OSIsoft Class Development Method
OSIsoft's Training Department Uses the Instructional Systems Design (ISD) Approach to Create and Maintain training materials
The OSIsoft Training Department uses a class design standard that is accepted throughout the training industry. Using an abbreviated form of the Instructional Systems Design (ISD) method, our course designers make the class fit the tasks required. In addition, the classes are peer reviewed by representatives of different departments within OSIsoft regularly. Finally, a timely feedback loop is maintained in the training department's collaboration portal so that instructors around the world can quickly send comments and share proposed revisions.
A class begins when our product development roadmap outlines a new product or enhancement to our product line. The product development roadmap is influence by our user groups, technical support call, sales team, field service and development department. A "Training kit caretaker" is assigned. This person is in charge of coordinating the production of the class materials. The caretaker meets with a review team whose four members come from different departments within OSIsoft to get a broad set of opinions and use case perspectives.
The first step is to create a list of tasks that defines what a competent user of the software needs to master. This task list becomes the framework for the development of lecture materials and class exercises. It is important to do this step early in the process so that we spend time only on those topics that will give customers the most value for their class time.
After the kit caretaker writes a task list that is approved by the members of the review team, he then writes the class lecture materials and develops exercises. The caretaker must ensure that key questions are addressed for each task. Not only are the steps to complete the task taught, but we also teach the following topics:
- Why is it worth learning?
- What will I be asked to do to in class to prove that I've learned it?
- What are the common errors users make?
- How can I tell when I have done it correctly?
When the lecture and exercises are done the class is peer reviewed in its final form by the class review team. After the class is taught instructors make suggestions in a shared discussion group set up specifically for each class.
The figure below illustrates our abbreviated ISD approach. Traditional ISD methodology is used by instructional technologists who work with subject matter experts to develop classes that may be out of their range of expertise. It is typical in industry to spend 30 hours of class development time to develop each hour of delivered instruction. This pace of training development is too slow when you teach software that is updated frequently.
Our kit caretakers are themselves the subject matter experts. They implement OSIsoft applications at customer sites around the world. As a result many of the steps in the ISD process are things our caretakers already understand implicitly (shown in italics above). For example, the years of working with customers in the field give our caretakers an implicit understanding of what skills are pre-requisite to the course, what skills our target population brings to the class, and how to sequence the class material.
OSIsoft classes are developed by instructors who combine real-world experience with rigorous attention to the fundamentals of ISD. As a result the classes are indexed to the tasks that are required to implement our software effectively. Please go to our web site at http://training.osisoft.com and choose the Training>> 5 Ways to Learn>> Public Classes links to read more information about OSIsoft classes.