VCE IT Theory Slideshows
User Training
By Mark Kelly
Vceit.com
Contents
• Types of training
• Factors to consider
• How to test the success of training
Training Methods Summary
– what I’m doing now
• Small group training
• One-on-one training
• Train the trainer
• Lecture
Whole Group Lecture
• Advantages - Quick, cheap
• Useful for
– Introductions
– Simple topics
– Common material that all users need to know
– When all users are at the same level of technical
expertise
Whole Group Lecture
• Not useful for
– Detailed, specific content
– Material only needed by small numbers of users
(e.g. Managers, technicians)
Whole Group Lecture
• Disadvantages of lectures
– Not tailored for any single user’s needs.
– May be too hard & confusing for some.
– May be too easy & boring for some.
– May be completely irrelevant to groups of users.
– Hard to stop and explain things to individuals or
small groups.
– Not much feedback gained from the audience to
ensure they understand.
– Retention rate from lectures is small for many
people
Small group training
• Can group users with similar skill levels and
training needs to refine
– What is taught (improved relevance)
– The speed of training
• Can better cater to individual needs and
answer individuals’ questions
Small group training
Disadvantages
• Slower than lecturing to get everyone trained
• More expensive
• Still may not be individualised enough for
some users
One-on-one training
• Training content, technique and speed can be
finely attuned to the user
• Can deal with specific needs of the user
One-on-one training
• Good for specialist users (e.g. Technician) with
special needs
• Expensive!
• Slow to get everyone trained.
Train the trainer
• Individuals from a larger group are trained
• They return to their colleagues and train them
in turn
• E.g. A representative from each regional
branch goes to a training day at head office,
then goes back to their branch to train
workmates
Train the trainer
Advantages
• Cheaper than training everyone
• Trainers can train colleagues in real-world,
familiar, comfortable environment
• Trainers are available on a daily basis
Train the trainer
Advantages
• Cheaper than training everyone
• Trainers can train colleagues in real-world,
familiar, comfortable environment
• Trainers are available on a daily basis
Train the trainer
Advantages
• Trainers can train new incomers
• Personalised training
• Cheaper than experts going to all employees
to train them
Train the trainer
Disadvantages
• If the trainer does not properly understand
the training, they can teach errors or bad
practice to everyone else
• Think of some dads teaching their kids to drive
• Needs a technically capable person with good
people skills (not always available!)
Training factors to consider
• When to train?
– Before the system is implemented for real
– Need time for staff to become familiar with the
system to avoid errors and slowness as they get
familiar with it
Training factors to consider
• When to train?
– During normal working hours?
• Takes employees off task = lost productivity
• Employees don’t have to use their own time to be
trained = better morale
Training factors to consider
• When to train?
– Out of normal working hours?
• No lost work hours
• Resentment by staff giving up their own time, or
• Extra cost of overtime if staff are paid to attend
Training factors to consider
Where to train?
• At the system provider’s venue?
– Training can happen before system is delivered to
client’s workplace
– System may not be fully tailored for client’s needs
– Inconvenience/stress/cost of getting to the venue
– May not get a realistic impression of how the
system will work in its final location
Training factors to consider
Where to train?
• At the place of work?
–
–
–
–
–
Easy for trainees to get there
Less stress
Less time/money wasted travelling
Comfortable, familiar environment
Get a good idea of how the system will work for real once
it’s in place
Training factors to consider
Where to train?
• At the place of work?
– Trainees are on site and can attend to real work in case of
emergency
– But training can be disrupted by trainees attending to
work-related interruptions
– Requires system to be implemented at the workplace
– New real-world in-house procedures can be worked out to
accommodate the new system
Training factors to consider
How to train?
• Hands-on experience? Slow, but powerful
learning.
• Expert Demonstration? Beginners may not
understand or follow without trying it
themselves
• Combination? Demonstrate, practice. Repeat.
Training factors to consider
How to train?
• Onscreen tutorials?
– Can take tutorials away and practice after the
training is done.
– Users can go at own pace, can repeat bits.
– Some people don’t learn well from tutorials.
Training factors to consider
How to train?
• Onscreen tutorials?
– Can take tutorials away and practice after the
training is done.
– Users can go at own pace, can repeat bits.
– Some people don’t learn well from tutorials.
Training factors to consider
How long to train?
• Intensive sessions (e.g. 8 hour day)?
– Training can be exhausting
– After a few hours, many people stop absorbing
new material
– Value for money, especially if transport is
expensive or time consuming
Training factors to consider
How long to train?
• Several shorter sessions (e.g. 4 x 2 hour)?
– More chance of remembering material
– Can practise between sessions
– Less disruption to normal work schedule
– Takes longer to get training finished
– Trainees may not be available for all sessions,
leaving skill gaps
Evaluating
the
effects
of
training
Ask the trainees
• Evaluation forms are commonly used
• Trainees can report their feelings, offer
suggestions for future training
• Trainers can improve their material or
technique after each session
Test the trainees
• Give them a pre-test and a post-test to
compare their level of understanding before
and after training
Task
• How could this training material have been
better delivered to you?
• What would the advantages and
disadvantages have been in terms of:
– Time required to get it done
– Quantity of information absorbed
– How well you understood it
– Your emotional state
VCE IT THEORY SLIDESHOWS
By Mark Kelly
mark@vceit.com
vceit.com
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