As established in the previous article, teamwork training is extremely valuable for organizations. While few have mastered how to best design this training, there are several effective models that can be followed. However, delivering teamwork training is extremely challenging, as most organizations are geographically dispersed across the globe. Furthermore, many organizations seek to shorten the length of time that is spent in training.
Due to the constraints of budget, time and geographic location, there is a need for an alternative method of delivering teamwork training. Some suggest that technology-mediated delivery of teamwork training may solve the logistical and financial issues currently associated with training. One solution may be asynchronous e-learning, which provides learning materials in online repositories, where course interaction and course delivery are technology mediated and self-paced.
However, there is a lack of best practice and research that examines the effectiveness of e-learning for teamwork skills development. Some critics suggest that soft skills, or interpersonal skills, cannot be effectively taught or learned through an e-learning environment. This may be due to a lack of alignment between instructional strategies in a distance environment with the needs of skill-based learning. As such, if an organization chooses to design teamwork training for an online environment, several aspects should be taken into consideration.
As noted in the previous article, teamwork training is frequently aligned with Behavior Modeling Training (BMT), which emphasizes the following instructional steps:
- Describe a set of well-defined behaviors or skills to be learned
- Provide a model or models displaying the effective use of those behaviors
- Provide opportunities for trainees to practice using these behaviors
- Provide feedback to trainees following practice
- Take steps to maximize the transfer of those behaviors to the job.
However, when designing for an online environment, one cannot simply place existing face-to-face course materials online and create an effective learning experience. Rather, the materials should go through an evaluation process in which existing materials are reviewed to determine if additional instruction is needed to provide effective web-based instruction. It is often the case that new or additional training materials are necessary when designing for online delivery.
For example, one important consideration is the use of assessments. The BMT Model does not formally include any assessments. But it is common practice for organizations to expect and require measures of the effectiveness of their training program, whether though embedded assessments in the training course itself, or via post-course evaluations and on-the-job transfer of knowledge. As such, one designing for online delivery of teamwork training should absolutely consider how assessments can be built into the program.
In addition to the instructional and training materials themselves, it’s also important to consider the design. A distinguishing feature of online instruction is the ability to employ multiple media types to present ideas and concepts. Text, images and video can be combined to create multimedia-training materials, which allow for varying degrees of interactivity on the part of the trainee. However, these interactive multimedia-based e-learning environments should be designed with the following question in mind, “How can the technology be used to enhance learning?” Many suggest that the way in which a medium is used is more significant than merely having access to it. Therefore, specific emphasis must be placed on the design and plans for digital technologies in learning environments.
Ultimately, it is important to note that the use of technology alone does not constitute an effective training intervention. Rather, formal instructional design must be applied to the development process.
Teamwork training is an incredibly important initiative for both national and transnational organizations. However, due to constraints of time, geography and budget, it is difficult to design and deliver this training. Utilizing technology for teamwork training is a compelling solution, but the technology must be designed thoughtfully and rigorously.
