We Built the Most Complete Autodesk Forma Build Training Out There
When Global eTraining first asked Cedar Rock Consulting to build a full training program for Autodesk Forma Build, we knew it was worth doing right. Construction teams were starting to use Forma Build fast, but most of the training out on the market was either outdated or was video only. So we set out to use the methodology Global eTraining incorporates into every training module they provide, the VARK model (Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, Kinesthetic) and capitalize on GIA in the process.
Starting From Scratch
We worked through the software piece by piece: Files, Photos, Sheets, Forms, RFIs, Submittals, Issues, Correspondence, Meetings, Schedule, Assets, Reports, Bridge, and eventually Cost Management, which is one of the trickiest parts of the whole platform since it deals with budgets, payments, and forecasting money, until we could wrap it all up with Insight. All of this had to make sense to someone who had never opened the software before. So we didn't just show people where buttons are. We taught them how and why to actually use each tool.
For every part of the software, we built the same four things:
- Videos that walk you through each task step by step
- Quick guides you can check later when you're back in the software working on your own
- Practice exercises using the default demo project so no one has to create a new one from scratch in order to use the training.
- Quizzes to make sure everything actually stuck before moving on
We also made separate lessons for regular users and for admins, since the two groups need very different information.
As mentioned in the opening, we also built this whole thing to work with GIA, the Global eTraining Intelligent Assistant. That means as learners go through the material, there's an AI tool built right in to help them find the right answers fast.
Here's the scale of it: 239 videos adding up to almost 15 hours, 112 practice exercises totaling about 45 hours, 37 quizzes covering about 6 hours, and hundreds of pages of quick reference guides configured as SOP's.
Why Rewrite Everything From Scratch
Taking on a project this big was not a small decision, so here is the thinking behind it.
First, Global eTraining does not have much competition when it comes to depth; they are by far the clear leader when it comes to teaching people how to use application. Most training out there is just videos. The closest competitor only offers video content, nothing else. That level of depth is exactly why I love working with Global eTraining as an education company.
We know this firsthand because, before founding Cedar Rock, our founder sold the competitor's products in a past job. He was stunned to learn there was nothing but video; especially for Forma (or ACC back then). When he asked why, the answer was that the software changes too much too quickly, and by the time a course makes it to market, the product has already been updated or added to. And yes, that exact thing happened to us during this project too. But we did it anyway, because client learning is not just a mission for us or for Global eTraining. It is a passion.
Second, the training needed a full rewrite anyway. The software had changed so much over the past few years, on top of the rebrand to Forma, that the old material could not just be patched up. It needed to be built again from the ground up.
Third, and maybe most important, the whole course was designed with GIA in mind from day one. The goal is for GIA to be able to pull quick, accurate answers straight from this material whenever a learner needs them. AI is changing how people learn and work, and this course structure is part of helping shape that shift for Global eTraining users.
Sweating the Small Stuff
A lot of the real work happened when we went back and reviewed everything: catching mismatched pictures, mixed up budget codes, and even a missing exercise that had to be built from the ground up. It's not the exciting part of the job, but it's where good training either comes together or falls apart.
We turned it into live, Cedar Rock instructor led training too, covering both regular users and admins. The plan is simple: walk people through it live, then let them use the self paced material afterward to practice and look things up whenever they need to. We know that some users need instructor led training, because some people need to be taught and don't readily learn from videos, or reading materials.
Why It Matters
Construction teams don't have time to struggle through new software while they're trying to run real projects. Good training is the difference between a smooth rollout and one that falls apart. That's the bar we held ourselves to on every single part of this.
We're grateful to Global eTraining for trusting us with this project and for the chance to build something this complete for everyone using Forma Build.
If your team is rolling out Autodesk Forma Build, we'd love to show you everything this training covers. If you don't have Global eTraining now, but want to know how to GeT it, contact us today, and we'll be happy to help you out. We're an authorized partner and can set your account up today!