ABSTRACT
Designing online training for medical end users requires careful planning. Assessing goals and determining desired outcomes in clearly stated performance objectives is a preliminary step. A structured examination of the cognitive processes involved in learning computer searching can lead to more effective design of training programs. Introductory online instruction must deal with at least four areas: (1) capabilities of major retrieval systems, (2) topic analysis and strategy formulation, (3) software system protocols, and (4) database-specific idiosyncrasies. A checklist approach is suggested for determining content in each area. After requisite decisions have been made about what components to include, the task of developing instructional aids remains. Several problems can be anticipated; a detailed discussion of desirable attributes for training materials is included. References to some of the published literature about end user characteristics and documentation design will, hopefully, provide useful background reading for new online educators.
