In the beginning.....

When I first started trying to sell an electronic role play system some time ago now, it quickly dawned on me that most of my professional colleagues couldn't even spell "puta", let alone use one when working with a group.

Since then the world has moved on very rapidly, with the majority of trainers using a laptop, with the ubiquitous Power Point software to effectively replace the good old OHP.

My own mission was to make the video medium far more value-added than the videotape package. Early attempts to do this actually involved a laserdisc ( the thinking person's CD ), a technology now defunct and forgoten. However, it did allow pioneers to produce good quality video/computer training packages that would run a a 32K memory computer. Think about it!

There is something else at work here too. Having been involved in Computer Based Training since the early 1980s, (the first training internet was about back then) I do understand that people can feel threatened by seeing all that they teach or train in, appearing on a CD! I found it very difficult to sell my Job Seeker CD to outplacement companies, for the same reasons. So I wanted to make use of peoples' hard won experience by creating that materials that could only be used by Trainers who know their subjects. Putting people back into technology is no bad thing!

" If you had asked me to do a role play, I would have spent 3 hours worrying about it. I would then have done it badly and learnt little. Then it would take me 2 hours to unwind."

Course Member

Effective Training!

The CD came to my rescue, as they became an affordable medium (only just, as the CD writer was £1800!). With further modest investment it was possible to produce a video based programme that simulated a sales call. Trialing this with groups showed interesting reactions. Firstly picking on a group member to immediately respond to a video clip put them under quite a lot of stress. The remainder of the group sat on the edge of their seats waiting to give a "better" response! They liked the safety and flexibility of the role play, often asking if clips could be re-run so that they could improve their skill in responding.

We have now produced a single screen version of this! More...

"When I sit in on a course, I normally sit at the back and go to sleep! I do apologise for joining in."

Sales Training Manager

Bring it alive...

I received similar feedback from trainers working in "public course" training organisations with our audio based Phone Master™ CD. Being able to bring a course alive certainly gives dividends. Generally it seems that an experienced trainer can get about 20 minutes input from 5 seconds of video or audio material.

How much do you get from a video tape?

You can have some too!

Feedback, feedback, feedback

NOW!

Also for Trainers, our associated company TeamWorker use handset / PC technology to get immediate feedback from individuals. Using a video projector, results are immediately displayed. Questions can be either prepared, or "off the wall", particularly powerful when used for Team decision making, or simply checking what people know.

Surveys are also changed from the form-filling/form data input/feedback cycle to data input/feedback in the same session.

And while we are at it, have you looked at Team Watcher, our behaviour recording and analysis programme?

How do you know what they all know - Now?

Whatever happened to the blackboard?

It's turned into an interactive whiteboard! New style whiteboards allow Trainers to work with live data with a "pen" and to carry out all sorts of magic right in front of the group. These are ideal for static training in such areas as IT.

If you want to know more check out the Promethan site.

The PC based simulation

The logical progression had to be the conversion of the in-tray exercise into something more realistic! So we currently lead the field in offering a 2 hour management simulation based on a virtual company.

We are therefore also in a position to offer customised versions of this, for those who want a product directly related to their own business environment.

And if you can't carry a whiteboard?

Do you use a data projector?

The Virtual Flip Chart enables you to capture contributions from your group.

10 charts and choice of two formats.

More...