SELECTING THE TRAINING MEDIUM

Before you begin selecting a specific CBT product or provider, you need to determine whether CBT is appropriate for your training situation. CBT is not an appropriate tool for all training situations. Whether it is appropriate for you situation depends on your task, learner, administrative, and cost requirements.

The checklist below can help you determine which training media is most appropriate for your situation. The checklist uses numbers from 0 to 3 to indicate how well each training medium addresses the various task, learner, administrative, and cost requirements. A "0" indicates the medium does not address it at all, a "3" that it addresses it very well.

To use the checklist, you should:

1. Determine how important each requirement on the checklist is to you. Rate the requirements on a scale of 0 to 4, and note your ratings in the column marked "X."

0 - Not important

1 - Somewhat important

2 - Important

3 - Very important

4 - Critically important

2. Multiply the numbers already in the chart by the importance ratings you determined. For example, if you gave the first task requirement a rating of 2, you would fill out the chart this way (your input is in italics):

Requirements Task: Ability to..	X	CBT		Video		Text		Workbk		Lecture
Teach a physical skill.	2	x2	= 4	x1	= 2	x1	= 2	x1	= 2	x1	= 2

3. Add the columns of numbers you created for each medium.

4. Determine the medium that is most appropriate for your training need. Do not simply select the medium with the highest total score. Look back at the individual requirements and make sure the medium you select can handle those requirements that are most important to you. (those you rated with a 3 or 4).

NOTE: Combining media may reduce or eliminate weaknesses present in any single medium. For example, CBT may deliver instruction, a text may contain photographs that augment the lesson, and an instructor may motivate trainees and lead a group discussion on how the new information and skills may be transferred to other challenges. Thus, each component of a combined delivery system can provide unique strengths and minimize the potential limitations of the other mediums.

SELECTING THE TRAINING MEDIUM CHECKLIST

(Adapted from M.J. Hannafin and K.L. Peck, The Design. Development, and Evaluation of Instructional Software, Macmillan Publishing Company, 1988.)

Instructions

1. Rate each requirement's importance factor, on a scale of 0 to 4, in column "x."
2. Multiply the numbers in the column by your importance factors.
3. Sum the new columns of numbers.
4. Select the most appropriate training medium. Compare the totals, but also ensure that the final selection you make will address the requirements most important to you.

Requirements Task: Ability to..	X	CBT		Video		Text		Workbk		Lecture
Teach a physical skill.		x2	=	x1	=	x1	=	x1	=	x1	=
Provide human interaction.		x1	=	x1	=	x0	=	x0	=	x3	=
Determine & adapt to individual needs.		x3	=	x0	=	x0	=	x1	=	x2	=
Question students & adjust instruction accordingly.		x3	=	x0	=	x0	=	x1	=	x2	=
Provide immediate feedback.		x3	=	x0	=	x0	=	x1	=	x2	=
Produce life-like images.		x3	=	x3	=	x3	=	x3	=	x2	=
Produce high-quality audio.		x3	=	x3	=	x0	=	x0	=	x2	=
Portray motion.		x3	=	x3	=	x1	=	x1	=	x2	=
Telescope time (time lapse or slow-mo).		x3	=	x3	=	x1	=	x1	=	x2	=
Use in combination w/ other media.		x1	=	x2	=	x3	=	x3	=	x2	=
Use computers.		x3	=	x0	=	x0	=	x0	=	x0	=
Teach more than one trainee simultanously.		x2	=	x3	=	x2	=	x2	=	x3	=
Provide team as well as individual study.		x2	=	x2	=	x1	=	x1	=	x2	=
Reach trainees remotely.		x3	=	x3	=	x3	=	x3	=	x1	=
Access training where needed.		x2	=	x2	=	x3	=	x3	=	x1	=
Access training when needed.		x2	=	x2	=	x3	=	x3	=	x1	=
Update & change course content frequently.		x0	=	x0	=	x1	=	x1	=	x3	=
Learner: Ability to...
Gain attention & motivate.		x3	=	x2	=	x1	=	x1	=	x3	=
Minimize demands on verbal & reading skill.		x1	=	x3	=	x0	=	x0	=	x3	=
Minimize demands on technical skills.		x0	=	x2	=	x3	=	x3	=	x3	=
Administrative: Ability to...
Record trainee's progress.		x3	=	x0	=	x0	=	x1	=	x3	=
Report on trainees' progress.		x3	=	x0	=	x0	=	x1	=	x2	=
Budget:
Costs (develoment, acquisition, equipment) must be kept low.		x1	=	x2	=	x3	=	x3	=	x1	=
TOTAL

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Questions? Contact Brett Bixler.