Flexible Delivery Options

"One size fits all" has never been an apt phrase in the training world. Learners have different needs, different attention spans, and different ways of processing information. Furthermore, in many organizations, employees are geographically dispersed, making it hard for learners to come together in one central location for training.

Recognizing these different needs, Elert & Associates offers training through a variety of delivery methods. Many of our clients choose a combination of delivery options, in an effort to present flexible alternatives to busy employees.

On-site Instructor-Led Training

Traditional classroom-style, instructor-led training remains a popular choice for many organizations and individuals. We'll bring our top-notch instructors to your site to facilitate any classes in our catalog.

On-site training works particularly well in organizations where the majority of employees work in the same general location. It is also effective when a large number of employees from a wide geographic area are coming to one location at the same time (e.g., for a sales meeting or conference). Since the training is held at your location, your employees incur no lost time or expense due to travel.

Virtual Classroom Training

If you need to provide training to people based in multiple or remote locations, bringing the learners to a single, centralized site may not be the most time- or cost-effective option. Holding these classes in a virtual classroom on the Internet may be a better solution.

The virtual classroom makes it possible for learners to attend class anywhere they have access to an Internet connection and a phone line. Participants still attend a live class where they can interact with an instructor and other students. The benefit is that workers can attend class from their desk, home, or any other location that is convenient for them.

We offer three types of classes in our virtual classroom:

• Public classes - Several courses in our catalog are offered regularly on our public virtual classroom schedule. Anyone can attend these classes.

• Dedicated (private) classes - If you have a group of people who want training on the same topic, we can schedule a dedicated session for that group. Up to ten students can attend each dedicated class.

• One-on-One Application Support - During these sessions, individuals work one-on-one with an instructor on the topic of their choice. Choose a topic from our course catalog (e.g., a class you're interested in that is not offered on the public schedule) or come with your own questions about how best to use a particular application for a project or document you are working on.

Note: One-on-one Application Support is available for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Project, and Windows. If you need help with another application, contact us and we will do our best to schedule a session with a consultant who can effectively address your needs.

For more details about virtual classroom training and how it works, see our virtual classroom page.

Personal Coaching

Sometimes, scheduled classes are simply not the most appropriate option. Some workers, such as executive assistants, are unable to leave their work area even for ninety minutes of training. Some people just learn better in their own work environment, without the added distractions of other learners. Even those who succeed in a group environment often need or want help implementing their new skills successfully within their actual projects.

Recognizing these very different needs, Elert & Associates provides personal, one-on-one or small group coaching sessions to help learners apply concepts to their own particular needs.

If we have an instructor in your geographic area, the coaching sessions can be held on-site at your location. Otherwise, the sessions will take place in our virtual classroom (using an Internet connection and a telephone).

Discovery Labs

In Discovery Labs, individuals or groups within an organization gather to work on their own projects within a specific software application or set of applications. An instructor is present in the lab to answer questions, facilitate brainstorming sessions, and instruct attendees on the most effective procedures related to their work.

Discovery Labs are an effective option for users who learn best independently, but still want the assistance of an instructor nearby. They also work well for high-level application users, who sometimes find the typical training environment too restrictive.

Brown Bag Seminars

Brown bag seminars provide an effective way to demonstrate an application to a large group of users. Common goals of these sessions are to highlight tips for using a common application more effectively or to introduce a new application or version workers will be using.

Brown bag sessions often serve as an effective supplement or introduction to other training options available to workers within your organization.

Video Conferencing

If your organization has video conferencing equipment and support, this technology offers another excellent alternative to face-to-face learning. Our instructors are experienced in teaching over this medium and have succeeded in making these sessions both interactive and fun!