Category: Managing Training

Can the Myers-Briggs Help You Achieve a Happy Medium?

Colleen and Stella both work at a medical device company and develop a catalog to market the products. Though they often complement each other well, recently they have reached a stalemate on this year’s catalog drop. Colleen, a product manager, wants to make sure the catalog hits the printer well in advance of her conservative […]

Create Learner Value with the Virtual Classroom

Independent elearning offers convenience for the learner and ease of delivery for the client. Yet, sometimes there is no substitute for discussion with one’s peers, feedback from the instructor, and hands-on activities to cement learning. Can the advantages of elearning and interaction of classroom learning both be addressed in a different modality? Meet the virtual […]

Don’t Forget the Roadmap Before You Start Your Trip – the Value of the Needs Assessment

Before starting to design a learning solution, which tool can help guide your work? Just like embarking upon an unfamiliar road trip, starting a learning project requires a blueprint, a guide. To ensure you don’t get lost along the way, a map is essential (assuming this scenario takes place in the pre-GPS era). The map […]

A Shoreline Ride in New York City

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”  – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Whether creating a learning solution or completing a challenging athletic endeavor, a plan provides the necessary blueprint. Though in my work life I am very much a planner, I was recently reminded of how crucial preparation is in all aspects of life…when […]

Educating Boston about Emergencies: the DelValle Institute Teams Up with EnVision

April 15, 2013. 2:49 p.m. Boylston Street in Boston. For the citizens and guests of Boston, the events that occurred on this date will forever be memorialized.  Since that day, we are only too aware of the need to prepare for and respond to emergencies, an understanding most of us didn’t have before. The professionals […]

Lessons from a Cozy Igloo

Now that we are deep in the midst of a sweltering summer, it may be the perfect time to reminisce about my vacation last March to chilly Quebec, and more specifically, to a night spent in its world-famous Hôtel de Glace, or Ice Hotel. This was a unique experience, and I appreciated both the hotel’s […]

When the Project Isn’t Perfect: How to Prevent Client Misunderstandings

As an instructional designer at Big Corporation, Jessica enjoys her work and interacts successfully with many internal clients. However, she recently experienced a disagreement with Joe, Director of Quality Assurance at Big Corporation. While Jessica originally hoped to rectify the misunderstanding, it has continued. Because of this, Joe has become frustrated with the training team, […]

To Teach, Learn: How Instructional Design Professionals Take Time for Their Own Learning

Though instructional designers create courses that facilitate learning, we also must prioritize our own education, like everyone else. So, which learning methods work best for us? How do we make time for learning when confronted with looming work deadlines? And what tips do we have for fitting in learning time? To answer these questions, we […]

How is Your Organization Implementing Blended Learning?

Not all that long ago, employees received nearly all of their training in a classroom, listening to lectures delivered by an experienced manager or subject matter expert. While some companies still rely exclusively on this traditional model, most organizations have implemented blended learning. (Skillsoft, March 2010). A blended learning environment includes multiple learning methods, such […]

Revitalize Your Training With a Course Audit

Suppose you want to make home improvements, but are not sure exactly where to start. You could hire a contractor and interior decorator to completely overhaul a family room or great room, with new room structure, colors, wall coverings, and furniture. Yet, is a completely new room more than what you need? Maybe the room […]

For Whom Are You Grateful in Your Work?

A successful training program propels a company forward, engaging its employees and positively impacting its bottom line. It is the role of the learning and development (L&D) specialist or consultant to successfully design and deliver the learning material. In the process of determining a company’s training needs, creating the curriculum, and launching the course, the […]

Don’t Just Check Your Training Off

This summer, I traveled with my family to Europe, visiting Paris and the Louvre. We had the opportunity to see many artistic works at the Louvre, including Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace, and the Mona Lisa. Seeing both Venus de Milo and Winged Victory was wonderful. I could stand in front of each […]

Why Take a Risk?

Risk. For some, the word alone elicits heart palpitations and visions of scary maneuvers. Why risk—why bother? It would certainly be easier to maintain the status quo in our lives, both personally and professionally. We would get some satisfaction from our lives and have nothing to lose. Yet, by playing it safe, are we really […]

10 Tips for Subject Matter Experts Who Deliver Training

Are you, or is someone you know, a subject matter expert who delivers training? As companies continue to streamline their expenses, they are calling upon subject matter experts more and more to prepare and deliver training. If that describes you, read on for useful tips before, during, and after the training event. Before the Class […]

Does Your Training Support the Business Needs?

Imagine this: Your department manager, division VP, or training director asks you to develop training on effective communications. What do you do? Jump to action and create the course? Or ask questions to identify the business drivers, operational gaps, and performance gaps to ensure the course you create delivers results to the business? I ask […]

Sam: An SME Story

For the past two months you’ve been working with Sam, your Quality Assurance expert. He’s provided you content you need for a course you’re developing although it’s been challenging to get his time and commitment. Now you are in the final review phase and must have Sam’s input. You’ve sent two e-mails and received no […]

Align your STARS – The People Who Make It Work

Even the most experienced trainers and instructional designers face challenges in their roles when the people supporting their jobs are not in place. Here are some of the critical people who help make your training project a success, your STARS: You may work with most or all of these groups of people on any training […]