Improving human performance in drinking water treatment through personalized digital training: Experimental evidence from ecuador

This study investigates the impact of two types of digital training programs (more personalized, MOOC++, and less personalized, MOOC+) on human performance, engagement level, and real-world application of technical competencies by operators in drinking water treatment plants in Ecuador. A completely randomized experimental design was conducted with two subgroups of 29 active operators assigned to each course. The results show that both training programs produced significant improvements within each group, but when comparing performance across all modules between the groups, the performance of MOOC++ is significantly higher than that of MOOC+. In addition, learner engagement was analyzed and results indicate that engagement in MOOC++ is significantly higher than in MOOC+. The findings highlight the importance of personalization in digital workforce training, particularly for practice-oriented operational tasks, and suggest that performance improvement is associated with the transfer of knowledge to real operational contexts. Furthermore, qualitative evidence indicates positive changes in operators’ technical performance and participation in daily work activities. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that personalized digital training can be an effective strategy to strengthen the technical competence of water treatment operators and support the safe and reliable operation of drinking water services, contributing to workforce development in essential public infrastructure systems.