This Wondrous New "World!"

[Shari Ward]

Okay, when I first entered the training field, desktop PCs were a rarity. Those of us who did have them had DOS. I was tickled pink when I learned how to print labels for my training case-study files. (I trained mortgage loan processors.) I thought I was pretty slick...didn't even have to use my Selectric typewriter to have uniform labels. <grin>

I never could have dreamed we would have the tools available to us that we now sometimes take for granted. Sharing best practices so that anyone can learn from us and we from them ? Sharing documents with colleagues on the other side of the world? Making learning opportunities available to fit the needs and the schedules of my learners? I couldn't imagine working without these tools now, and yet a mere 20 years ago they were undiscovered.

My Grandma Tucker never used an ATM or computer, and still had a rotary phone in her home until the late 1990s. She's an extreme example, but as a learning professional I do need to remind myself that not everyone is as "knee deep in the hoopla" of technology as I and my colleagues. I'd love to hear how my fellow training and development professionals keep focus on the learning preferences of their clients. Let's have a dialogue!

Shari :-)

[Terry Reich]

I actually agree with both sides. One struggle we are dealing with, and trying to find a sensible solution to, is how to best communicate. Email has become the almost exclusive medium of choice. Which means a lot of stress is produced by the sheer volume of email. But by the same token, we still have employees who do not routinely check their email. While I do not feel this behavior is acceptable, we are looking for ways to communicate that is effective - and email is often not the most effective. It's just the easiest and most expedient. There are times when I am attempted to send out the old-fashioned memo on paper. For sure it would get attention - due to its novelty!

[Kevin D. Jones]

And how is that going? What are you finding? Do you see that they reluctantly learn it if their job requires it, or do they want to? Would they rather switch to a new position so they don't need to learn?

And when we are talking about 'Grandmas and Grandpas', what are the ages you are talking about? When I say that I think of my Grandma, in retirement and only working because she wants to, not because she needs to. Realizing that many are Grandparents at the age of 50, they still have 13 or so years to go until traditional retirement. And yet the attitudes of the 50 compared to the almost retired I would guess would be vastly different.

[Sean Harry]

Good point. I respectfully disagree, however, that "grandma isn't in the workforce any more." Unfortunately. I deal with a lot of grandmas and grandpas who aren't so into technology BUT who aren't quite ready to retire. Part of my job is to help them understand the need to embrace technology if they want to be competitive.
Sean Harry

[Kevin D. Jones]

But at the same time we are talking about Grandma here. Not to be disrespectful at all, but Grandma isn't in the workforce anymore. To keep up, those in the workforce need to make sure they are up to speed to be relevant.

As one of MANY examples I have seen, http://www.digitaldialogs.com/2007_12_01_archive.html

It is our job to help them realize that if they want to only use the phone, they will be left behind. As Marc Rosenberg pointed out today, the railroad industry could have purchased the airlines for a small price at the beginning. But, instead of being in the 'transportation' industry, they stuck to the railroad industry. Now the major carrier of people are the airlines.

But not everyone NEEDS to use all the new fangled technology to get along - and that we need to realize. Some people get hyped up that EVERYONE needs to use it that they forget that not everyone does need to. I haven't seen any of that in this community, but I have seen it elsewhere.

[Shari Ward]

Sean, you are so right! That really is the essence of inclusion, isn't it? As learning professionals, we have to remember that each and every learner has a perspective that must be respected.

Thank you for sharing your stories - I chuckled out loud at the thought of your daughters texting each other while on the same couch. Love it!!!

Shari :-)

[Sean Harry]

Shari, My grandmother lived in a town that had ONE phone. If she wanted to make a call she would have to walk or ride a horse into town and make the call to the party who was ready and waiting call because a letter sent a week earlier had set up the date and time. On the other end of the spectrum, my two daughters sit on the couch and text each other rather than talking out loud because they don't want us parents to hear what they are talking about.

I highly advocate technology as a training tool, but some of my clients would rather go to the library and look up the information in a book. We encourage clients to build a web presence and send emails, but some of them prefer to ONLY use the phone. We have to allow room for everyone's comfort level. . . although we do encourage them to stretch whenever possible.

Great question. Thanks for asking.
Sean Harry
www.orcms.com

[Shari Ward]

Terry, you are so right! What I love about your example is that it reminds us technology is not the right ingredient for every cake! (Hmmm, I must be hungry...) As much as I LOVE technology, it is not appropriate for every situation. You determined what would best meet the needs of your learners. In this digital world, often the best tool is still the one we can hold in our hands.

Thank you for sharing your story, Terry. I really appreciate it.

Shari :-)

[Terry Reich]

While working on a project with a major computer conversion, we were trying to develop a fun way to integrate learning the new system with a major prize to be awarded to one lucky employee. Since the theme of the conversion was a voyage, travel-related terms were key. We decided to use a passport with stamps earned for each correctly answered question or task.

One department involved was attempting to develop a "virtual passport" where stamps would be added automatically as the questions or tasks are completed. My department usually is a very big proponent of anything that uses technology to help our staff become comfortable and saavy with it. However, we moved away from that tendency when we opted to take on the passports, and provide real peel-and-stick stamps to employees. It was a time consuming process - but it received rave reviews from employees and oh by the way - all participants enjoyed the learning process.

Just one way we learned that sometimes, the easier route is not the easier route.
Terry