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June 14, 1999

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Training Developers More Efficiently

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Distance learning provides tools that let learners access various sources of information in a variety of media and work at their convenience. Distance learning lets students manage their time and learn while interacting with other students and instructors. For companies, distributed learning is a way to increase the speed, flexibility, and reach of training and education. It also helps reduce costs associated with offering classroom training, leverage instructor resources, and leverage team learning and collaboration.

A decision on delivery methods can result in the use of one or more types of training delivery. Advanced developers can use self-study or distance-learning facilities, provided they have the foundation in the specific technology they're learning. As the needs for training evolve, developers and their organizations can utilize the best technology instead of just one. The delivery method depends on factors such as cost, both overall and per student, desired level of interaction between students and the instructor, and the current skill level of the students.

The primary criteria for choosing a delivery method are interaction levels, getting the knowledge across, ease of use of training, and cost. These methods can be combined in many cases to suit varying combinations of priorities. None of these delivery methods is exclusive of the others. They can be combined to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the training effort. A mix of training methods can also keep students from getting bored in class or during self-study sessions.

To maximize the impact of training, try to tailor the delivery method to the need. Combinations of training content can be delivered through a variety of media. Overall, studies find that instructor-led training provides the most learner feedback. Computer-based training, which lacks interpersonal interactions, is rated a close second, with video rated third. There are generally small differences between preferences for computer-based training or instructor-led training, and advances in technology make a compelling point for including computer-based training alternatives in any training curriculum, especially if the methods can maximize the return on investment of scarce training dollars.

Average Costs
Costs vary widely depending on whether the training is instructor-led, computer-based, facilitated computer-based, distance learning, on-site/off-site, or any combination of those methods. But general guidelines for estimating costs can be broken down into various components, including the instructor, facility needs, food, travel, and hardware and software costs. Each of these factors has a range of cost values depending on region, the type of technology on which a developer is training, the number of vendors providing training (more competitors tend to drive prices down), and the type of vendor selected. Companies that have high-prestige images, such as the larger consulting firms, tend to charge considerably higher rates, while local firms will typically charge less.

The cost of the workstation and computer-based training software would be incurred only if the course were run in-house. The facility costs might be incurred in-house as well if a company has an internal chargeback system for the use of conference rooms or auditoriums.

As interactive training materials and technology continue to improve, it's likely that more developers will be trained through some form of computer-based training. However, the level of interaction and the ability to ask questions of a real person will continue to be an issue for some learners.

Facilitated computer-based training and live distance learning offer a combination of efficient, effective high-tech learning methods and the human touch necessary to make learners comfortable with new technologies. It's also likely that hardware and computer-based training software costs will continue to fall as more vendors enter the training market. This could cause the use of traditional off-site, instructor-led courses to decline, because travel costs are going up and companies are cutting back on unnecessary travel expenses.

Since training is usually the first expense to be cut from IT budgets, on-site delivery of training, whether computer- or Web-based, is likely to get a major boost in the future.

Charles Trepper is a Minneapolis consultant specializing in IT training and is the author of the upcoming book Training for Software Rollouts. He can be reached at chtrepper@ uswest.net.

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Illustration by John Bleck