Blended Delivery Vehicles

As an innovative trainer and manager, no doubt you will combine synchronous and asynchronous training delivery vehicles at some juncture. There is no perfect delivery vehicle, and your choice often depends on budget and resource constraints, the number of locations targeted, and the urgency of the training need.

Classroom delivery often requires learners to do advance preparation, including reading materials or completing a computer or Web-based training session. Alternative classroom sessions, whether local or through video or teleconference, may require learners to follow up with a designated interactive program on a CD-ROM or the Internet. This ensures that all learners master requisite skills. Similarly, event calls or business television sessions can be held nationwide with breakout sessions facilitated locally.

Power point demonstrations can be posted long term on the Internet so that learners can consult it as needed. The corporate intranet can act as a knowledge repertoire, where documents, processes, procedures, time and expense sheets and corporate mandates can be stored using knowledge management software.

When offering video conferencing or business television delivery, you might like your employees to leave the sessions with paper or electronic based notes. Alternatively, you might create interactive learning games or frequently asked questions (FAQs) as job tools on the Web.

When running a Web-based training program, you can add human contact by introducing e-mail, computer conferencing, listservs, and chat rooms allowing interactive communication between the trainer and learners. Learners are able to network, collaborate on group work and discuss common concerns.