Determine if UW Stout masters degree students in Training and Human Resource Development possess the necessary skills to design and develop training materials using current authoring related software

Abstract

This research study examines the Spring semester-2002, University of Wisconsin Stout Training and Human Resource Development Master’s Degree students, to determine their ability to use seven industry-standard interactive multimedia authoring software tools. The major objectives of this research were to: (1) Identify authoring software commonly used to develop interactive multimedia training; (2) Identify skills necessary to use the most common authoring software; and (3) Determine whether the TRHRD Master’s Degree Students possess these skills. A questionnaire was developed that measured the student’s perception of their ability to use seven authoring related software tools and a demographic questionnaire was used to correlate previous training with current software skills, competency level, as well as program completion. Findings revealed that the TRHRD Master’s Degree students are ill equipped to develop CBT & WBT. The majority of the students are either incompetent or uncertain in their ability to perform basic tasks related to authoring software. With respect to demographic factors, there seems to be little relation between the student’s program completion and their authoring abilities. Recommendations were that the UW-Stout TRHRD Master’s Degree Program include an introductory authoring course into the curriculum and include authoring competencies in the program’s core competencies.