Software training is one of the fastest growing areas of web-based training. As new efficiency tools are developed, corporations need to quickly train employees to maximize their investments in these tools. When tools are updated, trainings also need to be brought up-to-date so the investment in both the software and the original training is realized.

For this project our client's software application for evaluating risk had been updated. The existing training needed to be completely revamped, including objectives, content, underlying technology, and graphics. Here is the big picture of what we needed to accomplish:

• Update an existing but outdated course with revised learning objectives and new content.
• Make the new WBT SCORM 1.2 compliant and ready for LMS integration.
• Add a profiling element in order to serve unique content to three lines of business.
• Bring the WBT in line with new brand standards – including interface, illustration, animation and stock photography.

As we delved into the project, our instructional design team identified several learning challenges that needed to be addressed in the new version of the training. The major challenges were as follows:

• Without training on the tool, job performance varied widely from employee to employee. This placed the organization at risk.
• Since the tool had been updated, the training was out of date and created skill gaps for employees.
• The employees’ day-to-day jobs were complex – beyond the training, they needed something easy to reference after the training was complete.
• The current web-based training was ineffective and outdated.

A needs assessment had already been completed by the client, but we had the sense that the assessment of “need” was based on content knowledge, not a real assessment of the current learning product. We proposed conducting an Instructional Analysis of the existing product, focusing on instructional integrity: Do the learning objectives match the overall performance goal? Does the content match the objectives? Are there opportunities to practice? Are the practice exercises consistent with the objectives?

Based on this analysis, and working closely with the client, we finalized a highly detailed “change log” that outlined what changes and enhancements would be required to meet the objectives. It describes not only the content and instructional changes, but also the resource required (client information, screen shots, etc.) in order to complete the project on a very tight time schedule.

With this process in place, we were able to not only undertake the original assignment, but also make recommendations to improve the overall learning quality of the product. We added more consistent objectives, hands-on practice, more relevant examples, and more descriptive graphics.

In the end, we truly enhanced this project and produced it so efficiently that we were awarded a new project that had similar requirements – which we also successfully delivered.

Every project is unique and requires us to be flexible and to determine the most appropriate approach to accomplish the training’s goals. The ADDIE model provides an invaluable framework - the rest is based on our experience.