Overrun!

Had to drop a quick note before I forget.

Last week during our E7, K asked us to share one story about something.. though I could vaguely remembered what she has initially instructed us to share.. but I had managed to do some reflection.

My lesson learnt, was to not overrun in any of my training sessions as the learning will not be effective or in depth if everything was rushed through especially towards the end of the sessions.  While I was sharing this with my coursemate... I blanked out and had other thoughts.

It was not so much of time-management issues I had cited to my coursemate!
I thought about it deeper, it was also linked to the lesson plan and courseware design.
How? I listed the following points immediately using 4-WHY technique;

Why Overran?
Did not stick closely enough and not assertive in following the lesson plan

Why not stick closely to lesson plan?
Spent more than indicated time in one or two topics

Repetition or reinforcement of learning along the way when picked up signals that the trainees had yet to grasp the learning

Why repeated or prolonged the lesson time in those areas?
To ensure they are finally clear before moving on and left nothing hanging

Why weren't they able to understand the concepts?
Topics were not pitched at their level
Explanations were too brief
Not enough real-life experiences for them to relate to

It's true. If lessons and explanations were clear enough for the learners to identify to relate to, they would be able to grasp the sharing within in shorter period of time. Therefore, it may not be about time-management on my end but the entire coureware design and traininf strategies.

Gotta go now.
Will be back for more.

Touched.

I have just completed a few weeks of gruelling training in the shops as well as in the classroom.  Tired is the word and more.

Today, the final round ended and many stayed behind to help clean up the room and reinstated to the original layout.  Appreciate.

Though I do feel this training has gone on for a tad too long, everyone seemed rather happy when we closed it with a feedback session.  I left the room for a while so that the trainees could fill in their usual feedback forms I had wanted to make myself a tea. When I returned, I was blown away. Touched. Almost in tears.

Across the old and dirty white board, was this short and lovely message. Though there were only 3 words, they meant so much more to me.

Thank y'all too! :)  I had fun.

Transformed Again?

I was telling about how cruel and brutal my courseware was thrown back?

In fact, I went through a few 'shitty' weeks. Let me vent and I'll be enlighten!

With our previous courseware approved and accredited super-smoothly, I was inevitably confident this would too. Perhaps it was this expectation that led to my personal disappointment.  I had the AM (associate manager) listing out everything there were to be reviewed and I went through them meticulously and over a million times.  I had wanted the final and second submission to be seamless, at least, almost seamless.

This was what I received...

A total of 57 pointers to take note and make changes to. Although I had hoped it would be as simple as just making amendments as per highlighted by each pointer, many of those highlighted herewith, were asking me to review the methods or asking me to provide evidences etc. Just imagine this and more, multiplied by 3 pages...

The weeks I had undertaken to correct the courseware were unbearable.  It had kind of shaken my usual confidence and habit, and even, my passion in designing one.  I realized I was second-guessing myself with every little step I made or took to move forward.  I went through the materials over and over again and there was always something else I had to change again in order to feel comfortable. Everything became difficult.

Today, after 1 month of making the changes, I submitted the materials again.  When I clicked 'send' at 4.30pm, a sense of emptiness set in.  The rush and stress suddenly subsided and Dr P's face popped out and into my mind!  I was suddenly reminded of how Dr P made me feel so uncomfortable with facilitation during FAL. How I was suddenly made to be more aware of the usually-neglected little details like standing to a side at the flip-charts, body language and gestures and all.... how facilitation became difficult and conscious rather than easy-breezy. Yet despite all the uneasiness and uncomfrotable processes, we emerged more knowledgeable and confident than ever before during our Final Skills Practice! It was Transformational Learning then and NOW I finally understood, IT IS TRANSFORMATIONAL Learning now too!

I've been hit! It was painful and difficult! - that's stage 1. Isn't it?
I experienced 'Disorienting' and forced self-examination when the materials were thrown back. It hit hard.
I was uncomfortable and was detached from the passion to design courseware because it seemed so difficult and uninteresting for the 2 months - that's the 'Alienation' from my usual role in courseware developing!
When I finally reframed - My final words to my manager was, 'I'd want the final courseware to be even better than before knowing that could be used as a template or even, a benchmark for myself eventually!'
Re-integrated! I think I did.  I took the experience in stride and am rather pleased with the final version though I'm still waiting for the response from the AM.

It's amazing.
I experienced Transformational Learning while at work too!


It's strange I kept on thinking how Transformational Learning can be applied in my training because it seemed unsuitable in this context, yet I've experienced it myself and emerged better not once but twice. I'm truly amazed and wish I could bring this great sensation to my trainees.

A Few Things...

I kept on reminding myself, in training or facilitation, the facilitator and trainer will make a difference in the learners' learning. How we present ourselves and impart the skills and knowledge are also pretty much subjective in the eyes of the learners.

At such, after being 'hazy' in TNA & ID module.... I saw clearer pictures again from AS and now CBT. Perhaps the 2 facilitators who guided us through TNA & ID were just, not my style. I had to read the modules up all again by myself. But some of my coursemates have differing opinions of them too. We all have our own thoughts.

This made me think. How about myself? Did I give my trainees different learning thoughts too?

* * * * * * * * * *

Our assessment for TNA+ID+AS just went by. Nerve-wrecking? Of course. The usual nervousness and unsettling mind kicked in before, on and even after the assessment. I was extrememly worried knowing our assessor was going to be a caucasian. Why not? I have every reason to be worried. I'm not a good auditory person and conversing with someone who may speak with a different accent was about to kill me before I even start. However, it came and went by.

What I appreciate about Mr P, was the fact he gave constructive feedbacks on our strength and even weaknesses. Many a times, everyone just wants to hear the good things but good things don't help us improve. Mr P pointed out my specific weakness and I know I must work hard on them.

In fact, this assessment was the BIGGEST stress I've ever felt so far! But he made it worth going through. Thank you Mr P.

* * * * * * * * * *

At work, I've encounter a few more good things recently.

I've sent in my 2nd course for accreditation and it was cruelly thrown back. Did it hit my confidence level? Without a doubt. The feedbacks were seriously brutal. BUT I was fortunate. I embraced this rejection with an open-mind to learn and improve. The AM auditing the program was very 'fierce' but extremely kind. I felt he had intention to help me improve. He gave very harsh yet constructive feedbacks and I know if I could review them all, the courseware will turn out, at least, almost perfect.

Though I have questions in my head I couldn't answer, like how did my previous courseware went through smoothly and why not this time... I know there's no point dwelling. I'd rather channel my energy into making this one, better than the previous! And I'm excited because I know it will.

* * * * * * * * * *

In training, work and even life, we'd meet people who'd have said or do something to you, or had given you a certain minder... and when you look back, you'd realized they helped you grow and see things differently.

I've been blessed and I hope I could give back to my trainees.

Thank you.

Catching Up

I have not made any entry since FAL. Bad. Ashamed.
In fact, I've been lost for awhile.

After FAL, we've gone through TNA, as well ID.

TNA, in particular, was a pretty long module and something totally new to me. I was not able to grasp the entire module. Yes, I had difficulty and it somehow shut down my learning ability! Scary. Though I sought consolation that more than half of my class are first-timers to TNA, they seem rather 'ok' with the subject and assignment.

I was also completely amazed my company has no proper TNA system or models.

As stressed out as I am, I had to start before it's too late. I spent the whole weekend trying to decipher the entire folder and build up my assignment for submission. Thank goodness, the more I try to input, the clearer the picture becomes. Whether I could try to ascertain the need to roll out TNA for my company, its still too early to tell and I've better become more familiar and better at this before I start to even think about any proposal. :)

ID - It came and went by. I was not particularly intrigued, nor surprised. Confused, perhaps a little but it wasn't a big of a deal. It was just some words E used that crumbled my knowledge in ID itself. Those words, if he could have rephrased or explained or make comparison to what I've already know, I'd have received them better.

However, I must say that the few activities and games introduced during ID were good activities I could readily used in my training. Here's one of them, the STRAW game!

An easy to conduct brain-teaser.. example, how to form1, 3, 6 and 8 equilateral triangles with 6 straws given. :)

We have just started AS. Pretty shocking to me it only has 3 sessions. I was just telling some of my course mates, It usually take me about 3 to 4 sessions before I could grasp any modules, this time round... I may not have the luxury of time to grasp the idea.

So, keeping fingers crossed.

Till then.
Have a good week.

End and Beginning

Tonight is the end of our FAL but the beginning to practising what we've learnt and practise it for life.

Dr P made us cozy in a circle and asked each of us to reflect and share on 'What I've Learnt in FAL..'
Yes. Most of our list emerged similar except all of us focus on different areas. Here's mine.

1. The renewed importance of writing 'properly' on flipcharts
2. The amazing power of what an activity can make or break our facilitation
3. The impact of how a 'black out' draws the learners' focus - less the distraction
4. The language that speaks a million words - Body!
5. The assertiveness I should exercise!
   

And I've already started applying them at work.

I know why I enjoyed attending the sessions so much even if I'm tired - Every session I was excited and was looking forward to getting 'slapped with new enlightenment' that would help me improve since this is what I love to do as a career and a passion.

With these said.

I'm looking forward to the next module too... :)

Peer Share Vs. Presentation

I logged this entry on 5 Jan in my note book and has completely forgotten to transfer it in here.
Anyhow... I had wanted to record this -

* * * * * * * * * *

5 January
I conducted January's 2-Day Orientation Training yesterday and today and I felt some things have changed, permanently.

There is this part in Orientation where I'll usually share information of our company's competitors with the trainees. That was how it has always been done.

BUT!

Something is different this time around and it's a refreshing change in 5yrs. I split the trainees into groups and gave them all the brands to research on and present their findings in class the next day. At first I was worried that some were more reserve than others and may not carry out their tasks. When I announced, at the end of day-1, that they'd have to do these research homework, they didn't look shock or unhappy. I took that as a huge relieve.

In fact within the groups, they delegated tasks further to each team mate pretty much on their own, so everyone gets 1 or 2 brands to research on and was not left out.

I thought that even if they've missed out a few details, I'd be glad that they'd found most of the information on their own.

The next morning, some of them planned to meet in the classroom early to consolidate their group findings and I found that really responsible. They did the sharing in class after that and I am confident this must have helped them remember better than if I were to feed them the information via presentation. This also made them more active and interactive with a sense of ownership.

* * * * * * * * * *

I guess in the past I tend to worry too much that giving activities or homework would take away their time to rest since all of them work long retail hours. Perhaps, the thing I should really do right now is - let go of that and be more generous with giving them opportunities for research works or discussion that could be eventually be useful to those who could learn through sharing individual projects and aid help them in this learning rather than worry about them having no time to rest.

I should have faith and allow them to research more often in future. This will help empower them with the ownership to learn and also peer-share. I'm pretty sure that this way, they will instill the learning deeper too. All gain and no loss.

YES. I shall be doing that often!

Alright, time for more lesson plan adjustments! :)