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