| Increasingly, employers are recognizing that | | | | people retain information. Studies have shown |
| many critical skills cannot be effectively | | | | that people remember 20% of what they see and |
| taught in the classroom and need to be | | | | 40% of what they see and hear. Interactive |
| reinforced and enhanced in the job setting. | | | | multimedia computer-based training allows |
| | | | people to remember 70% of what they see, |
| Interactive multimedia computer-based | | | | hear, and do. |
| training (IMCBT) has become the buzz term in | | | | |
| training and business circles. Many people | | | | No-risk situations... |
| have heard of it, but few can define it if | | | | |
| asked. | | | | IMCBT can simulate many work, laboratory or |
| | | | field environments that may be inaccessible |
| What is it? | | | | for on-site training demonstrations. Students |
| | | | can safely practice and master skills, |
| Interactive. This term applies to any type of | | | | allowing their progress to be monitored and |
| program or training that requires the learner | | | | improvements measured and documented before |
| to do more than just sit and watch or listen. | | | | applying them in a potentially hazardous |
| The theory behind interactivity is that the | | | | situation. For example, new workers in a |
| individual will learn faster and retain more | | | | manufacturing plan can master the skills to |
| information than is possible through passive | | | | operate machinery before they assume their |
| or non-participatory education. | | | | work duties. |
| | | | |
| Multimedia. In its purest sense, multimedia | | | | IMCBT Disadvantages |
| refers to any product that uses more than one | | | | |
| medium to convey information. So by | | | | Many companies find it difficult to keep |
| definition, a program that uses text and | | | | their employees abreast of the latest |
| graphics is a multimedia product. Today, the | | | | technologies and techniques. A more serious |
| term connotes the use of audio and video. | | | | problem is the fact that many employees - |
| | | | from the blue-collar worker to the |
| Computer-based Training (CBT). CBT refers to | | | | professional - lack the basic skills they |
| any training whose primary delivery mechanism | | | | should have learned in high school. |
| is a computer. Facilitated discussion or | | | | |
| exercises (i.e. with another application, | | | | These are some of the drawbacks to using |
| with a piece of equipment, interacting with | | | | IMCBT: |
| other individuals, etc.) can accompany CBT. | | | | |
| The term used to describe the software for | | | | * Need access to a computer |
| the CBT is courseware. | | | | |
| | | | * Must understand and know how to use a |
| When should a company consider using IMCBT? | | | | computer |
| | | | |
| In 1997, instructors in live classrooms | | | | * Personnel resistance |
| delivered almost 80% of all training. By the | | | | |
| year 2000, computers will deliver over 50% of | | | | * Must be well-done |
| all training worldwide. In fact, over 50% of | | | | |
| U.S. businesses have already incorporated | | | | Need access to a computer... |
| some type of computer-based training. | | | | |
| Interactive training has grown at a dramatic | | | | Students must have access to computers at |
| rate as more and more organizations see the | | | | home, at work, or at some training location |
| benefits this technology can bring. | | | | within the company to use IMCBT. Sometimes |
| | | | computer access is possible. |
| Limited manpower and financial resources, | | | | |
| along with the growing demands of rapidly | | | | Must understand and know how to use a |
| changing markets, have forced trainers to | | | | computer... |
| consider alternative methods of training. | | | | |
| | | | To use an IMCBT, it is assumed that the |
| Many companies need to provide some sort of | | | | personnel being trained are somewhat computer |
| training or instruction to their workers and | | | | literate. They must know how to use a |
| or customers. In fact, over 50% of U.S. | | | | keyboard and a mouse. Some people must be |
| businesses have already incorporated some | | | | trained, at a minimum, basic computer skills |
| type of computer-based training. This is | | | | prior to using an IMCBT program. |
| especially true for technology-based firms. | | | | |
| These companies have several options for | | | | Personnel resistance... |
| providing needed training: they can send | | | | |
| people to school, hold in-house training | | | | Some people have phobias concerning the use |
| classes, provide manuals and self-study | | | | of computers, while others balk at any type |
| guides, and/or use IMCBT. | | | | of computer function. They may feel it is too |
| | | | impersonal or that the computer is "out to |
| Interactive training has grown at a dramatic | | | | get them". Some people may simply "freeze up" |
| rate as more and more organizations see the | | | | when confronted with learning on a computer. |
| benefits these technologies can bring. If you | | | | |
| are a company who is considering implementing | | | | Must be well-done... |
| IMCBT, there are several questions that need | | | | |
| to be answered. | | | | The IMCBT must be designed and written in a |
| | | | quality manner for the students to keep |
| * What are IMCBT advantages? | | | | interest and learn. A good IMCBT program will |
| | | | not contain too many graphics, videos, or |
| * What are IMCBT disadvantages? | | | | colors. It should be pleasing to the eye and |
| | | | easy to see. A poorly designed IMCBT can |
| * How do you make the decision to use IMCBT? | | | | result in boredom or even confuse the person |
| | | | who is supposed to learn the material. A |
| This white paper will help you to answer | | | | person can learn more from a poor teacher |
| these questions and explain the advantages | | | | than from a poorly designed IMCBT program. |
| and disadvantages of using IMCBT as a | | | | |
| training option. You will then be able to | | | | Types of IMCBT Programs |
| determine when and where your company should | | | | |
| implement IMCBT for training personnel and/or | | | | * Software Training |
| customers. | | | | |
| | | | * Medical Certifications |
| IMCBT Advantages | | | | |
| | | | * Equipment Training |
| Interactive multimedia computer-based | | | | |
| training has advantages over traditional | | | | * Simulations |
| classroom training: | | | | |
| | | | * Service Training |
| * better than reading a manual, | | | | |
| | | | * Adult Education |
| * cost-effective, | | | | |
| | | | * Safety Training |
| * practical, | | | | |
| | | | * Sales Training |
| * standard, | | | | |
| | | | * Orientation |
| * better knowledge retention, | | | | |
| | | | * Internet Training |
| * presents a no-risk situation. | | | | |
| | | | * Product Training |
| Can be better than reading the manual... | | | | |
| | | | * Quality Training |
| Manuals are usually more effective as a | | | | |
| reference tool than as a learning. Self-study | | | | * K-12 Learning |
| guides can be considered dull and boring. | | | | |
| Many working people do not have the | | | | * Military Training |
| motivation or skills to sit down and teach | | | | |
| themselves by reading a manual or self-study | | | | * Foreign Languages |
| guide. On the other hand, IMCBT attracts the | | | | |
| student's interest and can even be enjoyable | | | | * Employment Policies |
| to use. It would certainly work better than | | | | |
| simply learning from a manual. | | | | * Sexual Harassment Policies |
| | | | |
| IMCBT can simulate many work situations, | | | | * Basic Employment Skills |
| giving the worker practice in real-time, and | | | | |
| that progress can be monitored and | | | | How do you make the decision? |
| improvements measured and documented through | | | | |
| the software. IMCBT helps transform workers | | | | Businesses make most sound decisions based on |
| unskilled in a given area to those who are | | | | potential return on investment (ROI). It is |
| proficient in that task. | | | | assumed that the company has already |
| | | | determined that training their personnel and |
| Cost-effective... | | | | or customers is a value-added activity. Now, |
| | | | the question is whether or not IMCBT is the |
| Training can be expensive, and the major | | | | best route to take. |
| consideration in training is cost. The main | | | | |
| concern a business has when it is deciding to | | | | Criteria for deciding to use IMCBT include: |
| invest in something, is the return on | | | | |
| investment (ROI). Interactive multimedia | | | | * Cost and practicality of sending learners |
| computer-based training will give a business | | | | to a class |
| an average of over 100% ROI. | | | | |
| | | | * Availability of computers and computer |
| After the initial development cost, IMCBT | | | | literacy |
| will save a company a considerable amount in | | | | |
| training expenses, as it can be used over and | | | | * CBT development cost versus the number |
| over again. | | | | being trained |
| | | | |
| As the number of people being trained | | | | An effective decision can be made once these |
| increases, IMCBT decreases the cost of | | | | issues have been weighed. |
| training. This includes situations where many | | | | |
| people must be trained, as well as cases | | | | Conclusion... |
| where companies have a high turnover of | | | | |
| personnel. Utilizing innovative and more | | | | Every company needs to have well-trained |
| efficient methods of training and education | | | | personnel who will be able to do their jobs |
| can have a significant, positive impact on | | | | effectively and add value to the company's |
| businesses and individuals. Companies can | | | | output. In today's age of information, |
| take better advantage of their computer | | | | knowledge is power. The more knowledge you |
| investment by using them as learning centers. | | | | and your employees have, the more powerful |
| | | | and successful your company will be. |
| Practical... | | | | |
| | | | While traditional, stand-up classroom |
| When the people to be trained are widely | | | | training will not disappear, alone it simply |
| dispersed, travel time and costs to send them | | | | cannot provide adequate solutions to the |
| to a class is prohibitive, and sending | | | | training and education problems of today. |
| trainers to them is not practical. IMCBT | | | | Computer-based training does not cook |
| allows the worker to study as this or her own | | | | breakfast, cure baldness or do windows. It is |
| convenience, without the necessity of | | | | not the best solution for all human |
| scheduling times for classes. IMCBT programs | | | | performance issues and needs. Employed |
| dramatically increase comprehension and | | | | appropriately, however, multimedia training |
| retention of information by appealing to more | | | | can yield significant, positive results: less |
| of the student's senses through the use of | | | | time and cost, better learning and |
| multimedia presentations. IMCBT not only | | | | performance, and improved competitive edge. |
| provides better results than classroom | | | | |
| sessions, but can also take up to 30% less | | | | Companies should consider using an |
| time to complete. | | | | interactive multimedia computer-based |
| | | | training when it is cost effective, |
| Standardized... | | | | practical, and when standardized education is |
| | | | needed. PCs must be available, students |
| Since different teachers and trainers have | | | | cannot resist using a computer, and the IMCBT |
| different styles of instruction, all | | | | must be well designed to provide the desired |
| personnel may not receive the same training. | | | | effect. In all, IMCBT can help to transform |
| IMCBT assures standardization of the training | | | | workers and customers unskilled in a given |
| and content presented. Everyone sees the same | | | | area to those who are proficient in those |
| information and is exposed to identical | | | | tasks. |
| learning environments. The reliability of | | | | |
| instruction, quality of information, and | | | | Written by Lisa Spurlin, I would like to |
| presentation of materials is consistent from | | | | offer your company a FREE, no-obligation |
| user to user and session to session. IMCBT is | | | | evaluation of your current training system. I |
| active and the student must participate. | | | | can show you how to improve training and save |
| | | | your company money. If you do not have a |
| Better knowledge retention... | | | | training system in place, I can show you how |
| | | | IMCBT can benefit your business. Please |
| IMCBT programs provide a multi-sensory | | | | contact me at for more information. |
| learning environment that maximizes the way | | | | |