Training in the process and manufacturing industries usually falls into one, or more, of the following three categories: • Total Training—an in-depth approach, from basics to advanced topics, covering the “why’s,” as well as the “how to’s.” An apprentice program would be an example. • Multi-Craft Training—the complexity of modern equipment, which often combines technologies (broader job classifications), has made this a rapidly growing need. An example would be an electronics technician...
In previous blogs, I’ve railed against PowerPoint presentations as a learning tool. It is not a tool for learning — and, never has been. PowerPoint is merely one way to convey information. But, it cannot be used to teach anyone anything! At best, it can only inform — and, not particularly well at that. We now have another attack on PowerPoint –- only this time about its use as a decision tool....
Many of you in the process and manufacturing industries have invested heavily in CD-ROM courseware over the past decade. Today, in some ways, that investment seems limited in the face of e-Learning pressures. However, it need not be that way. You’re now able to come back and get a second round of heightened value from that initial investment. With the new digital networking developments it now becomes possible to purchase digital networking...
A couple of weeks ago the U.S. Department of Labor awarded $10 million in funding to organizations that connect older Americans to career opportunities. This “Aging Worker Initiative” is designed to train workers 55 and older for jobs in high-growth, high-demand industries. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis commented, “This grant provides opportunities for older Americans who face challenges re-entering or remaining in the workforce.” Economists generally agree that a well-educated and skilled...
As you know, most media courseware has an exam at the end. The courseware that has truly meaningful exams has a bank of questions that are randomized but, at the same time, asks at least one question for each of the learning objectives. Usually, it would be wise to follow up that exam with a hands-on test that will give you a clearer picture as to the transfer of learned knowledge into...
Finishing up on the SALT Conference I attended in Arlington, Virginia last week. As I’ve mentioned in an earlier blog, this is one of the four major training conferences held in the United States each year. And, the SALT Conferences are the ones that give me a peek into the future as they are attended by the visionary developers who have an eye on the next decade. Much of what they present,...
In the late 1990s, using visual-based multimedia as the primary instruction medium, the first visual learning centers were created in DeKalb County, Georgia in order to integrate them into their Family Technology Resource Centers (FTRC). Other Centers are operating in Milwaukee, Wisconsin thanks to then-Governor Tommy Thompson, and former Governor David Beasley opened others in Charleston, South Carolina. The Centers all run at capacity with many thousands of individuals on waiting lists...
Community colleges are a vital part of their geographical community, providing training for the area’s businesses and industries through both traditional and interactive methods. Many of these institutions are now investing in media courseware in order to help solve a problem they currently face. Declining enrollment has been forcing many of these colleges to cancel their traditional (lecture/textbook) technical and vocational courses in maintenance and instrumentation. Yet, the skills taught in those...
With this year’s SALT Conference ready to get underway today, it got me thinking about the four significant conferences and/or trade shows that are held annually for the training community. Each has a primary focus and is well worth your examination. Listening to people who are doing things in training and walking a trade show floor to look at “the latest and greatest” has genuine value for you. If you haven’t attended...
My friend and co-Founder of ITC, G. H. Kaiz, once wrote a paper on the uses that can be made of media training. While most of us think of the classroom, learning center, or from-anywhere WEB access, below are a few of Jerry’s other considerations you should examine in order to get the maximum value from your training initiatives. • Engineer Training • All too often new graduate engineers are strong in...
Today there is a growing emphasis on individualized instruction. Tardily, but not too late, we are finally beginning to acknowledge that there are myriad learning styles out there. An awareness that “Reading—Testing—and, Traditional Classroom Lecture” are not the only ways is essential if we are going to reap the learning- rewards that media-based On-Line Education/Training offer us. Dr. Bernard J. Luskin in his recent book, CASTING THE NET OVER GLOBAL LEARNING, has...
Among the key characteristics you should examine when choosing your e-learning courseware is “usability.” One of the ways you can define “usability” of On-Line education/training software is in terms of how user-friendly or appealing a program is. In practice, usability goes deeper than this, and is closely related to how much users actually learn from using the On-Line courseware. Many of the usability concepts that need to be considered from the end-user’s...
Let’s talk digitized CD-ROMs today. This is important to the e-learning community as it allows full motion video to be accessed through a training-dedicated LAN, along with full record keeping. It is a proven alternate to the typical e-learning courseware so prevalent today. The full motion power of this digitized medium is markedly superior to other choices and its only limitation lies in that exclusively behind-your-firewall requirement. Knowledgeably designed digitized CD-ROM courseware...
To quantify the value of visual learning in our schools, we can cite the following findings: 1) Learning occurs 38-70% faster than with traditional (stand-up and lecture) instruction. 2) Course content is mastered 60% faster than with traditional instruction. 3) Studies show that participants increase understanding by more than 50%, resulting in greater learning gains than with traditional instruction. 4) Participants also demonstrate 25-50% higher content retention and 50-60% greater consistency in...
