While off-the-shelf training courses are readily available, their "one size fits all" approach can mean that delegates have to learn many topics which are not relevant to their needs. When training larger groups of people, it can be cost-effective to develop a course for that specific audience. Knowledge Age can customise and develop courses on a wide range of software project management and software engineering topics, with content focused specifically on the business need.

Our approach

Knowledge Age will first work to help to define the training requirements and then ascertain whether there is a standard course which would meet the defined need or whether a tailored course should be created from elements of current courses. Where a bespoke course is required, we will work closely with the client to understand what the course must cover, before proposing a course structure – to include key topics, learning points and logistics, such as duration and workshop elements. We would then develop the course, feeding sections of the course back to the client, as appropriate, for input and improvement. Once the developed course is complete, it can be piloted with a test audience, the feedback from which will help to further refine the course. The finalised course is then delivered to the target audience, along agreed timescales.

Because the course is being developed from the ground up, elements of different training media can be combined into one cohesive training program – for example, using CBT, self-paced books or e-learning, to support the classroom training. If required, the entire course can be non-classroom.

Knowledge Age follows a structured approach to deliver this service to ensure that content is:

• relevant to the needs and expectations of users
• accessible to the range of technology available to users
• useable and functional
• pedagogically sound and cohesive

The main principles used in our approach include:

• the active involvement of users, such as trainers and users (User Focus Groups (UFGs))
• obtaining feedback from users at all stages of development, from simple paper mock-ups to online prototypes
• the use of multidisciplinary development teams to ensure both pedagogical and technical quality
• using the most appropriate media for the content, taking into account the context of use, audience skills and access to technologies

The client will receive the exact course required, of an agreed duration. Delegates will also receive any developed courseware, with associated self-paced commercial training books, if appropriate.