Overview What is Computer-based Training? Will Computer-based Training work for me? How does it work? Advantages and Disadvantages Cornhill Insurance Summary The purpose of this presentation is to give an explanatory training session on the uses, advantages, and disadvantages on computer-based training. A definition of computer based training will be followed by a series of questions one must ask to decide if and how computer-based training can be used in one’s organization. A real-life example of computer-based training will be based on Cornhill Insurance’s implementation of CBT.

What Is Computer-based Training (CBT) Courseware Specific computer software used for instructional purposes CMI vs. CAI Another name for CBT is courseware. It is specific computer software used to train people on certain topics. Computer managed instruction (CMI) is basically used to generate and score quizzes and tests as well as to document respective results. Computer assisted instruction is the actual presentation of the instruction through the computer terminal. They can be used separately or together.

Generic Vs. Authored Generic CBT Authored CBT Pre-produced software focused on specific topics Authored CBT Blank notebook Many companies are in the business of producing courseware for a myriad of topics. They are often quite expensive and may not meet the exact needs of a company. Authored CBT is basically a ‘blank notebook’ bought from the store. The training program has not yet been coded. This is quite a bit cheaper but coding a training program is extremely time consuming but is specific to a company. It can be as good or as bad as it is made.

Will CBT Work for Me? Running out of space to store training manuals? Spending too much on distance learning? Training staff running low? Is quality of training slacking? High employee turnover? Every company should ask itself these simple questions when considering the conversion from lengthy text manuals to courseware. Software takes up much less space than multiple volumes of training manuals, especially those that are outdated and no longer in use. A high employee turnover makes it difficult to keep up. Travel expenses and per diem are often quite expensive. Paid trainers are replaced by computers. CBT is consistent and flexible, as will be explained later in the presentation. This slide can be used as a brainstorming exercise.

What Do I Need? What do my employees need to know? What do they need to be able to do? What existing knowledge do they know prior to training? When selecting computer-based training software it is important to consider certain aspects of the employees. Depending upon the job, certain employees need to know certain things. Specific company standards may or may not be met with certain software. Pre-tests can determine prior knowledge of an employee and where they should begin in the program.

How Does It Work? Simulations Interactivity Testing Bookmarks Database Customization This slide is an overview of the different aspects, attributes of computer-based training. Each of these topics are explained in the following slides.

How Does It Work? Simulations Customer-employee situations Military simulations Nuclear meltdowns Simulations can not only save lives as in military simulations, but can also save an employee or company from serious embarrassment. Military simulations include those for pilots as well as for tanks and other machinery/weapons. Some of the most valuable situations are learned on the job. Mistakes can be made and learned from by using CBT software.

How Does It Work? Interactivity Performance-based not knowledge- based “Driving a car” End of section quizzes Straight Shooter* Maria Keckan explained in Nursing Homes magazine that active learning is retained better than passive learning. The “driving a car” example illustrates this point perfectly. Driving an automobile is quiet different than being a passenger. A person in the passenger seat may know all there is to know about cars and how to operate them, but once behind the wheel everything may change. CBT makes the user ‘get it right the first time.’ it also adds flavor to a training exercise. Bankers Trust uses a training program they call Straight Shooter. It trains their employees through a series of competitions such as action games and board games.

How Does It Work? Testing Pretests evaluate existing knowledge Training focuses on subsequent deficiencies Self-test questions throughout program Post-tests Testing while training promotes the concept of ‘doing it right the first time.’ Advancement is not possible unless all questions are answered correctly. Incorrect answers will refocus the training program on the certain deficiencies of the trainee. Testing also provides a simple way of documentation.

How Does It Work? Bookmarks Work automatically saved Stop and start at will Return to exact position for a refresher Bookmarks allow the trainee to work at his or her own pace. Training can then be completed on breaks, free time, or even home at night. This is especially useful for refreshers or retraining. Small updates may not be very time consuming and can be completed at any time.

How Does It Work? Database Course management Progress checked Training/retraining dates Progress checked Standard progress and result reports OSHA A company may be required by law to demonstrate that workers have passed certain courses. OSHA requires such documentation. CBT has a database that can track one’s progress and print a multitude of reports.

How Does It Work? Customization Generic programs can be tailored Video, graphics, etc., can be added at will Computer-based training keeps control of the training within a company. Generic software is not tailored to a company’s specific needs and standards. For example, if a computer programming company wants to train a new employee on a certain programming language, like Visual Basic, the company surely has a standard style of coding. Variables may be declared and used exactly the same across the entire company. Tailoring existing software is an easy way to conform to certain specifications. Videos and graphics only enhance this.

Advantages Availability Pace conformance Reduce training costs Consistence CBT can be used at home or in the office. Therefore, the availability of the courseware is twenty-four hours per day and seven days per week. Distance training is no longer a concern. This also allows a trainee to work at his or her own pace. Class time is not geared to the slowest one in class. Training costs include trainers’ wages and may include travel expenses and per diem. CBT subsequently reduces this cost to that of the software package. Class is also not dependent on the mood of the teacher. Material is always exactly the same and time is not wasted by being forced to learn material that is already known.

Advantages Language flexibility Cut classroom/storage space Fewer staff off floor at once Documentation Depending on the material and type of employment, one’s native language may be different than the company’s. CBT can offer easy conversions to any language, increasing the time taken to teach the material. Old and outdated training manuals can be thrown out, freeing up storage space for potential offices. Fewer employees are required to be off the floor at once for training purposes, thereby increasing a company’s productive output. Documentation, as stated earlier, provides a way to track progress and print reports regarding an employee’s training.

Disadvantages High initial cost Computer availability Impersonal learning environment An extremely high cost of computer-based training software can be quite intimidating to a company, especially small ones. The cost may outweigh any advantages gained by purchasing courseware. Computer availability can also be a problem in that there must be a computer terminal for everyone. Some people learn better working hands on with other people. CBT can be quite impersonal, creating a problem for companies such as those involved in customer relations.

Cornhill Insurance* Background 160 IT professionals = variation of technologies and systems Continuous updating Personal and technical skills required Current system too costly Pace conformance is necessity An article published in the Insurance Systems Bulletin on CBT presented a case study of Cornhill Insurance. With so many employees and such a wide variety of required skills, it has been very difficult to keep up with changing technology and high employee turnover. Traditional training involved large training manuals and classes. This slide provides a background of their needs.

Cornhill Insurance* Implementation CBT Systems agreement entitles Cornhill to 200 courses Course units increase 300% (CBT and Classroom) Training budget remains same Courses accessed directly from personal computers CBT Systems licensed their entire course library to Cornhill for training purposes. Cornhill’s degree of training greatly increased, although the relative cost did not. The software was placed on a company wide network so when an employee wanted to access the material, the software did not have to be installed on each individual computer. This encouraged employees to work at their own pace in the privacy of one’s office.

Cornhill Insurance* Implementation Audit report production Cost-effective and flexible Simple updating Reports were generated to track employee progress and easily administer retraining courses. This system’s flexibility proved to be extremely profitable for Cornhill Insurance.

Exercise Divide into groups List company training problems Compare to brainstorming questions How are problems solved by CBT? This exercise related to the brainstorming questions at the beginning of the presentation. Each group can write down problems that they are currently having with training. The problems will all be similar to the ‘Will it Work for me’ questions. These problems are all solved by computer-based training software as outlined in this presentation.

Summary Cost effectiveness and flexibility outweigh disadvantages CBT is the wave of the future Web-based training Computer-based training started as just text manuals placed in a database. It has evolved into interactive software presenting videos and amazing animation. Although the initial cost of CBT is a bit steep and may not be worthwhile for some small companies, it has proved to be extremely profitable for others. The disadvantages are minute compared to the capabilities of courseware and its use is greatly increasing in the industrial world today.

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