Cognitive Technologies applies our expertise in adult learning and performance to design and develop role-based curricula, courses,
leadership programs, self-directed learning, technical documentation and job aids that improve outcomes.
Outcome-based training and development has a narrowly defined purpose: reducing the gap between novice or standard performers and expert performers. It is
designed to enable people to bridge the gap between their initial knowledge, skills, and attitudes, and those needed to perform well on the job.
Cognitive Technologies uses the Performance DNA methodology to conduct
a front-end analysis and target the critical outcomes for the job, and the PERFORM
methodology to guide design and development activities. Activities we conduct as a part of this service include:
- Analyze key performers to capture their critical outcomes, work processes and tasks
- Identify performance barriers and gaps
- Determine which work processes/tasks are amenable to training and development
- Analyze the difficulty and complexity of problematic work processes and tasks to determine how best to combine them into a performance-based
curriculum
- Make decisions concerning the most appropriate interventions (training, job aids, combination), the courses that must comprise the curriculum,
and how to sequence courses
- Build the outcome-based curriculum plan
- Conduct research and content analysis to define and design content, practice exercises, modules, the best sequence of course activities,
and the job aids that should be provided
- Develop, pilot, and refine participant materials, facilitator guides, exercises, job aids, and other interventions (e.g., role-based
SharePoint sites, mentor guides, etc.)
Technical Documentation and Job Aids
Sometimes the most appropriate “training” solution is effective user documentation, quick start guides and job aids. Excellent user-centered documentation and guides can make the operation of a system, software application, or tool easier to understand and thus, will improve its acceptance.
Cognitive Technologies uses a process similar to instructional design to analyze, design, develop, and test technical documentation. Our goal is to produce documentation that is user-centered and intuitive. In order to create the documentation, we analyze the user's mental model and the context of use. Activities we perform include:
- Conduct user needs analysis, including assessing relevant user characteristics
- Assess relevant work settings and perform analysis of the work the users will be doing with the system
- Document scenarios of system/tool use and the outcomes that the user must produce using the system and documentation
- Specify instructional and organizational strategies to be used in the documentation
- Specify materials, layout, and communication style of the documentation
- Design the documentation and develop the content
- Edit, evaluate and pilot the documentation with users
- Refine and produce the documentation for use in print, online, or both.
Let Cognitive Technologies help you develop and improve the effectiveness of your leaders and teams through enhanced curricula,
outcome-oriented courses, focused job aids, and effective documentation.