(ISF) Low-anxiety hands-on training for users in remote locations

Dear ISF Colleagues,

I'm looking for an appropriate way to train new users in remote
locations, and would welcome suggestions.

Here are some of the constraints:

1) The application is complex - fund accounting software - and the
users are not necessarily interested in or experienced in any kind of
information or communication technology.

2) The users need to be able to see a demonstration screen controlled
by the trainer, while being able to do hands-on exercises on a PC.

3) The fund accounting software will be served to the users via
Citrix for every day use (and presumably also during the training).

4) The remote users are widely dispersed; they can't come to our HQ
for training, and they can't be gathered together in a single remote
location.

We need a way to deliver training in a way that will be simple and not
at all anxiety-provoking to the remote users. (If it's reasonably
complex for us to set up, that's ok. We also realize that this may
involve spending some money.) Ideally, the user will just go online
for training from his/her small nonprofit, without having to do any
complicated set-ups, buy any new products or services, or bring in a
tech consultant. He/she will have enough to worry about, with the
challenge of mastering a new fund accounting software application.

Any suggestions?

Many, many thanks from Deborah

Deborah Elizabeth Finn
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
deborah_elizabeth_finn%40post.harvard.edu">deborah_elizabeth_finnpost.harvard.edu
www.cyber-yenta.org

"What is good...but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly
with your god?" (Micah 6:8)

Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic

.

Hi Deborah,

Have you thought of Video Podcasting? I know of an organization in PR that is using this method and it seems to work and after very podcast they are sent a questionnaire to follow up on the training to ensure that people are making use of the podcasts.

Marco A. Villafane

Chief Information Officer
Xperience Solutions LLC
520 8th Avenue, 22nd Floor
New York, New York 10018
mvillafane%40xperience-solutions.net">mvillafanexperience-solutions.net
http://www.xperience-solutions.net
P (212) 786-2221
F (212) 564-7152

-----original message-----
>>;We need a way to deliver training in a way that will be simple and not at all anxiety-provoking to the remote users. (If it's reasonably complex for us to set up, that's ok. We also realize that this may involve spending some money.) Ideally, the user will just go online for training from his/her small nonprofit, without having to do any complicated set-ups, buy any new products or services, or bring in a tech consultant. He/she will have enough to worry about, with the challenge of mastering a new fund accounting software application.>>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Messages in this topic (2) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic

.

I've had a lot of success doing remote training using GoToMeeting ( www.gotomeeting.com). It's easy to join a meeting, the client is lightweight (unlike WebEx) and works for attendees on the Mac too. Additionally, the training session can be recorded for playback later for people who could not attend or may like to view it again.

Additionally, the meeting screen does not take over the entire desktop of meeting attendees, so if you have hands-on activities throughout the training session, it's easy for attendees to jump over to a new window and then come back to the meeting screen when they're done.

Hope this is helpful,

Alf

--
Alf Gracombe, President - Gracombe IT Solutions
http://www.gracombe.com : tel 617.933.5269 : fax 617.395.2725

-----original message-----
>>We need a way to deliver training in a way that will be simple and not at all anxiety-provoking to the remote users. (If it's reasonably complex for us to set up, that's ok. We also realize that this may involve spending some money.) Ideally, the user will just go online for training from his/her small nonprofit, without having to do any complicated set-ups, buy any new products or services, or bring in a tech consultant. He/she will have enough to worry about, with the challenge of mastering a new fund accounting software application.>>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Messages in this topic (3) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic

.