Oct
19
Training and Learning Reflection
October 19, 2009 | | Leave a Comment
Learning and Training
Today I was offering a two hour training session to employees in the district that I labeled Digital Media – Digital Camera Basics. When I first decided to provide this training I really had no idea how I was going to conduct this training as it would be my first time conducting training on digital camera basics. All I knew was that I wanted to have a training on digital cameras as they are becoming more popular in our district and I have received a few emails asking me questions regarding digital cameras. So, I offered the training and let everyone in the district know about it via email and my online professional development calendar at the beginning of the month.
At first I was thinking about creating a PowerPoint presentation that would discuss the different types of cameras, the different types of memory cards, the different mega pixels, the different types of ways it would connect to a computer, etc. However I really didn’t want to do something like this because in my experience, PowerPoint type trainings have become really boring and I really wanted to do something hands on. The only problem I had was that I didn’t have enough digital cameras to hand out to everyone who was scheduled to attend the training; as a matter of fact, I only had two digital cameras. So, I decided that I would put a that PowerPoint together after all and go that route for the training.
However, come training day, I decided to take a chance and go with the hands on approach anyway and chuck the PowerPoint. I decided that I would just hand out the 2 digital cameras out and hope that others who signed up for the class would bring their own cameras; luckily that was the case. During the training I basically spent the first 20 to 30 minutes discussing some facts about digital cameras in general, similarities and differences, and I also discussed how they could be used in the classroom and the library as well (had some librarians attending the training). The next 10 to 15 minutes I had them look at the cameras I handed out as well as look at some of the other cameras that others had brought in as well to compare and contrast them. During this time, it actually extended to about 30 minutes because more questions came up about the differences and similarities about the cameras. This lead to conversations and “training” not only from me but from some of the more experience photographers in the session; communication. The next 30 minutes I had them take pictures with their cameras and the cameras I passed out. The teachers who actually brought their cameras were willing to share their cameras and swap with the ones I passed out just so they could learn a little more about the different cameras. The last 30 to 40 minutes of the session we discussed how to copy or move those images to a computer or laptop using the accompanying software from each camera; noting that each one will be different as well.
Overall, the training session was very successful and the teachers and librarians who attended seemed to enjoy the training as well. However, what made this training session memorable for me was that one of the teachers said “this was cool, it didnt even seem like a training session but more like a learning session.” What she said really caught my attention and made me reflect on some of my past training sessions and that in some cases I cant just “train” our teachers but give them more opportunities to “learn” how to use technology.
I hope you can reflect on this as well and think about how many times as a teacher do you provide your students opportunities to learn something rather than sitting up in front of the class and try to train them?
