Students can proceed at their own pace, reviewing content as needed and clicking the mouse to obtain more detailed explanations. Auditory learners can listen to the spoken word, while visual learners can focus on written text. Retention is easily measured by assessment tests and quizzes, with scores recorded in a database for management review. Let's say you have a new product that's ready to hit the streets. Normally you'd fly your entire sales force to headquarters and spend three days bombarding them with data.
Employees log onto a Web site using a secure password.
They view educational slides, listen to lively audio scripts, and even watch short video clips. They can be tested on the material for certification or management approval. Essential points can be mastered in hours rather than days, for a mere fraction of traditional training budgets. A good example comes from software giant Attachmate Corp. in Bellevue. With staff located all over the world, conventional training programs are often prohibitively expensive.