Training is
teaching, or developing in oneself or others, any
skills and
knowledge or
fitness that relate to specific
useful competencies. Training has specific goals of improving one's
capability, capacity,
productivity and
performance. It forms the core of
apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at
institutes of technology (also known as technical colleges or polytechnics). In addition to the basic training required for a
trade,
occupation or
profession, training may continue beyond initial competence to maintain, upgrade and update skills throughout
working life. People within some professions and occupations may refer to this sort of training as
professional development. Training also refers to the development of physical fitness related to a specific competence, such as sport, martial arts, military applications and some other occupations.
Types
Physical training
Physical training concentrates on mechanistic goals: training programs in this area develop specific motor skills, agility, strength or
physical fitness, often with an intention of
peaking at a particular time.
In
military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
use, training means gaining the physical ability to perform and survive in
combat, and learn the many skills needed in a time of
war. These include how to use a variety of
weapons, outdoor
survival skills, and how to survive being captured by the enemy, among many others. See
military education and training.
For psychological or physiological reasons, people who believe it may be beneficial to them can choose to practice
relaxation training, or
autogenic training, in an attempt to increase their ability to relax or deal with stress.
While some studies have indicated relaxation training is useful for some medical conditions, autogenic training has limited results or has been the result of few studies.
Occupational skills training
Some occupations are inherently hazardous, and require a minimum level of competence before the practitioners can perform the work at an acceptable level of safety to themselves or others in the vicinity.
Occupational diving, rescue,
firefighting and operation of certain types of machinery and vehicles may require assessment and certification of a minimum acceptable competence before the person is allowed to practice as a licensed instructor.
On-job training

Some commentators use a similar term for workplace learning to
improve performance: "
training and development". There are also additional services available online for those who wish to receive training above and beyond what is offered by their employers. Some examples of these services include career counseling, skill assessment, and supportive services. One can generally categorize such training as ''
on-the-job'' or ''off-the-job''.
The
on-the-job training method takes place in a normal working situation, using the actual
tools, equipment, documents or materials that trainees will use when fully trained. On-the-job training has a general reputation as most effective for vocational work. It involves employees training at the place of work while they are doing the actual job. Usually, a professional trainer (or sometimes an experienced and skilled employee) serves as the instructor using hands-on practical experience which may be supported by formal classroom presentations. Sometimes training can occur by using web-based technology or video conferencing tools. On-the-job training is applicable on all departments within an organization.
Simulation based training is another method which uses technology to assist in trainee development. This is particularly common in the training of skills requiring a very high degree of practice, and in those which include a significant responsibility for life and property. An advantage is that simulation training allows the trainer to find, study, and remedy skill deficiencies in their trainees in a controlled, virtual environment. This also allows the trainees an opportunity to experience and study events that would otherwise be rare on the job, e.g., in-flight emergencies, system failure, etc., wherein the trainer can run 'scenarios' and study how the trainee reacts, thus assisting in improving his/her skills if the event was to occur in the real world. Examples of skills that commonly include simulator training during stages of development include piloting aircraft, spacecraft, locomotives, and ships, operating
air traffic control
Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airsp ...
airspace/sectors,
power plant operations training, advanced military/defense system training, and advanced emergency response training like fire training or first-aid training.
Off-the-job training method takes place away from normal work situations — implying that the employee does not count as a directly productive worker while such training takes place. Off-the-job training method also involves employee training at a site away from the actual work environment. It often utilizes lectures, seminars, case studies, role playing, and simulation, having the advantage of allowing people to get away from work and concentrate more thoroughly on the training itself. This type of training has proven more effective in inculcating concepts and ideas. Many personnel selection companies offer a service which would help to improve employee competencies and change the attitude towards the job. The internal personnel training topics can vary from effective problem-solving skills to leadership training.
A more recent development in job training is the On-the-Job Training Plan or OJT Plan. According to the United States Department of the Interior, a proper OJT plan should include: An overview of the subjects to be covered, the number of hours the training is expected to take, an estimated completion date, and a method by which the training will be evaluated.
Religion and spirituality
In
religious and
spiritual use, the word "training" may refer to the purification of the mind, heart, understanding and actions to obtain a variety of spiritual goals such as (for example) closeness to
God
In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typicall ...
or freedom from
suffering
Suffering, or pain in a broad sense, may be an experience of unpleasantness or aversion, possibly associated with the perception of harm or threat of harm in an individual. Suffering is the basic element that makes up the negative valence (psyc ...
. Note for example the institutionalised spiritual training of
Threefold Training in Buddhism,
meditation in
Hinduism or
discipleship in
Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism, monotheistic religion based on the Life of Jesus in the New Testament, life and Teachings of Jesus, teachings of Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth. It is the Major religious groups, world's ...
. These aspects of training can be short-term or can last a lifetime, depending on the context of the training and which religious group it is a part of.
Compare religious
ritual.
Artificial-intelligence feedback
Researchers have developed training methods for
artificial-intelligence devices as well.
Evolutionary algorithms, including
genetic programming and other methods of
machine learning, use a system of
feedback based on "
fitness functions" to allow
computer programs to determine how well an entity performs a task. The methods construct a series of programs, known as a “population” of programs, and then automatically test them for "fitness", observing how well they perform the intended task. The system automatically generates new programs based on members of the population that perform the best. These new members replace programs that perform the worst. The procedure repeats until the achievement of optimum performance.
In
robotics, such a system can continue to run in
real-time after initial training, allowing
robots to adapt to new situations and to changes in themselves, for example, due to wear or damage. Researchers have also developed robots that can appear to mimic simple human behavior as a starting point for training.
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See also
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References
9. https://orglearn.net/rethinking-remote-training-in-2021/
External links
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Didactics