Many of our clients explain that their training programs rely heavily on Microsoft PowerPoint presentations. But one of the challenges with a PowerPoint presentation is that audience members get tired of sitting in a training class and viewing slides all day. Because research has shown that getting the audience involved can boost learning and retention of the materials by 17 percent to 34 percent, we recommend implementing OptionPower audience response technology to add an interactive element to its presentations.
Interactive keypad technology is an invaluable tool not only for helping to engage the training participants in the presentation, but also for measuring the effectiveness of training. Companies are increasingly turning to interactive technologies, such as OTI's OptionFinder wireless keypads and OptionPower audience response software, to enhance the effectiveness of their training and performance improvement programs in the following ways:
- Active engagement, via interactive polling devices, has been shown to boost attentiveness, understanding and retention of the presented information.
- Interactive participation allows audience members to see how their responses compare with others and fosters a sense of competition in a non-threatening (i.e., anonymous) environment.
- Audience response technology allows training leaders to receive real-time input about whether the information is being understood and is being presented in the most effective way. Presenters can go back and cover difficult topics or teach them in a different manner if feedback shows that the participants are not grasping the important topics.
- Audience feedback allows presenters to determine which topics are most useful and relevant to the needs of the audience so they can structure their presentations accordingly. Responses can also be used to predict if and how participants will use the information in their jobs.
- Before and after polling can gauge the effectiveness of the training session (Level 1 and 2 assessment) and help training leaders continually improve the content and delivery of their presentations. Post-training feedback (Level 3) can help determine the amount of actual behavior change brought about through the training.
Contact us today for a free online demonstration to learn how audience response technology will enhance the effectiveness of your training programs.