Category: Blog

Last Friday I opened a Zoom meeting and waited. My reliable producer/tech support showed up on time. And then we waited. While he's really good company, I began to worry it was just going to be the two of us. And then you started to arrive! And WOW, did you arrive! I'm blown away by the Learning and Development Community. I'm blown away by YOU. We discussed what's working, what resources you've discovered, and what you need during these unprecedented times. The chat was moving faster than I could keep up with. There were ideas, insights, and resources shared among everyone. I even saw a few email addresses exchanged between people. I've gathered a few of the most common questions. Can I Train In The Virtual Environment? Yes. Yes you…

Monday I cried in front of fifty people simply because we were together. I pride myself on having a very balanced, full life. I have clear boundaries. I don't work in the evening because that is reserved for family. I take time for myself. And then the corona virus happened. I have a congenital heart defect. I have been through two open heart surgeries, one just three years ago. I've technically had congestive heart failure my entire life. I cannot get this virus. I love what I do. I'm fortunate to be able to have a job that does not feel like work, allowing me to have a positive impact on people's lives. And then the corona virus happened. Three weeks ago I was standing in front of the room…

I wrote this article before the Covid-19 outbreak. I hesitated to post it today, but decided it is important right now as organizations (and educational institutions) move things online in order to avoid human to human contact. In the short term, online learning will fill a gap; however, it is not a long term solution after the virus is effectively contained. Technology is sexy. It's appealing to design programs employees can access from anywhere. You save travel costs, time, and can verify learning has occurred through online testing.  Information is immediately available, searchable, and learner driven. Technology isn't the only answer for learning. We need to be careful to not so quickly overlook classroom training. Yes, we've all been guilty of too many PowerPoint slides, lectures that drone on too…

To keep things in your head, you've got to get them out. Yes, you read that right. We learn not be simply having things poured into us, but by taking the ideas we are exposed to and expressing them in some form -- writing, talking, reflecting, and even teaching. If your training is information heavy, maybe even resembling a presentation where learners aren't actively performing tasks, you've got to include retrieval practice. Retrieval practice is a strategy in which bringing information to mind enhances and boosts learning. Deliberately recalling information forces us to pull our knowledge “out” and examine what we know.POOJA K. AGARWAL, PH.D. One of the easiest ways to include quick retrieval practice into any training, of any length, is to include the exercise, Two Things. With Two…