I very much avoid endorsing the ‘chalk and talk’, ‘stand up the front’ classroom model of sharing the information. But it’s hard to avoid when I present a change or an update. I know the users rarely absorb the new information in this format. They need true learning support.
And it’s normally in the form of a job aid, or a helpdesk.
But it is nearly impossible to avoid the initial presentation mode. And at the same time we know that this is not training, and hardly learning.
This all about outlining the scope.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have made some changes to our system. Have a look at this.”
Followed by a series of screenshots of the changes.
The next step is the most important step.
The next step is to ask the audience what they need to understand and use the change. Do they need a flow chart? A video explainer? A cheat sheet?
Do they need a discussion board? A forum?
Or do they just need to write themselves a Post-It note?
This is where the real learning starts and embeds itself within the learner.
Now the challenge is for the learner to understand the best way that they learn. And not many learners are that self-aware. They will usually default to their classroom ways of needing a text book or a reference.
It’s time for these learning defaults to be challenged. It’s not often that adult students are challenged in how they learn.