When do you first perform training on your
application? Do you experiment with the first group of participants? A
better approach is to test your training as a part of system testing.
This implies that the training must be ready at this point in the life
cycle and not created at the very end of the project. And, like all
testing, you want to perform testing in a controlled test environment
to ensure that it is effective, accurate, and bug-free.
First,
you want to have your instructor practice all of the instructor-led
training at least once. This will help prepare the instructor for the
live classes and ensure that all the material is complete and prepared
correctly. You don’t want the instructor to go into the first class and
realize he or she doesn’t have color slides or necessary flipcharts, or
that too many people have been invited.
In addition, you will
want to run through and evaluate all the self-paced training, including
computer-based training. Again, as in previous examples, have people
who do not know of your application review the training to determine
whether it is understandable.
In the case of distance learning,
be sure of the technology you will be using and test it. Do you have
all of the equipment you will need at your location? Will the remote
locations have the appropriate equipment, as well as a proper
environment (i.e., one free of distractions and interruptions) for
learning? Is the training staff sufficiently comfortable with this
training approach? Make sure that the technology is capable of
supporting any remotely delivered multimedia training, self-paced or
otherwise.
Training material is a deliverable of your project.
It all needs to be tested for accuracy and defects before you roll it
out for the first time.
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