The problem

It is felt in your organization that you could benefit from some of the new advances in training media, e.g., intranet or internet learning, but you don't know where to begin and have not built it into your budget.

Some approaches

Short term: Select a few modules of an existing program with approved content and plan to convert it to the new medium as a prototype, say, of web-based training. Make it a trial balloon. Do a Request for a Proposal and invite vendors to bid. Build in an evaluation plan via a double-blind study (old method vs. new). If the learning objectives are met equally, consider the pilot a success. If you need additional budget for this, sell the idea to Senior Management as "R & D" for training, explaining the anticipated cost benefits.

Long term: Using the data from the above, make recommendations on the platform, audience, kind of facilitators, and subject areas best suited to the new medium. Create a plan for conversion and new development that fits your budget.

Curriculum approach: If you are designing a full-scale curriculum, part of your curriculum research should include an assessment of the best delivery systems for the audience, environment, and content, given your organization's long-term goals. This will form the basis of your new media development planning.

Class Act Inc. has addressed this and other training and curriculum problems with its clients. We'd be happy to discuss your unique situation with you. Click on Can we talk?