You must of heard of phrases such as tailor-made, custom training, and so on. What do these really mean? Custom learning means that learning is designed keeping in mind the learning environment, the learners’ needs, and the organization goals. But shouldn’t all types of training take these into account? The answer is NO. Most non-custom or off-the-shelf ILT do not factor in these parameters.
But why should you opt for custom learning for instructor-led training (ILT)? To answer this question, let us take a look at the difference between custom learning and non-custom learning.
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Non-Custom ILT |
Custom ILT |
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Typically conduct surface level interviews that cover basic questions about demographic details of learners.
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Conduct detailed interviews with learners and stakeholders that factor in:
Design suggestions and content scope evolve from the learner analysis report. |
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For example: While designing a skill-based course for one of our clients, we realized that the programmers (learners) had a negative attitude towards training. But, post learner analysis we realized that there was definitely a gap in performance. We designed a hands-on training program that made them acknowledge that they may not know everything and there’s a lot to learn. |
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Course design |
Typically a reshuffling of slides from earlier presentations that do not factor in any instructional design |
Dynamic content that is sourced from the latest resources and put together by domain experts. It keeps in mind the context in which learning will be transferred and therefore, all examples are extremely relevant and practical. Trainers are better equipped to handle industry-specific queries to facilitate learning.
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For example: In one of our ILT programs, we taught complaint handling to shop floor sales people by explaining where the customer is coming from. It may be no mistake of yours but you have to take accountability if your customer is wronged. So, instead of giving tips, we used scenarios to show how it is important to apologize even when it may not be your fault. |
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Content |
Slides typically made of bullet points and conceptual information. There are no examples of scenarios or learner-specific situations to help people relate training to their job.
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Custom ILT content gives a lot of emphasis to the content being relevant to the learner and their industry. The focus is on examples and scenario-based learning.
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For example: During contextual inquiry, we gathered that the sales force of an agro-based company needed training on commercial acumen. Instead of sharing theoretical concepts of ROI, we designed customized content based on their business. For example: We designed simple parameters based on which the learners could calculate ROI for their distributors/dealers. |
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Activities |
Non-custom ILT use standard activities, they do not map to learner context and profile. This could be simple games that you can source online or complicated questionnaire that are not designed for Indian work cultures.
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Custom ILT usually has activities that keep in mind the learners and the learning objectives. They include activity-based learning where varied activities are used to derive learning through experience (experiential learning).
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For example: We designed a 4-quadrant tool to help GAVL sales force understand their customers better before they position a product. For each quadrant, we defined characteristic features and positioning tactics. We also designed activities where they identified the types of customers and positioned their product accordingly. |
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Instructional approach |
Non-custom ILT treats each course as an independent program without focusing on the ‘whole person’ development delivered through all the programs.
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Custom ILT uses the following to ensure ‘whole-person’ development: Any learning intervention that consists of more than one program bound together by a common ‘theme’ to increase motivation, drive retention and encourage positive attitudes towards learning. Each program feeds into each other. Therefore, skills are imbibed and internalized with every subsequent program.
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For BP Energy, we used a theme called Oorja Premier League (Oorja was their product and IPL was the current craze at that time). For Godrej Agrovet, we titled the theme ‘Udaan’ to inspire them to take flight and grow. The objective of the program was to motivate learners towards growth and leadership. |
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Resources |
In non-custom ILT, trainers usually handout 1-2 articles as extra reads. Resources are not valuable training support or supplement.
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In custom ILT, resources are critical components of the training program. They aid and supplement learning not only on the date of delivery of training but later at the workplace. Typical resources that we use are:
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For example: For BP, we designed a visual pocket book that summed the key marketing skills. It was a quick visual reminder of the session that the BP employees could carry around on the field. |
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Sustainability |
Non-custom ILT do not factor this at all.
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Custom ILT is all about ‘sustainable learning’. The focus is on activities that ensure learning is transferred to the workplace. Imparting behavioral skills are the most challenging as most people revert to their old way of doing things unless new behavior is reinforced. At the same time, once a behavior is changed, it becomes a change for life. We design simple on-the-job activities to internalize new behavior.
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For example: The ILT program designed for shop floor managers at Godrej LifeSpace (now Godrej Interio) had a training implementation plan that included weekly quiz, periodic tests, contests, group discussions, and job-aids that learners retained at their workplace. |
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Well, you must opt for custom ILT because:
You want your training to be effective.
You want your people to learn.
You are not looking for just a tick on your training calendar.
You are looking for returns on the money invested on training.
You want an efficient and trained workforce.
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