ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY-BASED TRAINING

1. ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY-BASED TRAINING Bradford S. Bell and Steve W. J. Kozlowski

2. Chapter Topics • Environmental factors pushing companies to adopt technology-based training • Different technology-based training applications available in the marketplace

3. Chapter Topics Continued • Costs and benefits of technology-based training • Factors that influence technology-based training • Guidelines on the effective use of technology to deliver training and meeting human capital development needs

4. Environmental Factors Influencing Technology-Based Training • Globalization • Economic pressures • Work/Life Issues

5. Globalization • Training costs can be prohibitive for highly decentralized organizations • Centralized classroom training is not an efficient means of delivering timely training to a global workforce • Technology is more responsive to training needs in this environment

6. Economic Pressures • Organizations must rely on workplace learning and continuous improvement to remain successful • Companies face tremendous economic pressures to cut costs and increase shareholder value

7. Economic Pressures Continued • Significant upfront costs • Helps organizations reduce variable costs associated with the classroom • Cost savings in other areas, such as program updating and employees’ time off the job

8. Work/Life Issues • Employees increasingly desire flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting • Technology-based training can address the logistical problems of the flexible and telecommuting workforce

9. Technological Advances • Recent advances in computing power and connectivity • Greater bandwidth increases the multimedia capabilities of technology-based training

10. Technological Advances Cont. • Today’s high-end technologies can increasingly approximate conventional, instructor-led classroom training • Media that support these advanced technologies have become more cost-efficient, reliable, and accessible

11. Training Technologies • CD-ROM, DVD, and Interactive Video systems • Web-based training • Electronic performance support systems (EPSS) and intelligent tutoring systems • Distributed interactive simulation (DIS), game-based training environments, and distributed mission training (DMT)

12. Benefits of Training Technology • Cost Reduction • Reduction in Training Time • Pedagogical Capabilities • Diversity and Accessibility • Other Benefits

13. Cost Reduction • Technology-based training can deliver a training program for lower cost than more traditional training methods • Reduces or eliminates many of the variable costs associated with the classroom • The up-front costs associated with technology-based training are significant

14. Reduction in Training Time • Technology-based training often leads to a reduction in the time that individuals spend in training • Less time off the job and greater employee productivity • Employees can learn precisely what they need to know

15. Pedagogical Capabilities • Highly personalized learning experience • Competency assessments can provide trainees with personalized feedback that is immediate • Training technology can give employees an opportunity to practice using their skills and knowledge in realistic situations

16. Diversity and Accessibility • Online learning can level social barriers • Increased access to individuals who otherwise may be unable to attend training or classes

17. Other Benefits • Makes it possible to deliver a consistent message companywide to all trainees or employees • Technology-based training can help create an environment in which learners have more responsibility for their personal success

18. Costs and Challenges of Training Technology • Learner Choices • Social Environment and Collaboration

19. Learner Choices • Trainees exit training prior to achieving mastery of the subject • Trainees continue too long and become inefficient • Unwillingness to participate in online courses

20. Social Environment and Collaboration • Minimal interactivity and communication capabilities • Does not provide employees with opportunities to socialize and network with their colleagues

21. Factors Affecting Effectiveness • Training content • Trainee characteristics

22. Training Content • Content may repeat classroom information (not effective) • Content may be heavily cognitive ignoring other types of training • Content may be a mix of classroom and technology (more flexible)

23. Trainee Characteristics • Cognitive ability • Goal orientation of the trainee • Prior achievement and knowledge • Conscientiousness • Openness to new experiences

24. Guidelines • Leverage the Unique Instructional Capabilities of Technology • Adopt a Learner-Centered Perspective • Create a Supportive Learning Environment

25. Conclusion • Technology-based training offers the potential to revolutionize training effectiveness • Companies that realize this potential will be better positioned to leverage their human capital for sustained competitive advantage