Effectiveness Data PDF
Web Based Training Consideration Checklist
Application Architecture
- These points are directed at the actual application architecture.
- Is the architecture currently in use?
- Can you get references regarding the use of the application?
- Can you review the application as it functions in a circumstance that closely approximates the environment that you will expect it to function in (i.e., do not trust demos).
- Does the architecture utilize an open platform that can be linked and/or combined with future products?
- Is the application itself easily customizable?
- Is the application absolutely compatible with prevailing W3 Consortium standards and popular browsers (e.g., Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Explorer)?
- Is the application designed to run within your user’s available bandwidth?
- Does the application require plug-ins that must be installed? Plug-ins often lead to compatibility issues and/or are rejected by corporate firewalls.
- Is the application entirely web based? Hybrid technologies requiring the dissemination and installation of software for authoring, training, or course management often demand great resources for distribution and technical support.
- Is the hosting environment appropriate? Characteristics of a quality hosting environment include:
- Tier 1 Internet connectivity,
- Daily data back-up,
- Redundant power generation,
- Redundant fire suppression
- Redundant routers,
- Redundant Internet connectivity points,
- Site security, and
- 24x7x365 server monitoring
Design and Functionality
These points are directed at the design and functionality of the application.
- Does the application support appropriate instructional design, including: pre-testing, post-testing, content presentation, interactivity, and practice?
- Does the application inherently support editing and customization of the content (i.e., you should not have to go back to the developer to customize the content)?
- Is the data from the training and testing maintained in an ODBC environment so that it can be shared with other applications?
- Will the application allow you to share content with others and/or allow you to acquire content from others?
- Does the application support e-commerce?
- Does the application incorporate other knowledge management functions that support learning and sharing information, including:
- Threaded discussion,
- File and document sharing, and/or
- Online references?
- Are the student management tools included in the application?
- Are the student management tools robust and flexible enough to support a Fortune 500 learning environment?
Implementation
- Is the application simple? If the technology is complex, the training implementation will probably be impossible.
- Is the application intuitive? It should not require extensive training for use.
- Can the application be deployed rapidly?
- Does the pricing structure support unlimited users and/or courses? Per user pricing or per course pricing can engender substantial long-term costs.
- Does the company delivering the product provide all the support resources that will be necessary to begin, and provide continuing support for, the implementation? These services could include:
- Project management,
- Web production,
- Writing,
- Editing,
- Graphics, and
- Application design and programming