Assessing the Winning Teams program of interactive satellite-based training

This research assessed an interactive satellite-based training program inte grating interactive audiovisual experiences with face-to-face interactions. Key elements were content created by experts, high-quality video segments, satellite-based interaction, off-line interactions among teams of parents and caregivers, workshops, and team building exercises. For pragmatic reaso ns, it was necessary to develop brief assessment instruments concurrently w ith training. A large set of survey items were created from draft materials and reduced empirically through piloting to those with the best psychometr ic properties. To avoid the appearance of traditional testing, knowledge wa s assessed with Likert items. Surveys measured participant satisfaction, kn owledge, attitudes, and the application and articulation of concepts. Parti cipant satisfaction was high. Participants increased positive attitudes and learned appropriate vocabulary. Training was more effective than no traini ng or watching videotapes. The program appears to represent a viable model of training that could successfully be applied to Internet technologies.