Training
Training needs to be provided at a number of levels that must relate to the background and experience of the user as well as to the task that he or she is to perform. Training can either be skill based, where the user develops generic skills in using a package, or it can be task based, when the user learns to perform particular tasks. In general skills-based training will provide the user with skills that should help develop transferable skills that will apply to a wider variety of tasks and which will raise the users confidence in his or her general ability to use computers.
Task based training will concentrate on the particular tasks that the user will need to perform -e.g. entering a sale into the computer. The object of this type of training is to focus on the tasks that the user will need to perform so that they can become competent in doing them as quickly as possible. The potential problem is that the user may see their use of the computer as a series of isolated routines and thereby lack the wider viewpoint that will allow them to handle unusual or error situations.
Training should be a constant process of assessing the needs of the user and providing for their development. Even experienced users may need refresher courses on aspects of the software that they have not used before or which they use only occasionally.
A wide variety of training methods - both formal and informal -is available. The effectiveness of each depends to a large extent on the needs and capabilities of the user.
- Training courses provided by the employer - can be expensive to provide but should cater for the needs of the user.
- Training courses provided by the manufacturer
- Training provided by third party organisations
- Video training
- Interactive video training
- Disk based tutorials
- Bought in training materials/workbooks
- Articles in magazines or newspapers
- Supplied manuals and user documentation
- On-line help and tutorials built into the package
- User group
- Informal training by expert colleague
© LEV
