The Communications Vault

Recently, I spoke to a group of training professionals who are members of the local chapter of ASTD (American Society of Training and Development ) about current use of learning technologies. As part of the program, we used an interactive response system to engage the attendees and gauge their experiences and attitudes on the subject.

While 85% of the participants said they were currently using learning technologies, only 10% said they were using them consistently to reach more learners and make the content more memorable.

So, what’s getting in their way? The attendees sighted the following as barriers to the adoption of learning technologies: “vision of leaders in the training/learning area, technology infrastructure, lack of success and too many other priorities.” Here, I was surprised to see that no one selected organization management. At least with this group, they felt that their management understood the potential value of e-learning in their organization and were more supportive than in the past. (more…)

I’ve worked in and around health care education for almost 30 years now, and one thing that stands out is that patients have an insatiable desire to know 1) what’s wrong with them, and 2) how doctors are going to fix it. In educational jargon the event that triggers this desire is called a “teachable moment.” Here’s a case in point.

As a former x-ray technologist I had x-rayed dozens of people with broken arms, but it wasn’t until this past March when I fell off my mountain bike and broke MY arm (see above) that I really wanted to know… well, everything! How would the surgeon fix it, would it hurt, how long would I be off work. In short, I had reached my teachable moment.

(more…)

You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and nowhere is this more true - or more important - than new employee orientation. It’s a time to introduce company executives, promote company culture, review corporate history and explain your mission, even help set employee expectations for career growth.

(more…)