TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Joanne,
As you can see by my sig block, I'm a tech curriculum developer (aka
instructional designer), and I understand your pain. I have left our
Tampa Bay chapter of ASTD because they seem to focus primarily on soft
skills training and training for newbie's.
We have few funding problems, but always have resource problems. For
example, we deliver three different modalities of training to our two
target audiences. We offer live, instructor-led training at a central
point or at the customer's workplace; we offer live, synchronous
web-based training via WebEx, in which the learner can share the
trainer's desktop and applications, and we also offer asynch web-based
training. In the near future, we will also offer a more synchronous form
of web-based training, an interactive streaming session with
simulations.
Regarding the discussions of Gardner, Bloom, et.al., they are necessary
to understand how to develop the training for adult learners, because
adults learn much differently than learners from 6-21 do. Better
knowledge of adult learning theory, human computer interface (HCI)
information, and electronic design theory are some of the things that I
try to learn as the field moves forward. This knowledge, when designing
learning, helps knowledge transfer and retention and that helps justify
ROI on a learning investment.
Regards,
David B. Dubin
Senior Curriculum Developer
Sage Software
727-579-1111 x 3356
david -dot- dubin -at- sage -dot- com
Your business in mind.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+david -dot- dubin=sage -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+david -dot- dubin=sage -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Joanne Wittenbrook
Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 9:55 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Tech trainer
>I do technical training and course ware development. I also document
>some software and procedures.
>Unfortunately, most of the active training lists I read are dominated
>by "soft skills" trainers and developers.
I was briefly on an instructional design list. A lot of folks with
.edu on their email addresses. There was a huge gap in the issues
corporate and tech trainers were facing and the responses the .edu folks
gave to questions. It's great to be working on the latest research in
Instructional Design, but the average tech trainer is in a different
position.
For example, much pontificating on the different styles of learning
and the importance of addressing individual styles in education
development. Fine in an academic atmosphere. In the corporate training
world you struggle to get funding for any training development. I've
never heard of anyone in the real training world getting funding to do
multiple versions of a training module to address different learning
styles.
The trainers would ask things like "I have an older fellow who is
having a hard time, should I focus on supplying him with more complete
written documentation?"
You'd get a response about how you should know the Gardner theory or
the concept of multiple intelligences when designing your training. Or a
big long rant on how paper is becoming obsolete for the computer user of
the future so written documentation is on the verge of disappearing.
Neither answer solves the immediate problem.
Interesting stuff, but someone in a tech training position has to work
within a tight budget, meet tight deadlines, and get the workers
functioning as quickly as possible. We also struggle to show companies
that there is a return on the investment of training dollars. It is a
very different world than the academic community.
I left the list pretty quickly.
Joanne
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
Now shipping: Help & Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help & Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
