QUESTION: I'm an instructional designer and classroom trainer and want to learn computer- and Web-based training course development. What would you recommend as a curriculum?

First, you must identify your company's needs. What content needs to be taught? What types of CBT or WBT programs would make the best delivery vehicles? What kind of technical skills and resources will you need to develop those programs? For help completing a needs assessment, see Answer Geek.

Once you know the skills you need, you can begin researching technical training. We recommend that you invest the time up front because learning as you go can be frustrating and time-consuming. If you like to learn in a classroom, check out companies such as Westlake Internet training, which has locations all over the United States. If you'd rather learn online, try a company such as Element K.

CBT and WBT development don't just require technical skills. Developers need to use sound design principles for the look, feel, and navigation. That includes knowledge of how to place and use graphics, how much text to add, and how to develop the site layout for easy navigation. Two places you can find online design courses are eSocrates and the HTML Writer's Guild.

In addition to possessing technical and design skills, CBT and WBT developers should be comfortable with people management. One person can't tackle a whole course-development project alone; teamwork is crucial. (If you're the only person in your department, you need a budget to hire contractors who can help with the graphics, programming, coding, editing, and so forth.) To learn technology-management skills, investigate such programs in your area similar to the one at the University of Virginia's School of Continuing and Professional Studies. UVA offers a six course program in technology leadership, including classes on communication, financial and project management, and more. Learners who have time to invest can enroll in George Washington University's master's degree (M.Ed.) program in Educational Technology Leadership, which is completed entirely online.

But what if your computer- or Web-based training needed to be developed yesterday? If you don't have time to learn how to create courses from scratch, you'll need to find software programs and tools that can help. The best reference we've found to sort out the glut of products is Online Educational Delivery Applications: a Web Tool for Comparative Applications. This site tells you what products are available and provides a tool to help identify your training needs and the software that can best meet them. Downloading an evaluation or trial copy to test will give you a sense of what skills you'd need to use the software, how easy it is to use, and whether it can help you do what you've planned.

Other options for when time and money are tight include books and CD-ROMs, which can be more cost-effective than classes to learn development skills. Some books we recommend:

• Web-Based Training: Using Technology to Design Adult Learning Experiences by Margaret Driscoll and Larry Alexander (Jossey-Bass, 1998)
• Distance Training: How Innovative Organizations Are Using Technology to Maximize Learning and Meet Business Objectives edited by Deborah Schreiber and Zane Berge (Jossey-Bass, 1998)
• Sustaining Distance Training: Integrating Learning Technologies into the Fabric of the Enterprise edited by Zane Berge (Jossey-Bass, 2000)
• Web-Based Training Cookbook by Brandon Hall (John Wiley and Sons, 1997).

Another good resource for those teaching themselves is listservs, for example, the Web-based training/online learning list. At Lizst.com, you can search by keywords for other lists. Lurk at first to get the lay of the land, but start participating when you feel comfortable. You'll make some great connections and be able to instantly communicate with experts. Speaking of networking, another good way to learn is to attend all the relevant meetings and industry events you can. You'll meet people and pick up tons of good info!

Published: March 2001