NTC » Training Tips http://nnlm.gov/ntc National Library of Medicine Training Center Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:20:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Ideas for Training the “Gaming Generation” http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2013/06/11/ideas-for-training-the-gaming-generation/ http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2013/06/11/ideas-for-training-the-gaming-generation/#comments Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:14:31 +0000 Sharon Dennis http://nnlm.gov/ntc/?p=2837 How can we adapt training for the “gaming generation”?  Becky Pike discusses a few ideas for incorporating games into training, whether in-person or online, high tech or low tech.  Ideas include a matching game, simulations, quizzes with “points” awarded, or having students blog questions and answers.  If the games are tied directly to the content being presented, even those not part of the “gaming generation” may find game activities fun and rewarding.

]]> http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2013/06/11/ideas-for-training-the-gaming-generation/feed/ 0 Fun Opening Activity: “A-Z” Word Game http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2013/03/08/fun-opening-activity-a-z-word-game/ http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2013/03/08/fun-opening-activity-a-z-word-game/#comments Fri, 08 Mar 2013 22:14:31 +0000 Sharon Dennis http://nnlm.gov/ntc/?p=2445

Ideally, an opening class activity should allow class participants to get acquainted with one another and to remove pre-class distractions. It’s always challenging to design an opener that is related to the content of the class.

The “A-Z” word game is one possibility for a group activity: divide the class into groups of 3-4. Using large post-it notes on the wall, ask each group to come up with a word for each letter of alphabet that relates to the class content. Give each group 3-5 minutes and instruct them to work as fast as possible.

Can you think of words related to PubMed for each letter of the alphabet (not including PubMed, MEDLINE, or specific search terms)? “Z” can be difficult, but a recent group in one of our classes came up with an answer (see the photo).

a-zpic_enhanced

]]> http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2013/03/08/fun-opening-activity-a-z-word-game/feed/ 0 I’ve Got a Question…20 of them http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2013/02/19/ive-got-a-question-20-of-them/ http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2013/02/19/ive-got-a-question-20-of-them/#comments Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:34:43 +0000 Rebecca Brown http://nnlm.gov/ntc/?p=2391 The University of Minnesota’s Center for Teaching and Learning has created a page dedicated to using games in the classroom. Below is one example that can be used in-person or online as an ice breaker or a review.

http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/tutorials/powerpoint/games/index.html#twenty

]]> http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2013/02/19/ive-got-a-question-20-of-them/feed/ 0 Work with Working Memory http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2013/02/06/work-with-working-memory/ http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2013/02/06/work-with-working-memory/#comments Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:50:49 +0000 Rebecca Brown http://nnlm.gov/ntc/?p=2297 From Connie Malamed’s Blog:

“People can typically hold around 4 or 5 pieces of information in working memory at one time. As you design interactions, limit the number of elements, instructions or moving parts that the learner will need to simultaneously keep in mind. In addition, limit the number of choices. It’s easier for people to make decisions when there are fewer choices compared to many choices.”

]]> http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2013/02/06/work-with-working-memory/feed/ 0 FlashClass http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/12/14/flashclass/ http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/12/14/flashclass/#comments Fri, 14 Dec 2012 14:59:16 +0000 Rebecca Brown http://nnlm.gov/ntc/?p=1971 The University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Library System is trying a new approach to offering library instruction classes called FlashClass. FlashClass is based on the growing daily deal phenomenon of Groupon, Deal of the Day, CrowdSaving, Living Social, etc.

Read about it at: http://info.hsls.pitt.edu/updatereport/?p=5977

]]> http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/12/14/flashclass/feed/ 0 Fuhgeddaboudit http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/12/10/fuhgeddaboudit/ http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/12/10/fuhgeddaboudit/#comments Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:35:21 +0000 Rebecca Brown http://nnlm.gov/ntc/?p=1957 Connie Malamed, an eLearning coach, posted an article on her blog called: 20 Things to Remember about Forgetting. Follow the link: http://theelearningcoach.com/learning/science-of-forgetting/

Note items 15-19 and their implications for training.

]]> http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/12/10/fuhgeddaboudit/feed/ 0 Boredom Busters http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/12/07/boredom-busters/ http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/12/07/boredom-busters/#comments Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:50:01 +0000 Rebecca Brown http://nnlm.gov/ntc/?p=1939 The title of the article I’ve linked to here is 5 Great eLearning Boredom Busters, however, I think the suggestions work for in-person presentations as well. I’ve listed the 5 suggestions below. Follow the link to read more and about each item and solutions.

http://info.shiftelearning.com/blog/bid/248676/5-great-elearning-boredom-busters

  • Avoid content-centered design
  • When talking about content…make it “sticky”
  • Show, don’t tell!
  • Spell out the famous WIFM (What’s in it for me)
  • Avoid “busy work” interactivity
    • ]]>     http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/12/07/boredom-busters/feed/ 0     Attention versus Engagement http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/12/05/attention-versus-engagement/ http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/12/05/attention-versus-engagement/#comments Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:30:10 +0000 Rebecca Brown http://nnlm.gov/ntc/?p=1927 Olivia Mitchell is a presentation trainer based in New Zealand who writes a blog called Speaking about Presenting [http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/].

    In a post titled 4 Ways to Move People from Attention to Engagement Olivia writes that you have people’s attention to begin with; the next step is to try to engage them so that they want to hear and learn more.

    Olivia says this about the difference between attention and engagement:

    If your audience is attentive, you can pour information into them.
    If your audience is engaged, they are sucking that information from you.

    Visit this link to read the full blog post:
    http://www.speakingaboutpresenting.com/content/attention-to-engagement/

    ]]>     http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/12/05/attention-versus-engagement/feed/ 0     Is it Real or is it Memorex? http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/11/26/is-it-real-of-is-it-memorex/ http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/11/26/is-it-real-of-is-it-memorex/#comments Mon, 26 Nov 2012 15:05:31 +0000 Rebecca Brown http://nnlm.gov/ntc/?p=1857 A 2007 Stanford University study asked: “Do you learn more if you interact with a live person, or if you interact with a computer?” The conclusion was that people do better when they believe that they are interacting with a person. But what if that person is really an avatar? And what are the implications for eLearning?

    Read a short discussion at Learning Solutions Magazine:
    http://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/1021/research-for-practitioners-social-interaction-belief-and-learning

    The Stanford Study:
    http://aaalab.stanford.edu/papers/cogsci07_okita_id_7451.pdf

    ]]>     http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/11/26/is-it-real-of-is-it-memorex/feed/ 0     Know your audience and their brains http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/11/14/know-your-audience-and-their-brains/ http://nnlm.gov/ntc/2012/11/14/know-your-audience-and-their-brains/#comments Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:01:24 +0000 Rebecca Brown http://nnlm.gov/ntc/?p=1811 Auditory learners, visual learners, kinesthetic learners. Now that we know, what should we do? Once we know what to do, are we achieving the right balance? Read a blog post by Karla Gutierrez of the SH!FT: Disruptive Learning blog.

    http://info.shiftelearning.com/blog/bid/243094/Back-to-Basics-The-Essential-Elements-of-Effective-eLearning

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