Computer Based Training

apt's CBT includes many innovations that use the latest advances in multimedia software and hardware to create a superior learning tool. One unique attribute is that students not only control their own learning pace, they also choose their own learning path.

"Explosive growth in CD-ROM drives, LAN's, and multimedia, is fueling a new wave of better teaching tools. This technology promises more than just an improvement in educational productivity: It may deliver a qualitative change in the nature of learning. Information becomes more accessible, users pick and choose what they need, and everyone is a content creator."

Instead of sequential chapters like a book, apt's CBT uses text, graphics, animation, audio, and video linked in an electronic network. One result is the elimination of repetition. For instance, the procedure called Corrective Teaching is relevant to most of the courses. But the Corrective Teaching material is separate; not repeated within each course. When the term is used, the student can "point and click" on the underlined phrase Corrective Teaching and jump to the relevant material, or, based on a self-assessment of competency, can choose to continue on. (apt's CBT will later test their assumption and automatically return to the relevant material if competency is not demonstrated.) This interactive sequencing, or path selection, is used for all "core concepts," references to material in other courses, definition of terms, etc., so that no student need wade through information they already know. At the same time, the information is instantly available if needed.

"We have to tailor [learning] to the individual student or employee, but there's no way we can afford to do this without technology."

The link will not only take them immediately to the proper electronic "document," but to the specific point in the document where the material of interest appears. No time is spent "looking up" information in glossaries or appendixes. Then a single "point and click" will return them to the document from which they came.

"The paradigm of training as a separate, centralized function is dead. The new model is learning while working. Businesses are moving to decentralize training services."

Many agencies cannot afford a full-time trainer and professional seminars are expensive and difficult to schedule. Scheduling problems are even greater when training foster care, relief, part-time or volunteer personnel. apt solves these problems, lowers total costs, and improves results by providing on-site training delivery. Organizations gain increased flexibility with CBT (sometimes called "just-in-time training," and other times described as "training on demand") because it eliminates the problem of scheduling groups for lecture based training.

apt's interactive (pace and path) CBT produces tremendous cost savings. In lecture based training the instructor teaches to an assumed lowest common level of competency for the class as a whole. In other words, the instructor (a) proceeds at a pace adjusted as best as possible to the slowest student in the class and (b) explains every concept and term which might be unfamiliar to at least one of the participants. Also, each student must sit and listen to the entire lecture as well as to every question and answer even if they already understand that portion of the material. All of this unproductive time is eliminated by apt's CBT, saving 100% of the cost of the instructor and from 20% to 50% of the cost of the student 's time. The resulting savings can be used to lower agency total costs, or to increase the amount of training delivered. At El Pueblo Boys' & Girls' Ranch, training delivery increased by a factor of four without an increase in budget:

The breadth of material provided is greater using computer based training. CBT reverses the paradigm of having one expert at the front of a room talking to a lot of people. Instead, one person trains at a computer with a lot of experts built in. In addition, apt's path feature provides "background information on demand" which can deliver much more detail than would ever be presented in a lecture based course of any reasonable length.

"Studies show that we obtain 80% of our knowledge visually. We acquire a smaller percentage through hearing, but remember more of it . . . a combination is most effective, boosting retention rates."

While costs drop sharply, comprehension and retention increase. Comprehension improves because students are presented only with material that they do not already know, so boredom and inattention are not a factor. The information is presented in a variety of formats (text, graphic art, audio, and video) in order to engage multiple senses and prevent monotony. Audio and Video examples are frequently used to illustrate important skills.

"A problem with today's education is that people are learning in a large group, and they're afraid to speak out because the culture makes them feel foolish if they make a mistake. The greatest value of computers is that they will watch out for you and let you do stuff without fear of embarrassment."

Comprehension improves because students are much more likely to investigate a concept or term which is unfamiliar in private rather than to "display their ignorance" by asking a question in front of co-workers or supervisors. Similarly, the fear of appearing dull-witted or inattentive will almost always prevent a student from asking a lecturer to repeat themselves, whereas backing up and reviewing material on a computer is a simple matter of anonymous "mouse clicks." This also applies to videotapes that might accompany a lecture. It is unlikely that a student would suggest that a classroom full of people wait while a video is rewound and replayed for their personal benefit. In contrast, the apt CBT video clips may be instantly replayed as often as desired without disturbing another soul.

A recent study by the Hudson Institute indicated that self-paced computer based training requires less time to complete and gives users up to 40% higher retention rates compared to traditional training methods.

Studies have measured 40% better retention for CBT vs. Lecture based training. Retention improves for two reasons. First, material can be revisited at any time. Second, apt's interactive testing module automatically links students back to review relevant course material and adds additional questions if a student provides an incorrect response. The student's competency level is measured and automatically raised if necessary. At El Pueblo Boys' & Girls' Ranch, a series of 54 on-the-job evaluations yielded results indicating a 99% average transfer of training

CBT also benefits from the tools inherent in the computer software environment to provide a great deal of flexibility in training curriculum control. apt's CBT allows course selection, training sequence control, and test parameters to be configured as desired based on a user defined student category.

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The Case for Computer Based Training