Process & Criteria for Finding Appropriate Training Resources

Process: where/how do you obtain existing training materials?

Internet search general

Internet search: google x 5

Internet search : itrainonline x 5

Answer.com

Wikipedia x 2

About.com

Techsoup

Internet search, Google (‘training materials’ + ‘Open Office’)

How Stuff Works

Online programme tutorials

UNESCO website (Open Source)

Website of a university in New Zealand

Communications Authority: DrumBeat

Help menu in software package

Linux communities/groups, e.g. Debian

(problem-based) x 2

Online discussion groups

Library (university library)

Library catalogues

Library

Libraries, subject-based journals

MIT IT Open Content Ware

Email with peers

Keep looking for updated versions proactively – have the resources before trainees/clients ask (also for OSS distributions)

Subscribe to professional bodies – IEEE, IFIP

British Computer Society, ACM

Consulting with professionals (experienced trainers, IT subject matter experts)

Talking to experts

Talking to peers involved with training in own office; Training team discussions

Trainer colleagues in own office

Peers (friends)

Peers @ training colleges

Through Peer Assists

Trainers’ manuals (not manuals that come with software packages)

Used materials

Bookstores (step-by-step guides, based on set curriculum)

Books

Print media: books, magazines

Print resources

Tip Sheets, Fact sheets

Peach pit manuals

Brochures, e.g. from past conferences, available at own organisation

Evaluation copies of books from publishers

IICD Capacity Development programme CD-ROMs

MMTK CD (x2)

SkillSoft CD-ROMs (provided by IICD)

Product vendor tips

Content previously downloaded on server

Criteria for judging the appropriateness or usefulness of the materialsHow much time we have

Methodology e.g. online class vs offline class

Content vs delivery made (e.g. good content but in video)

Methodology (audio, video, flip) needs to fit into environment

Formats conducive to actual workshops; internet, CDs, print materials

Is material easily available to learners? (access to internet, cd-drives, power)

Availability of resources: train MS -> does target group have MS license?

Available infrastructure vs what you want to do (e.g. hands-on)

Levels of resource & availability at venue of community

Clear objectives (training institutes, trainees), why are we training?

Standards

Age, gender

User rights, accessibility options (able to continue to use materials)

Develop content according to SCORM guidelines

What is it you want to train on? E.g. VoIP

Training needs assessment

Focus, clarity

Language levels and exposure to technical terms

Language barriers

Expressed needs and interests (informal feedback), official vs informal

Literacy levels

Formal and informal evaluation process

Understanding target: education level, women/youths, what do they want to use info for?

Target group: who are you going to train? E.g. school drop outs

Acknowledgement/requesting for re-using materials

Need to acknowledge creator/source -> who you got it from

Open content? Creative Commons licensing

Requirement for copyright

Pictures visualise (even without access to PCs)

Technical/user/language of material (simple/complex)

Practical day-to-day environment -> operate vs understand

Activity-based material, material based on series of activities

Official national bodies opinion’s on what is appropriate and realistic

Knowledgeable trainer

Materials that help me do more with less (efficiency)

Results of training needs assessment (with basic skills)

Cultural environment

Trainers as learners -> we need to learn in order to teach

Objections: what do YOU want to achieve? What do you want THEM to know?

Relevance to audience: apply immediately or in 6 months?

Training topic + objectives

Institutional capacity to train subject (outsource SMEs?)

Clients’ brief (what is it that they want)

Feedback from peers

Participants’ response and engagement (previously/currently)

Feedback from audience

Based on set curriculum

Is it basics or for upgrading?

Know type of audience

Level of skills

Audience level of skills

Extrinsic (good, excellent) vs intrinsic (help trainee to continue learning)

Similar workshop modules

Past workshop materials (own and gathered at other worshops)

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