Abstract :
Interactive television offers businesses a cost-effective method for providing occupational training to a greater number of employees. Interactive television is a video training system where employees are given training and performance evaluations while in the field. Employees then receive feedback from the instructor from telephone call-in sessions. The systems allow recently hired managers to get timely, meaningful orientation. However, live telecourses must be specially designed to be effective, and should be modified based on regular input from employees. The lack of personal attention in interactive television classrooms is offset by the lower cost of training a greater number of employees. The experiences of Aetna are profiled to illustrate the firm's experience with interactive television.