Techniques for Technology Training
"A Guide to Creating Memorable Training Events"
by
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In the movie “The Mirror Has Two Faces,” Barbra Streisand is an English Professor at Columbia University. In the lecture scene, she is teaching class in a large hall with over 200 students. Even though the instructional method shown is a lecture with no slide show presentation, film, handouts, or visual aids, her teaching style is so engaging that the eyes of her students follow her around the room and hold onto her every word. She uses movement, hand gestures, real-life examples, and group discussion while she interacts with the crowd through natural facial expressions—smiling and laughing, injecting humor, as well as direct, open, and overhead questioning techniques. She is engaging, electrifying, and stimulating. She ends the class with a “teaser” so her students will return. This is an example of a memorable training event—one that the author would like to teach you how to emulate.
Techniques for Technology Training "A Guide to Creating Memorable Training Events" consists of eight chapters. It serves as a primer and refresher for practitioners, trainers, technology professionals, and those new to the industry. Chapter 1 defines the role of instruction. Chapter 2 describes the role of the learner while chapter 3 describes the role of the trainer. Chapter 4 shows the reader how to use a four-step model for training delivery. Chapter 5 provides details on how to use effective presentation techniques to deliver training. Chapter 6 defines how to use a variety of questioning techniques to encourage participation and provoke critical thinking skills. Chapter 7 illustrates how to handle difficult learners and manage challenging situations. Finally, chapter 8 provides a step-by-step process for managing the training day from inception--greeting participants through completion--completing the course evaluation.
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About the Book
“Can your employees return to their jobs and use the new technology skills they just learned in training?"
It’s easy to remember the good teachers—from grammar school, high school, college, day camp, and even music class. They are the ones you remember because they created memorable training. The lessons they taught are not forgotten. People remember what they have learned when the training includes a variety of stimuli, real-life examples, group discussion, humor, and questioning techniques. Learners focus on a trainer’s every word when instructional methods and classroom techniques are motivating and stimulating.
Technology is all around us! We use it for our jobs, at the supermarket, and pretty soon it will be needed for a doctor’s visit. Clearly, employees today are using technology more than ever in almost every field of endeavor. Whether they are learning new software, updating skills or tasked with improving job performance, instruction must be clear, concise and create positive learning outcomes with minimal frustration. Organizations are demanding that people learn new skills—and fast. Just-in-time training, accelerated learning, or rapid training development are now a necessity for keeping abreast with the rapid changes in technology.
This book provides Techniques for Technology Training such as your role as the trainer, presentation and delivery skills, questioning techniques, reading body language, using a four-step model for instruction, creating a nurturing environment, using a variety of instructional methods, understanding and responding to your learner’s needs, handling difficult participants, and managing the training day. You can create memorable training for your learners that is engaging, rewarding, and stimulating with the right tools. Using a simplified approach, this book offers what you need to ensure that learning new technology will pay off in newly-acquired skills and improved understanding and productivity.
About the Author
Sharon Johnson-Arnold has designed and developed documentation and training for Fortune 1000 companies and public sector clients for over 25 years. By functioning as the liaison between system architects and the user community, she is committed to designing training and documentation that are clear, concise, and easy to understand. Her goal is to ensure that users can clearly understand how to use software to maximize the customer’s investment in technology and foster job competence and satisfaction. Sharon Johnson-Arnold is the Principal of TechnoWrite, Inc. (TWI). TWI is a Chicago-based consulting firm specializing in technical writing, instructional design, software training, and e-learning development. TWI has been in the business of designing instructional systems to implement new software applications and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. TechnoWrite's team of Technical Writers, Instructional Designers, and Software Trainers are learning professionals and communicators who are trained to look at computer systems from the viewpoint of the innocent user. By translating technical concepts into user-friendly non-intimidating language, TWI participates in the entire life cycle of the training and development process—from the inception (analysis and design) through implementation (materials development and training delivery), and finally completion (evaluation). Winner of the Society for Technical Communication's Achievement Award, Sharon has also served as a judge for national competitions. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration (Management) from Roosevelt University and a Master of Education Degree (Instructional Technology and Adult Learning) from Loyola University in Chicago. She is married to Colonel Dr. Damon Arnold, MD, MPH. They reside in Chicago.