In the business and education worlds, there is an ever-increasing demand for speedy dissemination of useful information. This has led to the development of rapid prototyping courses as a way to respond to this desire. These courses address the current organizational trend of providing learning tools that maximize tight budgets and fit in with downsizing and outsourcing tendencies. The rapid prototyping concept has many advantages and disadvantages, but is likely to continue to be an integral component of the business world.
Rapid prototyping exists when companies, or educators, create a prototype, or working model, to educate learners and to sample new undertakings. It is believed that prototyping reduces project risk and cost, particularly in vocational fields that deal with project production. As a result, online learning has become a cost effective way to manage in-house corporate training sessions. Unlike face-to face learning models, electronically based classrooms can distribute materials to larger numbers of people at the same time. Convenient and flexible, online courses can be a less expensive learning option for the student. This mode of learning eliminates the need to travel to class. In addition, online learning formats directly allow students to engage with the professor through email. Students may also discuss ideas with each other through online posts.
In general, online learning occurs in one of two ways. It can occur as a class that meets on a certain day and time in an electronic format. Alternatively, materials are posted online and the structure of learning is self-paced. Students are drawn in by the ease of the online format. As a result, many request that previous learning and training materials be converted to online formats for later reference. To address this need, some businesses assign materials from educational sessions to teams that will bear the responsibility of converting them for online access and study.
Disadvantages of Rapid Prototyping
The key to successful rapid development is to achieve the project goal in minimal time without sacrificing quality. Those goals possess inherent challenges stemming from the emergence of rapid prototyping as a commonly used educational model. As a rule, prototypes may be easily altered as is needed. Users buy into the rapid prototyping process because of their practical understanding of technology. It is also preferred because this style of learning tends to be far more effective, faster and less expensive than traditional learning models.
For all of the benefits of rapid prototyping, there are many difficulties as well. This may be caused by the user’s perception of this tool. Users may sometimes have higher expectations of rapid prototyping than is possible. For example, due to its format, the development of rapid prototypes is an inexact discipline. Unfortunately, not all users understand this, which can lead to frustration. Online learning solutions must be developed in tandem with each application. As a result, each prototype will be inherently unique.