How can you effectively train users of complex applications?

1 Assess the needs

Before you start creating any training materials, you need to assess the needs of your target audience. What are their goals, pain points, and current skills? How do they use the applications in their daily tasks? What are the common problems or questions they face? You can use surveys, interviews, or observations to gather this information. Based on the needs assessment, you can define the learning objectives, outcomes, and evaluation criteria for your training.

2 Choose the format

Depending on the complexity, scope, and availability of the applications, you can choose different formats for your training. Instructor-led training (ILT) is suitable for interactive, hands-on, and personalized training. This involves live sessions where a trainer demonstrates and explains the applications to a group of users using webinars, video conferencing, or classroom settings. E-learning is suitable for flexible, scalable, and standardized training. This involves self-paced modules where users can access and learn the applications online using videos, animations, simulations, quizzes, or gamification. Blended learning is suitable for diverse, comprehensive, and adaptive training. This involves a combination of ILT and e-learning where both formats complement each other; for example, e-learning can be used for basic concepts while ILT is used for advanced topics.

3 Develop the content

Once you have chosen the format, you need to develop the content for your training. The content should be clear, concise, and relevant to the users' needs and objectives. Illustrate steps or processes of applications with visuals, such as screenshots, diagrams, or charts. Additionally, provide examples, scenarios, and exercises that reflect real-world situations and challenges that the users face with the applications. Furthermore, use plain language and avoid jargon or acronyms that the users may not understand. Break down complex topics into smaller chunks and sequence them logically. Lastly, provide feedback, tips, and best practices to help users avoid or solve common errors or issues. Test and proofread your content for accuracy, clarity, and consistency.

4 Deliver the training

When you are ready to deliver the training, you should ensure that you have the right tools, resources, and environment for a successful session. Communicating with the users before, during, and after the training is also important to set expectations, answer questions, and collect feedback. To ensure an effective training session, you should use a reliable platform or software that supports the features and functions of the applications. Provide access instructions, technical support, and troubleshooting guides to help users set up and join. At the beginning of the session, introduce yourself, the agenda, objectives, and outcomes. To keep users involved and motivated, use interactive methods such as polls, quizzes, chats or breakout rooms. Lastly, summarize the key points at the end of the session and review the outcomes while providing additional resources or references.

5 Evaluate the training

Once the training has been delivered, it is important to evaluate its effectiveness and impact. Various methods and metrics can be used to measure learning outcomes, user satisfaction, and business results. Furthermore, the evaluation results can be utilized to identify strengths and weaknesses of the training, allowing for future sessions to be improved. To evaluate effective training, formative and summative assessments should be used to test the users' knowledge, skills, and performance. Additionally, surveys, interviews, or focus groups can provide feedback from the users regarding their opinions and suggestions about the training. Analytics, reports, or dashboards should also be employed to track the users' behavior, engagement, and productivity with the applications. Lastly, Kirkpatrick's four-level model should be employed to evaluate the reaction, learning, behavior, and results of the training. Through these tips, complex applications can be trained with users being rewarded and fulfilled with an effective learning experience.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?