Blog - Katrina Kennedy Training

10Feb 2020 by Katrina Kennedy No Comments

Are You A Support or a Blockage To Workplace Learning

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He was clearly frustrated. He sat at a table with four other managers discussing their obstacles to providing employee feedback. I overheard him from the back of class. "I told him to do it and then when I went to check on him he hadn't done it. So, I told him to write a project plan for how he was going to do it and he gave me gibberish. It made no sense. I had already told him how to do it." Do you see the problems already? For those of us in the learning and development world, this might seem like an easy situation, but for this manager it was obviously not. The problem is clearly not a feedback issue, but a training issue. Let's break it down step…

29Jan 2020 by Katrina Kennedy No Comments

7 Ways To Use “Two Things” For Retrieval Practice

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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…

16Jan 2020 by Katrina Kennedy No Comments

Take A Break To Learn | Brief Diversions Improve Focus

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Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash Have you ever facilitated a class when people didn't want to take a break? I know, ridiculous question. We love our breaks. And, why shouldn't we? We step away from focused work. We get to choose our actions, take care of our biological needs, and sometimes there are snacks! Frequent breaks during training serve a greater purpose than coffee and restrooms though. Breaks help learners improve their focus. Yes, you read that right. We need breaks in order to stay focused on learning. The brain is built to detect and respond to change.Dr. Alejandro Lleras University of Illinois psychology professor Dr. Alejandro Lleras discovered "even brief diversions from a task can dramatically improve one’s ability to focus on that task for prolonged periods." In fact, doing the…

09Dec 2019 by Katrina Kennedy 2 Comments

The Magic Of Ten Minutes When Training, Presenting, or Just Talking

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Photo by Malvestida Magazine on Unsplash You are standing in front of the room ready to deliver what you know is the most boring class you could ever imagine. You know that within the first hour everyone is going to be asleep or checking their phones. There has to be a better way? Right. You know the class could use a redesign, but you've been directed to present this information in this way. What a nightmare. Don't despair. There is one simple thing you can do that might just keep your class awake and make the boring slightly less so. And the bonus -- it's free too! In the absence of creating a different class with less lecture and fewer bullet points, there is one simple thing you can do. Think in ten…

25Nov 2019 by Katrina Kennedy No Comments

How To Increase Learning With Surprise!

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Photo by Ben White on Unsplash Think of the last classroom you walked into or logged onto. What do you remember? If you are drawing a blank, we have a problem. If nothing stands out, there is an opportunity for change. We need surprise. Surprise tickles our brain into paying attention. Surprise wakes us up and reenergizes our minds. It gives us just the little bit of jolt necessary to keep learning. "Surprise can offer excellent support for learning. It helps focus, or re-focus attention and can stimulate problem solving." Jane Bozarth, Let Me Google That For You (LMGTFY) Surprise doesn't have to be big or expensive. There are many ways to build it in with little to no effort. Photo by Jukan Tateisi on Unsplash Start Differently Do you start classes with the agenda for…

14Nov 2019 by Katrina Kennedy No Comments

How Much Prep Time Do Managers Need To Give Trainers?

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Photo by William Iven on Unsplash Time. We've all got the same amount. We all have to manage it to accomplish all the goals on our ever growing lists. We tell new trainers and presenters to manage their nerves by preparing. We tell seasoned presenters to practice their opening statements. How much time you need to prepare and how much time you have to prepare don't always magically meet. We've got to either give up things to make time or give up time to prepare. Tough choice, isn't it? Managing our time is where things get tricky. Now let's imagine you are responsible for managing a team of trainers and their time! This question arrived in my inbox recently. How much time should I give my employees to prepare for delivering a training?…

11Nov 2019 by Katrina Kennedy No Comments

How Long Should Training Take? | Two Trainers, Two Styles

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Photo by petradr on Unsplash I picked up my phone and was greeted by a monumentally long text. I thought a lengthy text was going to need a lengthy response. But, maybe not. We rotate who teaches each training class to eliminate core dependencies, but not everyone has the same training style. For example, Chris can be very engaging and likes to have personal, life examples for every scenario to show why records management is important. I prefer to give them examples they will see in the course of business and make sure they understand their tasks. The outcome is two different time frames for the same class, and it's a bit drastic in difference. Chris runs out of time in his block. I finish feeling satisfied in two hours. At first glance…

07Nov 2019 by Katrina Kennedy 2 Comments

What I Read In October

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Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash If you wanted to find me as a child there were two places to look, my bedroom where I'd be reading a book or the public library where I'd be reading a book. I'm so grateful to have the education and ability to read, but most importantly I'm grateful to have SO MANY books available to read. I borrow most of my books from the Sacramento Public Library with the Libby App. I read a combination of audio books and ebooks. I'll also occasionally purchase a book either because I want to support the author, like Elise Blaha Cripe, or because I find it at a great price at a used bookstore! I'm often asked what I'm reading, so here is my list for October. Let me…

04Nov 2019 by Katrina Kennedy 1 Comment

Should I Just Ignore Some Irritating Classroom Behaviors?

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Photo by Jason Rosewell on Unsplash Twenty minutes into class he was already complaining. "This is too touchy feely," he said directly to me. At this point I had shared restroom and break logistics and asked everyone to introduce themselves at their tables. Thankfully I know his type. When I had people stand and meet someone new, accompanied by questions they'd already answered to make the exchange easier, he grumbled. Fifty minutes into class, he spoke directly to me about the class being different than he thought it was going to be. I confirmed that the class he wanted was probably not the one he was in. The title and objectives clearly showed what he wanted was not what he'd been signed up for. He grumbled...again. If you take some advice on dealing…

28Oct 2019 by Katrina Kennedy 1 Comment

How To Create Connection With People Who Don’t Want To Be In Training (But Have To Be)

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Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash The person who doesn't want to be in training, you know them too well. They let you know through their direct words or their subtle actions from the moment they walk in. They can be very unpleasant and impact the entire class. When dealing with any difficult behavior in the training space there are a few things to keep in mind: They have a story you don't knowYour response to them will determine their reaction in classIt's not your task to get them to like youDon't take it personally Your positive comments about class are not going to convince someone who doesn't want to be in training that it's a great place to be. However, if you can identify their reservations, you can connect with them: The…

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