Agile Training: An Innovative Educational Process for Information Technology Educators

Information technology (IT) plays an important role in the growth of small businesses. Many businesses unfamiliar with technology tools risk being left behind in the so-called digital divide, rendering them unable to compete in today's business environment. Efforts to train owners of microenterprises often employ plan driven training, which emphasizes structure and linear learning with pre-defined learning objectives. This has been effective to a point, but it is sometimes insufficient to help microenterprises to cross the digital divide. This study proposes an alternative educational method, known as agile training. Agile Training is adapted from the Agile method of information systems development. Agile Training is an iterative method, designed to produce a demonstrable set of valuable technical skills on a short timetable. This innovative educational method adds process and psychological factors to standard plan driven training.