This Tip considers the wrong ways that trainers respond to time limitations and the plus side of training time limitations.
Ineffective Responses to Less Time
Managers frequently charge trainers with what appears to be an impossible expectation. That is to deliver training in a fraction of the time necessary and usually allotted for it.
The bad news is that trainers may react to imposed time limitations in two ways that produce ineffective learning results.
Eliminate Learning Activities and Then Lecture
First, trainers eliminate learning activities in order to have more time to lecture on content. There are at least two problems with this response:
(a) Learning activities are designed to help learners achieve desired levels of learning and competence. Removing the activities will eliminate the opportunities for the learners to demonstrate and practice new learning.
(b) Lecture only achieves the most basic level of learning (knowledge). Lecturing minimizes the likelihood that learners will achieve the desired learning levels and resulting competencies.
Fire Hoses and Overload
Second, trainers resort to the “fire hose” approach to training. They spray learners with huge streams of data at one time.
Studies have shown that the brain can absorb only 3 to 5 new pieces of information per training segment. More than that results in cognitive overload. (A training segment may be 5 minutes, 20 minutes, or more than an hour. It is whatever amount of time it takes for that specific content to be learned).
When trainers are not selective in the amount of information they deliver, many learners are overwhelmed. As a result, they neither learn nor retain much of the information. So these two responses should be avoided.
The Plus Side of Training Time Limitations
The good news is that companies still value training. Imposed time constraints offer a great opportunity for trainers to decide what parts of their training are truly essential. In essence, the trainers can do some spring-cleaning, where they throw away clutter and polish up what is left.
Time limitations should compel trainers to distinguish the content that they absolutely must teach from the content that they can and should provide for the learners’ later reference. The real challenge and opportunity for a trainer is to sift through the training program. The purpose is to identify and remove content and learning activities that the trainer does not need to include in the training.
Some trainers have a difficult time with this culling process. This is because they are invested in telling the stories or facilitating the activities that they have always included in their training programs. They need to measure their training content and learning activities against the core competencies that drive the need for the training. They should remove whatever is not essential to successful achievement of those core competencies.
When companies impose time limitations on training programs, don’t eliminate learning activities and subject learners to information overload. Instead, trainers should assess their training programs more closely to eliminate unessential clutter and identify and polish up essential training content.
Question: Do you agree with my assessment?
May your learning be sweet,
Deborah
#training #laurelandassociatesltd. #cognitiveoverload #lecture
