Rapid Learning Institute introduces T.O.I.L.E.T. Training™ – a breakthrough system to improve workplace learning

Rapid Learning Institute (RLI) pulled back the curtain today on its latest innovation in workplace education: the T.O.I.L.E.T. Training System™ – a new platform that promises to reshape how training is delivered in modern organizations.

The T.O.I.L.E.T. Training System™ – which is built on RLI’s proprietary Time Optimized Intensive Learning Experience Technology – combines state-of-the-art hardware and software to transform the standard commercial restroom stall into a fun and exciting learning kiosk that not only increases the worker’s knowledge base, but also enhances the quality of the break event itself.

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“Today’s workers and organizations are under unprecedented pressure to maintain high productivity,” said RLI Research Director Walter P. Hokes. “In this time-stressed environment, training is often viewed as a luxury that employers can’t afford. And yet without ongoing training, organizations fall behind. So we asked ourselves, ‘How can we help organizations deliver effective training without negatively impacting productivity?’”

In 2008, that question led to RLI’s original training breakthrough: Quick Takes—six- to ten-minute learning modules that can be viewed anywhere, any time, on any smart device.

In 2014, the T.O.I.L.E.T. Training System™ takes the concept to a new level.

“The idea of six- to ten-minute training sessions was a paradigm shift that allowed us to think outside the traditional training box,” said Hokes. “We realized that if we could identify small unused blocks of time in workers’ schedules, we could deliver training that would help them be more productive, more motivated and better at their jobs while keeping productivity high.”

To develop the T.O.I.L.E.T. Training System™, RLI conducted extensive on-site research at some of America’s leading companies. Adapting a methodology developed by the legendary design firm IDEO, RLI’s technology experts and instructional designers closely observed employees as they went about their day, looking for opportunities to drop nuggets of training into their busy schedules.

“We considered a variety of options,” said Hokes. “Elevator rides. Coffee breaks. But not every building has an elevator and not everyone drinks coffee. So ultimately we zeroed in on the one activity that nearly every worker engages in – often multiple times during the day. And it was just the right length of time.”

In traditional restrooms, opportunities for learning are limited and the aesthetics leave something to be desired. The lighting is bad. The conversation is predictable. The graffiti offers up the same tired jokes day in and day out.

T.O.I.L.E.T. Training™ kiosks significantly upgrade that experience. An eye-level WiFi-enabled tablet device is permanently affixed to the inside of the kiosk door and automatically launches a Quick Take rapid learning module when the door closes. To minimize training distractions, electronic signage on the exterior of the kiosk notifies other workers when the unit is occupied and training is under way.

Inside, convenient literature racks ensure that supplemental learning materials are always at the learner’s fingertips. A white-noise generator simulates the sound of a gurgling brook, enhancing privacy and helping learners focus on the task at hand. A dedicated hotline gives learners instant access to a live RLI customer-service representative or certified trainer should the need arise (upcharge applies for the trainer option).

Best of all, the T.O.I.L.E.T. Training™ System provides managers with GPS-enabled status updates, allowing them to monitor their employees’ training efforts and intervene when necessary. “This is part of the magic of the T.O.I.L.E.T. Training™ System,” explained Hokes. “Real-time monitoring creates opportunities for ‘teachable moments,’ where managers can actually step into the worker’s training to offer additional support and encouragement.”

Hokes observed: “The traditional corporate restroom experience has been heavily weighted in favor of outputs. With RLI’s T.O.I.L.E.T. Training System™, we can change that equation and have workers leaving these encounters with more than they came in with.”

The T.O.I.L.E.T. Training System™ is currently in beta testing, and RLI is soliciting organizations to participate in the tests. Applications must be received by end of business on April 1, 2014. To learn more, view an explanatory video at https://rlin.st/TTVideo

Rapid Learning Institute (RLI) provides online training and talent development tools for businesses, government agencies, nonprofits and educational institutions in the areas of sales, leadership and management, human resources, employment law compliance, and workplace safety.

Based in Greater Philadelphia, RLI is an operating division of Business 21 Publishing.