“Ten Tips to Make Training and Development Work”

“How to Develop a Multi-Year Training & Exercise”

“Complete Guildines for Developing an Effective Training Program”

Most of the information is similar.

Much of the common theme – using an ISD model is critical to the success of developing sound instructional experiences for users.  I agree with this.  I live it everyday.

But how do non-instructional designers, non-teachers absorb this information and make sense of it for their own organizations?  Without some basics, the average user will just get lost in massive amounts of theory, philosophy and at the end of their research find that they’ve spent a lot of time reading and not much time understanding where to start to help develop experiences for their people/employees/clients.

Which is why when people ask me about the instructional design process and what models I use I tend to tell them that the best thing to do is to keep it simple.

Keep it simple

How do you keep it simple?

Ask yourself this very basic question. When determining how to help someone do something better, more efficiently or help them understand how to do something that is brand new to them, keep it simple and keep the end in mind.

What do you want learners to know and be able to do?

Once you answer the question of “what should people know and be able to do”, you can begin to develop exercises and experiences to show, model and ask users to try it themselves in order to consume the learning.  The question focuses on the end result.  You have to identify the end before you can even begin the process of designing learning.

Simple right?  Yes.

What else can you do to get started?  Communicate

Communication should be a given in the process of developing learning experiences, right?  Little do we realize there are many instances when it doesn’t happen.

Ever walked into a training session and wondered what the purpose of the training really was?  Sure you received a notice of the training, maybe even a title for the session, but did the trainer or organization communicate to you the purpose for the training, how that training tied to your specific job/role, and how by attending the training would help you meet and possible exceed your job/role competencies?

The need for communication makes sense when you read it in this context but how much is really occurring within your organization when it comes to growing and supporting your people?

Oh and brace yourselves, communication isn’t just about what you’re “telling” your people.

Communication is also what you’re people are telling you (or could be telling you if you’d provide them both the opportunity and means for doing so).

If you aren’t spending time asking questions and collecting feedback from your employees, you’re really missing the boat on the “what” they need to know.  And if you aren’t communicating with your employees about what you expect of them and what competencies are tied to their current job/role, as well as competencies that are tied to the jobs/roles your employees wish to pursue, then how can your employees provide feedback as to what support they need?

Communication is critical.  Both ways.

So, if you’re trying to find a starting point as to “what” you should focus on when figuring out training and support for your people and at least initially avoid the piles of research about training and instructional design, start with these two basics.

1. Keep it simple
2. Communicate

If you would like more research detail let me know.  I’ll forward you the link to one of my 100+ feeds I receive each day.

http://connect.enetcolorado.org/p7fz9mt0prj/

eNetColorado’s mission is to improve student achievement by collecting and disseminating resources that incorporate technology tools and content in easy-to-use formats.  Visit eNetColorado for more information.

Ironically, I saw first hand last night the difference between “traditional” homework practices and those that are focused more on children researching or reading at home. 

Last night, my son “forgot” his homework folder at school (which is another conversation all together). But instead of a lost night for homework activities, we visited Raz-Kids.com. 

Raz-Kids.com is a reading site that provides books online with audio and visual components.  Children go through a 3-step process online.  First, the book they choose is read aloud to them, with complimentary pictures and video.  Second, they are asked to read the book aloud and even record it in the self-contained program if they so desire.  Finally, they are asked to take a short 5 question quiz addressing basic comprehension of the book.  Raz-Kids.com keeps track of books read and completed and as a reward for students, provide points in which they can use to “buy” characters and devices for their own area.  My son has access to building a space rocket interior, where he can add furniture, but also aliens and robots.  Of course, all of this is tagged to the particular student, so it requires a login and password (both of which were set up by his teacher). 

So, my son’s “forgetfulness” contributed to an evening of engaging books and not boring worksheets.  His teacher has asked that 1st graders read at least 10 minutes every night to their parents.  I think my son was online last night reading books for almost an hour.  And it didn’t stop last night.  He was up bright and early this morning reading online again. 

Because yes, he needed to get more points to add the orange alien to his rocket ship. 

Bye bye “traditional” homework.  Hello engagement. 

For the complete article I mentioned at the beginning of this post, please visit The Washington Post “Gaithersburg school says no homework – just free reading.”

But what about expanding the capabilities to using text messaging to reach your customers?

There’s no doubt that more and more people are using text messaging even more so than email these days.  Why not have a text messaging service that can provide updates to your customers and increase your business?

That’s the power of iZigg.

I’m now helping businesses and organizations use iZigg as an additional marketing outreach.

Take a look at the video here and contact me with questions about how iZigg can help your business or organization grow.

You have to be willing to ask questions and explore. People who are active users will help you.

But exploring blindly and without any guidance can lead to a number of things that end up making you look as though you don’t know what you’re doing (Yes, I know. You don’t know what you’re doing, but at least try to appear like you do)

Here’s some basic, helpful tips when getting started:

1. Research.  Look to see what other people are doing and how they are using the tools.  You can learn a lot about what you want for your own business or organization but seeing what people are doing, as well as avoiding what you don’t like about others’ social media actions.
2. Ask Questions.  Ask questions in online forums of other users.  Ask how they set up their tool.  Ask why they chose one tool over another.  You can gather a ton of information from others online.  They are, after all, social networking already.  Which means they are usually people who would engage in a conversation with you too.
3. Start Small.  Too many people get caught up in signing up for every social media tool that comes out.  Or acting on the typical….”my friend had one of these accounts so I signed up when I got the invitation, but I have no idea what it’s for.”  Hey, I’ve even signed up on a whim when someone else suggested.  But what I found out very quickly is if I didn’t see an immediate use for it in my life, I didn’t stay connected and thus it was a waste of time to sign up in the first place.  Start with one or two social media applications and use them.  Activity is what will get you engaged with others.  Activity is what will spark others to follow you and inquire about what you’re doing.  Juggle a couple of objects and do it well.  Throw too many up in the air and all of them will far.  You get the picture.

Social media and networking has already become one of the fastest ways for consumers to know what you do and how to get connected to you.  Start with the basics and get good at them.  And like any road trip somewhere new…ease the heartache of being “lost” by simply asking some who’s familiar with the landscape for directions.

eNetColorado, the Colorado Department of Education, and the Centennial Board of Cooperative Services today announced the availability of content and resources on iTunes U, a dedicated area of the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com) that offers free audio and video content from leading educational institutions.

“Colorado is pleased to offer K-12 content on iTunes U,” said eNetColorado Director Dan Morris. “This is a big step in the right direction for Colorado education — putting teaching and learning tools within easy reach. Colorado on iTunes U is an accessible solution that enables us to share 21st century education tools and resources with school leaders, teachers and students across our state.”

Morris added, “We’re excited to have school districts, as well as partners like History Colorado and College In Colorado, as content partners. It’s wonderful to be able to share quality educational content on iTunes U.”

Colorado on iTunes U is giving public school teachers and students in the state the ability to download the latest education related multimedia content including audio and video presentations, professional development activities, curriculum materials and more, for free. Teachers can use video and audio tracks on iTunes U to motivate students to engage with a topic, activate background knowledge and come to class motivated to learn. They can use these tracks for re-teaching – helping students to reinforce a key concept and clarify misconceptions so that they have that “aha” moment and move forward in their learning. Students can also select and use tracks strategically to explore connections and applications that enrich their learning. iTunes U makes it easy for users to take control of their own learning.

eNet Colorado has posted audio and video of professional development activities and news items on iTunes U and will continue to post new content, including more items from a variety of learning partners. All content on iTunes U can be experienced on a PC or Mac, iPod, iPhone or iPad.

For more information about Colorado on iTunes U, contact Julie Rieken at 303-882-9113.

What about professional development for your company? Many companies get caught up in the notion that training and professional development are hit or miss classroom sessions. “Bob isn’t able to….better get him trained as quickly as possible.” If that is how your organization is validating training, then you’re in for high investments and little return. Training is not about providing content you believe employees need, but rather filling the gap of knowledge and skills that your employees, your learners are telling you they require to be better individuals who can contribute to the overall well-being of the organization. Different approach? Yes.

Duckworth Design prides itself in providing professional development planning beyond “one-time” delivery sessions. With a comprehensive professional development plan, educators participate in learning experiences throughout the entire school year. Through meaningful learning interactions and review, educators explore new ideas while building on their current skill and knowledge base.

Duckworth Design helps both corporate and education clients enhance productivity skills by utilizing technology in their daily practice. Even today, with our increased knowledge and use of technology, its existence many times is viewed as “additional,” “extra,” or an “add-on” in organizations. Duckworth Design develops and delivers training that allows individuals to seamlessly integrate the use of technology into their daily practice with the focus on improving performance.

Through a variety of established training programs and customized training packages, Duckworth Design will work with you to determine a training plan that meets your learners’ needs. Training can be developed for face-to-face or online delivery or a combination of both.

If you have questions about creating an online presence utilizing the latest social networking technology for your business or enhancing the one your currently have in place, contact us. We can provide a custom quote around your specific online marketing needs, including but not limited to branding, development, ghost blogging and tweeting.