Re: Technical Trainers who are also SMEs

[Michelle Tuohy <Michelle -dot- Tuohy -at- PEREGRINE -dot- IE>]

i've come lately to a software that hasn't documented anything. one of my
objectives is to develop training materials and the sw manager's suggestion
is a combination of powerpoint slides, trainer notes and student notes.

i've read up on the tools offered by asymetrix to develop cbt/wbt training
courseware and since most of our customers are abroad (read: not in ireland)
i think perhaps it might be smarter to bypass the in-person training
approach.

any opinions on the effectiveness of in-person training vs. online approach,
not to mention the effort, business case, etc.

apologies if this is covered in the archives. can't access them at the
moment.

thanks in advance for your insight.



mft


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-----Original Message-----
From: Technical Writers List; for all Technical Communication issues
[mailto:TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU]On Behalf Of Lane Pasut
Sent: 19 April 1999 16:02
To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
Subject: Re: Technical Trainers who are also SMEs


In my experience (my responsibilities have also overlapped documentation and
training), it is very difficult (virtually impossible) to turn an SME into a
trainer (unless there's that potential and interest there already).

Instead, I searched long and hard and found existing users of our software
(investment analysis) who were both industry and training experts, and
contracted them as product training specialists (and pay them well!).
Otherwise, you end up short-changing the customer. The training is
ineffective and the customers are left impressed with both the company and
the software.

I also found that industry and training experience count more than expertise
in the software. It's easier to teach the software than
presentation/training skills. In my case, we're teaching a lay audience. My
2 cents.

Good luck.

Lane Pasut
Omega Research, Inc.


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