I read Dean Brady's blog post on the meaning of scholarship. It's noteworthy for several reasons, but one line leapt out at me:
The simple memorization of facts and figures is not learning, it is training. Thinking critically and creatively, using the data that we posses, is what it means to be a scholar.
I think training should involve the development of critical thinking and creative data use. In fact, I think that approach would raise software training, at least for the software that I'm familiar with, to a higher, more useful level. I've given and received training in different graphics software and I've come to doubt the usefulness of the usual tutorial cookbook approach. I think my photoshop tool skills are at a decent level, but I don't think I can problem solve in the digital graphics environment because I know a few keyboard shortcuts or can create a wood grain effect. Can the critical thinking, creative use aspect of software be a part of training?
I'm not sure what it would look like. Possibly instead of a cookbook approach, a problem could be presented to a class with different approaches being openly sought and discussed? Decide what needs to happen, and why. Discuss the multiple implications of different approaches. The how follows those decisions naturally. If, instead of a recipe that a class works through step by step with an instructor, what if a before and after is presented, with the class trying to get from one to the other without a recipe, just an open discussion? or 20 questions?
So would this allow software trainers out of the academic basement? Probably not; but it might help develop some of the skills that I think are needed. Just thinking out loud.
Great post, Dave. I've never experienced training that exercises the critical /creative muscle.
Thanks Christian. I wonder if I'd think I was getting my money's worth if I attended a seminar where the instructor started with, "How would you approach this problem?" I can imagine a little instant annoyance, but in the long run it could lead to deep learning.
That would really be helpful, I think. Sometimes just listening to a lynda.com tutorial doesn't help me to think creatively on how I might apply the lesson. One of the most helpful books I've read was Danny Goodman's The JavaScript Bible. It had a 12 chapter tutorial and at the end of each chapter had exercises that you could do to apply what you've learned. There were sample solutions at the end of the book, but it wasn't like you were just re-creating the same functions that were listed in the examples. By the end of the 12 chapters I had a very good working knowledge of javascript. I personally learn best when I have a specific need to do something and I have to figure out how to get it done.
I think there is a need for both (I know you weren’t implying there wasn’t). There seems to be a negative view of training when it comes to teaching people the “how-to” of using software. This is a very important part and in some cases is all people need. Lynda.com just teaches the “how-to” but I have always thought of it as more of a performance support tool that provided just-in-time learning. It is perfect for this type of use.
However, I do agree that there also needs to be training that teaches people to take those skills and use them to problem solve. All of the AIS courses I developed in my previous position required this. For example, I would teach participants how to use EIS, but then the exercises would be based around the types of questions users would likely need to pull data for. These questions came from doing a needs assessment and identifying common themes. Participants were required to not only use the tool functionally, but also do analyze the data in order to create the reports that were needed. I would also encourage them to openly share the types of reports they needed to pull and occasionally someone would take over my machine and demonstrate how they created it. Often times this led to the class “taking over” and making the learning very personalized. This didn’t happen all of the time, but when it did, it was a great experience for everyone.
I think they key for Training Services is to offer more of these types of classes along with the “how-to.”