If it addresses the measured educational needs of its actual target audience, an interactive media educational program can substitute for the ideal, great teacher who has unlimited access to and control of any combination of media. With the help of instructional designers, subject matter experts only need to deliver their best work once to provide individualized sessions for an unlimited number of learners. Training can take place at any convenient time or "just in time" to be used in a practical situation.

Interactive media programs are not automated lectures. They are "responsive environments" in which guided practice and productive dialogs between an expert and an apprentice can take place. Instructional Designers study the prior knowledge and the learning characteristics of the target audience and, employing multimedia production teams, program the right-sized units of subject matter, the right number of comprehension checks and the right amount of simulated practical experience to enable learners to reach the educational goals set by management.

Learners' responses are analyzed by the interactive media program and both corrective and supportive feedback are immediately given to the learner. Students may be praised or rewarded with an entertaining multimedia surprise. They may be directed to resources for further study, prompted for a different answer or given a hint that leads them to a better solution.

Like a good teacher, the program analyzes learners' responses and provides the individualized content the learner needs next in order to progress incrementally toward a given educational goal. No two learners will have exactly the same experience but each will be led down their own best path toward mastery of the content.

Instructional designers analyze and use learners' responses to drive program revisions. That which is not well learned by a significant part of our target audience, is something not well taught by us. This "learning system" approach ensures the ever increasing effectiveness of a training program.

Once a student has successfully completed a program, as defined by criteria set by management and the instructional designer, interactive multimedia training can remain accessible for review and reference during the actual application of knowledge and skills. Thus, an interactive media training program not only prepares learners for practical applications but can also support them, as needed, on the job.

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