Recently, we wrapped up an ongoing project for a large client. We designed the training to support and reinforce a major process change for the organization that will lead to significant savings in the coming years. This project meant changing some integral patterns and processes for many roles across diverse divisions. We are extremely pleased our client is already well ahead of its financial savings goals in the first year!
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Do you ever find yourself listening to a friend or loved one’s story and unable to determine what happened because they forget to tell you important details? Or getting so lost in their details and asides that you lose their point? It’s kind of funny when it’s at home… but when you’re trying to understand how to perform a new task or integrate a concept into your daily routine, poor communication is a problem.
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I’m often asked how to make training more effective, and I always share the five actions I think are critical to creating training that makes a difference. Read on to find out what five things I think are most important to effective training.
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Practice is critical to the development of new skills. It allows learners to apply new skills and receive feedback on the results. The process of practicing increases learning in a way that simply reading about a skill will never do. Once you acknowledge the importance of practice, this post will help you increase the effectiveness of practice.
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Tantrums in corporate classrooms may look a little different than a kindergartner's tantrum, a tantrum is a tantrum and should be avoided at all costs. Here are four lessons that I learned from these five-year-old besties.
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Today’s job descriptions for instructional designers (IDs) require the following: Basic HTML and Flash programming familiarity. Solid knowledge of course development software and at least one LMS. Visual design skills (Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator).
Whatever happened to the good old interviewing, storyboarding, or writing skills? Is the pure instructional designer role a thing of the past? Exactly how much technology does an ID need to master in order to be a “good” ID?
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As a consultant/instructional designer, I’ve developed some internal rules about how to design learning for adults. My first two rules often act as an internal STOP sign: “Wait! Stop! Make sure the solution is complying with your first two rules!”
- Don’t waste their time.
- Keep them awake.
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12:55 pm: The session starts at 1:00 pm Eastern to allow participation from multiple time zones. I received initial and reminder invitations and completed my pre-work. I have my New Hire Participant Guide in hand and log in. I’m ready.
I listen to the facilitator and producer chit chat. No problem, I’m a bit early; I’ll just work on my email and a couple of other assignments while I wait to get started.
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A telecom giant was losing 25% of its customer base per year. When customers’ promotional offers ended, they’d call to cancel service. The call center agents either processed the call as a routine cancellation, or offered a substitute promotion. When that discount ended customers canceled yet again, and the vicious cycle continued.
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Do you ever get this reaction when suggesting a role play? After a classroom training pilot, we asked sales reps what was their least favorite part of the training. The answer came back quickly and decisively: role plays! Next, we asked which part of training would help them most in the field. This answer came back slowly and reluctantly: role plays.
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