How do you move from Stand-up to E-Train

You might check with companies that are doing e-training today, like Digital Think (www.digitalthink.com) and Knowledge Net (www.knowledgenet.com)

My recommendation is to find a company that does training the way you would like if you were a student, then pursue your career options with them.

You may also check with LeapIt.com, but they are not as established as the other two...

Thanks,
Jeff

Here's a couple of thoughts:

(1) Network at conferences like Tech Learn or Online Learning to identify your prospective e-training providers. Ask them what they are looking for and the skills needed for the transition.

(2) Learn the authoring software necessary to produce quality training. Research what the big guys are using and duplicate it.

(3) Do a short demo product to show to others. Take a simple task and create an online learning tool to review.

(4) As a stand-up trainer, you can provide valuable insight on adult learning needs. If you can develop at the same time, you can wear both hats.

Good Luck.

After 12 years of stand up training, I made the transition to web based training two years ago. The answer is the same for both types of training: build a rapport with your student. Whether you are online or onsite, the student wants to know that you care about them. Find ways to bring the student into your "personal space." Learn about the city they live in, today's weather, news events that might affect them. Once you have established a relationship, students will relax and trust you, and they are much more willing to participate with you in the training. Though you may not have the advantage of the eye contact and the non-verbal communication clues that were there in stand up training, you can still make the personal contact that makes web based training fun.

Start by analyzing your options. E Training is a vast market. If you are unfamiliar with creating web based applications, take a look at some basic ASP or HTML programs for training. www.trainlink.com is a training supersite that will link you toany vendor imaginable. My favorite place to start is at www.click2learn.com. It gives you the ability to use their software to author your own content. They take 70 % of sales income but it's a nice place to get a feel for what people want and how to start the e-learning transition. Finally, there are tons of e-learning communities on the net. Check some out and see how you can partner with others in making your transition a smooth and profitable one.

If you have a Masters Degree I recommend the University of Phoenix On-Line. You are trained as an on-line instructor and offered some very interesting classes. Great Experience. Please send me an email for further information.

Jim Dartt

I am a stand up trainer who recently left a job of 10 years and jumped into a software company. The same skills needed in stand up training are required in e-training. I still do some classroom training on our Internet products, help create CBT (we have web designers on staff; I do content), and provide internet meetings to provide training and updates. My skills transfered better than I thought. Trust yourself and go on as many interviews as it takes. Trainers are valuable and even in the e-world, you are needed.