Training Materials
Resources, content, and tools used to facilitate learning and skill development in training programs, including documents, videos, presentations, and interactive content.
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What are Training Materials?
Training materials are the resources and content organizations use to help employees learn new skills and knowledge. Think of them as the building blocks for any learning experience at work. They help people pick up new abilities, understand how things work, and get better at their jobs.
These materials come in all shapes and sizes. You might have a printed training manual sitting on someone's desk or a training video they can watch on their laptop. Interactive modules, microlearning units, slide decks, job aids: they all count as training materials. What ties them together is a shared purpose: getting knowledge from point A (the organization) to point B (the employee) in a way that actually sticks.
Good training materials tend to be organized, tied to real tasks people actually do, and built around clear objectives. They usually mix instructions with examples, throw in some practice exercises, and include ways to check whether someone actually learned what they were supposed to.
Key Characteristics of Training Materials
- Goal-Oriented: They address specific learning objectives and tie back to what the organization needs and what employees are expected to do
- Structured and Organized: Information flows in a logical order that builds understanding step by step, so learners can follow along without getting lost
- Practical and Relevant: They include real-world examples and scenarios that reflect what people actually encounter on the job
- Accessible and Clear: Plain language, visuals, and good formatting help make sure everyone can understand the content regardless of their learning style
- Measurable: Quizzes, knowledge checks, and practice exercises let you verify whether learning actually happened and spot any gaps
Training Materials Examples
Example 1: New Employee Onboarding Kit
A mid-sized software company puts together an onboarding package for new hires. It includes a welcome video from the CEO, an org chart, the usual policy documents, role-specific training manuals, some eLearning modules covering company systems, and a 30-day checklist. New employees work through everything at their own pace during their first month, with weekly check-ins to see how things are going.
Example 2: Compliance Training Program
A regional hospital network builds out mandatory compliance training for HIPAA. They put together short video lessons explaining the regulations, downloadable PDF job aids employees can print and keep at their desks, quizzes to test understanding, and scenario-based simulations where staff practice handling privacy situations. Employees can access these resources for just-in-time training whenever questions arise. Everything lives in their LMS so people can access it whenever they need a refresher.
Training Materials vs Training Documentation
People sometimes use these terms interchangeably, but they serve different purposes.
| Aspect | Training Materials | Training Documentation |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Help people actively learn and build skills | Keep records of training processes, requirements, and history |
| Scope | Can be videos, modules, manuals, slides, and more | Mostly written records and formal documentation |
| When to use | When you are delivering training or during learning activities | For planning, compliance tracking, and keeping records |
How Glitter AI Helps with Training Materials
Creating training materials usually takes forever. You have to write everything out, record videos, edit them, and somehow keep it all up to date. Glitter AI makes this a lot easier. You just record yourself doing a task once, and the platform automatically turns that recording into step-by-step guides, video tutorials, and visual instructions.
The result? Subject matter experts spend way less time on documentation and more time doing their actual jobs. And when processes change (which they always do), you can re-record and update materials without rebuilding everything from scratch. Your team always has access to accurate, current training content that matches how things actually work today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are training materials?
Training materials are the resources and content that help employees learn and build skills. This includes things like documents, videos, presentations, manuals, job aids, and interactive modules.
What is an example of training materials?
Some common examples: training manuals, how-to videos, PowerPoint presentations, workbooks, job aids like checklists and cheat sheets, eLearning modules, and interactive simulations that let people practice new skills.
Why are training materials important?
They give everyone a consistent learning experience, cut training costs, save time, and let you actually measure whether people learned what they were supposed to. Organizations with strong training programs often see significantly better business results.
How do I create effective training materials?
Start by figuring out what people need to learn. Then mix up your content types so different learning styles are covered. Add real examples and practice exercises, make everything easy to navigate, and include some way to check comprehension.
What are the different types of training materials?
You have written stuff like manuals and workbooks, digital content like videos and eLearning modules, slide decks, job aids like checklists and flowcharts, interactive content like quizzes and simulations, and bite-sized microlearning units.
Turn any process into a step-by-step guide