Throughout college, I’ve taken classes and experienced training that in some cases felt impactful, and in others not quite as so. Based on my readings from this class I believe the difference between the two comes from how engaging and useful the experience is.
A course that really resonated with me was my intro to surveying class. This course was hands-on and interactive. Additionally, I had interned with a surveying company the summer before, which was extremely useful. Surveying techniques are also helpful for my career path in construction. Similarly, UPS drivers in The Making of a UPS Driver take a hands-on approach in their training programs, showing that when learning involves active participation, it helps build a better understanding.
Additionally, this aligns with learning materials that say effective leaders/teachers are those who focus on helping people apply their strengths in meaningful ways. When training becomes catered to what people do naturally well it allows them to build on their strengths which in turn makes the learning more personal and impactful.
On the other hand, less effective classes or training sometimes rely on teaching material without the use of engaged learning techniques. Your New Hires Won’t Succeed Unless You Onboard Them Properly, shows that training with social interaction and support from leaders/teachers has proven to be effective. Without interaction or support, learners may disengage from and retain little of way were being taught.
Overall, training and education seem to be most effective when they combine engagement, relevance, and application. Learners who see the purpose of what is being learned have a better opportunity to be transformed.
Citations
Ellis, A., Nifadkar, S., Bauer, T., & Erdogan, B. (2017). Your New Hires Won’t Succeed Unless You Onboard Them Properly. Harvard Business Review.
The Making of a UPS Driver. (n.d.). Fortune. Archived article.