the 0-4 scale, ask yourself whether they tend to prefer to learn on their own, to receive individual instruction or to learn in a group.
Nature of the learning to be achieved
Often the potential effectiveness of a training method is governed by the nature of the learning objective. Ask yourself, using the same 0-4 scale, to what extent the learning is likely to be more effective if ...
- trainees can be away from job pressures for a continuous period
- trainees can interact with other trainees
- the training is undertaken in short sessions
- there are opportunities for live demonstration and practice
- trainees can receive the training at their own pace
- trainees can easily backtrack and review any part of the training
- the training is delivered consistently on every occasion
- trainees are able to ask questions of a subject matter expert
Media requirements
Another issue to consider is the requirement for specific media within the training process. First ask yourself, using the 0-4 scale, the extent to which each of the following are required to present the training effectively: text, voice, body language, still graphics/ photos, the actual equipment used on the job and animations/video sequences.
Then look at the extent to which the following media facilities are required for trainees to practise the required skills effectively: voice recording, video recording, computer simulations, the use of actual equipment.
Logistical issues
Practical considerations are also important. On the 0-4 scale, ask yourself to what extent &
- it is difficult to gather adequate numbers at any one time for classroom training
- it is difficult for trainees to travel to a central training site
- it is expensive for trainees to travel to a central training site
- it is difficult for trainees to be released for sufficient time to do the training in one go
- the training content will need to be regularly updated
Available resources
Its rare to have to make a decision on training methods without any history of previous training. There are usually resources at our disposal, of one sort or another, that we can apply to the new situation in order to bring the costs down.
People
How many experienced personnel do you have in-house in the following categories: training designers, developers of CBT materials, developers of a/v materials, on-job instructors/coaches, classroom training presenters?
Equipment
How many of the following items of equipment do you have available: intranet-enabled PCs, multimedia PCs, video players and monitors, audio cassette or CD players?
Facilities
How many classrooms do you have with basic visual aids, with full audio-visual support or with actual equipment for each trainee to practise with.
Existing materials
To what extent do you already have suitable materials available: training designs, audio-visual materials, computer-based training materials?
Off-the-shelf solutions
Of course there is always the option of buying an off-the-shelf solution in preference to creating one in-house or having it created for you. You need to know if suitable products are available off-the-shelf and what they would cost per trainee in each of the following categories:
- computer-based training materials
- stand-alone workbooks
- videos plus workbook
- audio cassettes/CDs plus workbook
- classroom course materials
- externally-run classroom courses
|
