What is Web-Based Training?
Web-based training, or WBT, (often used interchangeably with the term “e-learning”) is anywhere, anytime instruction delivered via the internet. It can include streaming video, realistic first person scenarios, voiceover narration, quizzes and knowledge reinforcement exercises, personal instruction, animation and more. Web-based training allows users from anywhere in the world to access custom developed e-learning, providing a unified experience for companies with many locations and many layers of employees (such as automotive and technology companies).
This training allows a flexible schedule for participants and can be self-directed or moderated by a facilitator, creating a classroom-like environment outside of a classroom. With web-based training, the capabilities of the courses we can build are almost limitless! From the simplest topic to the most complex, multi-faceted course, web-based training is an exceedingly effective learning tool that increases knowledge retention and interactivity.
Benefits of Web-Based Training
Looking for a company who can design and develop the perfect e-learning module for your company in the Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia area? Look no further than The Sutter Group! On the fence about whether you should invest in web-based training courses? See how an e-learning program can make your newest initiative or program a success or effectively remind employees of your organization’s core values and mission:
WBT vs. Facilitator-Led Training
While facilitator-led training has been a staple for many corporate training and learning programs, we feel modern web-based training holds significantly more value in today’s environment. While the initial development cost may be slightly higher, the sustainable nature of the program more than pays for itself over time. Web-based training courses can last for years, especially since they can be consistently and cost-effectively updated for minor to significant changes in the course content.
Instead of paying for a trainer to come in and train a new set of employees on a regular basis, organizations now have the opportunity to pay only once for the development of a customized web-based training course. Over time, this saves a lot of money, especially if demand for the course goes up and you would need to hire more facilitators over more time slots to teach the course. Web-based training courses also provide a level of consistency to every student taking the course that sometimes facilitators simply can’t provide. With a web-based training course, every participant will receive the same content and come away with the same experience.
Using WBT To Convey Brand Values
Web-based training can accomplish so much more than just creating an online classroom! We believe every web-based training program also holds opportunities to incorporate the brand’s core values. As an example, we recently designed and implemented a web-based training course for Audi of America with the sole purpose of indoctrinating new employees to the brand. The training program had to incorporate Audi’s values and brand identity, as it was an informational tool to help employees become the best representatives for the brand they could be. The look and feel of the training had to be sporty, progressive and sophisticated to parallel Audi’s core brand values. Learn more about the Audi web-based training module we developed!
What Constitutes Good Web-Based Training?
Web-based training can not only teach new information, but also reinforce it and make sure the lessons are retained instead of just taught.With that said, truly great e-learning design has a number of characteristics:
Highly customized for the user: Custom paths ensure everyone’s experience is unique to their needs and knowledge levels. Paths can be based on demographics, prior skill set, desired goal or any combination of factors.
Entertaining: In order to keep trainees engaged, we make the courses as entertaining as possible through graphics, visuals, knowledge check-points, and even in-training games.
Visually pleasing: The more polished and well-designed a web-based training course, the better the chances of engaging the audience and keeping their interest. And much like other marketing disciplines, while a user may not form a conscious opinion of a course’s design, how they feel subconsciously about its aesthetics directly impacts their overall perception of the course and its content. As a firm that is
Follow-up sessions and quizzes: These can ensure the information is retained and your trainee has gained all of the information he or she set out to during the training process.
Concise: At TSG, we’ve found the more “bite size” the information is, the more likely participants are to stay engaged with the program. This is probably because the human brain processes “chunks” of information better than long, continuous narratives or lessons. We understand this and structure our web-based trainingcourses to be as effective as possible. A perfect example of this philosophy can be seen in the e-learning program we’ve created for Land Rover University, called "10-Min Topics."
The Sutter Group Creates Effective Web-Based Training
Here are some recent examples of web-based training TSG has worked on:
Audi Brand Orientation WBT: Working with Audi Academy staff and subject matter experts, we analyzed the existing course to determine ways to better present the content, user interface and navigation of the module. Once the strategic and basic content development was in place, we developed a design template that, when combined with the revised content and new digital assets, much more closely represented the Audi core brand values – sporty, progressive and sophisticated.
Read more about our Audi web-based training module development.
Tandberg Product Expert WBT: TSG created a sophisticated and engaging SCORM 2004-compliant web-based training course titled “Tandberg Product Expert,” which consists of eight individual e-learning modules representing the Tandberg products and underlying technologies.
Read more about our product expert web-based training for Tandberg.
Project Leapfrog WBT: As referenced above, we worked with Land Rover’s SMEs to create a series of 10-minute topics. These were video-based e-learning videos that were incorporated intoan e-newsletter TSG produced for Land Rover University. The 10-minute topics were intended to strengthen and reinforce dealers’ knowledge over time.
Read more about this e-learning development project.
Are You Ready for WBT?
Web-based training is an affordable, intractive tool that can boost the performance of your team. If you'd like to learn more about how TSG can help create a web-based training program for you and your business, please contact us today.
