The article introduces the training model and best practices I follow for creating SaaS Trainings
Curriculum design and development for SaaS applications demands a different approach because of its unique features:
Time-bound: It is constantly evolving and requiring regular updates to keep up with latest product or feature updates.
Enablement-focused: Learning goals are measurable.
Can't be taught in a silo: Requires learners to understand a bigger picture of how each feature fits into the big jigsaw puzzle. It has the domino effect.
Role-specific: Need to consider role-specific competencies. Each role has different learning goals.
Top-Level Steps
Step 1: Gain in-depth product knowledge
Step 2: Map out learning paths
Step 3: Choose the best modality - use blended model
Step 4: Develop the course
Step 1: Gain in-depth product knowledge
Task 1: Learn product knowledge before meeting SMEs
Places to look at:
Support & Help Documentation (Gain high-level understanding of the product)
Product Videos, Sales Presentations, and Webinars
Customer Community & Forums (Pay attention to popular topics, customer queries and discussions)
Task 2: Prepare effective interview with SMEs
Goals:
Get answers at one go if possible
Gain trust
Reveal level of interest
Areas to get answers from:
SME background
Project objectives
Learning objectives
Learning context
Needs analysis
Learner demographic info
Learner prior knowledge
Configuration with internal processes
Role-specific knowledge and skills
Scope of the course or curriculum
Fundamentals for the course
Advanced specialization for the course
Need to keep in mind SME's challenges
May feel it’s not their job
May want to develop training themselves since they know more
Leads to lack of motivation to support course development
Potentially get Inappropriate questions from the ID
Lack of monetary incentive
Step 2: Map out learning paths
Task 1: Conduct task analysis based on different roles
Roles | Responsibilities | Tasks list | Learning objectives |
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Task 2: Outline course for different roles (add to the previous table)
Role | Course name | Topics | Modalities |
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Step 3: Choose the best modality - use blended model
Task 1: Decide on percentages of different types of courses
New Features (15% - 20%)
Best Practice (15% - 20%)
General Product (60% - 70%)
Task 2: Decide on ratio of fundamental knowledge and advanced knowledge
Think about these questions:
What your learners need?
Which type of courses do learners much enroll for?
How much time ID team need to develop and maintain the type of course?
Number of people on the ID team and how much time can each individual devote to?
Task 3: Implement a blended model
Combines classroom-delivered & Online self-paces
Offer opportunities for interaction in physical or virtual classroom for scalability
Allows to use asset like podcasts or community forums
Task 4: Structure each learning path
Structure learning path based on these content categories:
Facts: specific piece of information
Concepts: Items that share common features
Processes: Description of workflow
Procedures: Series of steps to complete a task
Principles: Rule regarding a situation
A best practice example to follow:
Start with a video that introduce the basic concepts
Attend a classroom session
Discuss a process
Demonstrates related procedures
Consume short videos to update knowledge & skills
Participant in discussion forums and online communities
Task 5: Select learning form to each learning path
ILT
VILT
WBT
Microlearning
Supporting resources
Social learning platform
LMS
Task 6: Have SMEs sign off the complete training plan with learning paths and modalities
Step 4: Develop the course
Task 1: Create a curriculum pipeline
Use it as a roadmap for current and future courses on a shared document or wiki page.
Share it during daily and weekly check-in meetings
Task 2: Create a template to ensure consistency in style and adhere quality standards
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