A Novel Approach to Training Support

Training support for course management systems such as Blackboard has evolved very little over the past decade. Although contemporary training solutions provide users support in the form of text-based documentation, animations, and narrated presentations, text-based training solutions remain the primary form of training support. These solutions limit training support to the user's interpretations of a given set of instructions. Interpreting instructions in this way is a useful approach to training but may not be the most effective way to train users to use course management systems. Software vendors might consider a performance support solution where users are provided assistance in performing routine tasks. Software such as the wizard in Microsoft Office has long supported users in the performance of common tasks. The user's efforts are generative as opposed to interpretative as in the case of text-based solutions. This approach enables users to use time efficiently and improves upon past training approaches.