Digital Training Implementation

The digital world has changed how we live our lives. It’s also changing how we train people in TVET. This article will give you an overview of the 3 main digital training skills and the different types of digital tools available for use by trainers and learners, and provide practical advice on how to implement these into your training programs.

1. Develop e-training material

There are lots of ways to develop e-training materials. However, there are some crucial factors that should not be ignored when undertaking e-training content development for e-training course materials. The 5 tips required to create successful e-training material are elaborated below:

1. Employ Highly Qualified And Experienced Facult

There are many TVET institutions in Malaysia which lack highly qualified and experienced teachers who can teach students using a variety of teaching methodologies and real-life examples. Thus, this is the most crucial factor in developing e-training material for a successful digital training implementation.

If your TVET trainers are not well versed in this area, it’s time to upskill them with the necessary knowledge and skills. Perhaps can consider attending a basic & compressed* one (1) day course on Digital Training Implementation conducted by an experience trainer that has a Degree majoring in this area.

* Basic knowledge and experience of using Gmail products and going online is a pre-requisite.

2. Integrate 3D Animation, Simulations, Games, And Quizzes For Enhanced Comprehension

Making e-training content development informative and relevant with text is not enough. Unless the content is made attractive, lively, fun, and engaging, the e-training material may fail to attract students, especially those in the TVET sector. To make content engaging, integrate 3D animation, simulations, games, and quizzes into the e-training material, therefore, enriching TVET learner comprehension on different concepts.

3. Create Relevant e-training Content

Learners prefer learn from content which they find simple, relevant, and informative. Therefore, e-training content development should not be monotonous or passive, but encourage the learners to pay attention.

4. Structure Your Training Journey

E-training content should be designed to offer a logical and structured journey for the learners in the form of learning paths when it comes to training content. Logically, subdividing the main course into several courses depending upon available learning time for course completion is of significant importance. This structured and organized-learning path gives learners clarity on which course to complete first and helps define a learning path for a certification program.

5. Assess Learner Performance

An assessment of a student’s performance should be provided periodically. In order to develop high-quality e-training material, you should follow the above tips to create an effective one.

2. Deliver Online Training

For successful digital training to be implemented, you need to deliver your online training effectively after developing the right & effective e-training material.

Here are the top five (5) tips for delivering effective online training.

1. Using the Right Technology

Providing access to the right technology is important to allow your TVET trainers to get their training done effectively. No one wants technical hiccups to get in the way of their training time. Besides the internet facility readiness, you will also need to provide access to laptops or desktops that is compatible for the digital training, microphones as well as the appropriate software and licences to use it. Your trainees will need login details and support to navigate the programmes they need to use.

2. Create a Content Library

If your e-learning material is to be used for every batch of students, there’s no point reinventing the wheel every year and creating a new course. Organise and store reusable content, such as training materials, assessments, poll questions and session guidance notes for carrying out the digital training.

3. Keep your Learners Engaged

Not everyone will be enthusiastic on digital learning, particularly TVET students who may have a shorter attention lifespan. But it doesn’t mean the courses can’t be interactive and surprisingly fun and informative. Try using tests to evaluate knowledge retention during the session and get immediate feedback with polls. Encourage small-group interaction with breakout sessions. Or you could broadcast an image of your whiteboard to trainees and share your updates in real time.

4. Assess What Your Trainees Have Learned

Once your trainees have completed their learning, you also need to assess how they got on by finding out, for example, what the pass rate is, what questions proved tricky or if there are any outstanding trainees who need to complete their learning. Look into whether your platform or web application allows you to get detailed reports on session attendance, test results and assessments.

5. Reward Your Trainees

Just because the learning schedule you set is online, it doesn’t mean you can’t reward your trainees in other ways to congratulate them on completing the digital training. For example, perhaps you could reward the highest scorer.

Suggested digital tools & e-training platforms for the above two (but not limited to): Google Classroom, Google Meet, Zoom, Youtube, Canva

3. Conduct Online Assessment

Online Assessments are the new normal, as learning has transcended to be disseminated using technology. E-learning is the current mantra, beyond pen and paper. Online Assessments are challenging because they are difficult to construct using the tools available. Nevertheless, their benefits are farfetched. Online Assessments are easier to explore and data collection on the performance of the learner becomes easily accessible, easily adaptable, less time-consuming, and leverage new data collection.

The Online Assessment should be achievable by the learner, unambiguous in approach, should include a baseline criterion for the learner, easily understood by all learners; and feedback must be provided preferably in a written format which is accessible to all learners. The quality of the online assessment determines its efficacy, universal approach, genuine scores and real-time calibre of the learner

In the context of Malaysian Skills Certification System (SPKM), assessment is the process of assessing the level of competence that includes the skills, knowledge and attitude of a trainee while performing the assigned tasks.

It is implemented to determine whether a trainee has reached the skill level set in NOSS, for the purpose of awarding the Malaysian Skills Certificate / Malaysian Skills Diploma / Malaysian Advanced Diploma of Skills / Statement of Achievement.

Online Assessment Tools

Google Forms is a popular Online Assessment Tool used by trainers/tutors. It is easy to create small quizzes or multiple-choice questions.

Other tools which have gained usage in current times are Skoolbeep, The Answer Pad, Edulastic, EasyLMS, Examsoft, CodeSignal and others.

Online Assessment tools can facilitate real-time grading, help take online examinations using assessment software, and help the teachers who logged in to keep pace with the learning.

The software chosen should have inherent features such as timely updating from time to time for a smooth LMS, 24/7 chat support, an auto-save option in case of internet or electricity disruption, and be highly user-friendly.

Designing An Effective Online Assessment

The internet is an ocean of opportunities. Assessments may be conducted as holding polls, conducting webinars, educative videos, Learning Management portals and others.

Create Clear Rubrics – which should be conveyed transparently to the learners before the assignment. The Assessment format, grading system and roadmap to take the assignment should be crystal clear to make a fair judgement of scores.

Purpose of the Assessment – should be established before the design of the Assessment. The objective, assessment length, test conditions will make the purpose clear and assessment goals effective in output.

All-Inclusive Approach – The assessment design should be all-inclusive with Multiple Assessments to effectively test learners according to their level (eg SKM1, SKM2, SKM3, DKM or DLKM). Accessibility, clarity, technology facilitation, and a step-by-step approach will enable holistic learner data.