Call me old fashioned, call me old school, call me a purist. I’ll take ownership of each title when it comes to how I feel about certain aspects of training, especially when it comes to incorporating technology in the classroom.
I’ve been involved in corporate and organizational training for a little over 13 years now, and boy do I remember the “good old days.” Back then, training included not much more than a classroom filled with learners, manuals, and a few static visual aids like flip charts, a dry-erase board and an overhead projector (remember those?).
Fast forward to today — a few of those things are still around, but we’ve now added other things like computers, multimedia projectors, e-learning opportunities, and many other technological advancements. The world is an ever-evolving and changing place, and the classroom is changing right along with it. Author and Holocaust survivor, Viktor Frankl once said “When we are no longer able to change a situation…we are challenged to change ourselves.”
With a bit of reluctance, I made the commitment to challenge myself and change my thinking. I can’t stop technology and e-learning from invading my classroom, so I figured I’d embrace it and get with the program. Part of my resistance was intimidation. By no means do I consider myself a “Techie.” That said, I was (and still am to some extent) a bit fearful that if something went wrong with the technological equipment, I would not know how to fix the problem.
Another part of my resistance was unfamiliarity. I was simply not used to working with and using all of the technological advances. When I went to college, I purchased a typewriter to complete my term papers and other assignments. Granted it was an electric typewriter, but a typewriter none the less. I didn’t even buy my first computer (a refrigerator-sized desk-top model) until the year 2001. In my mind I thought I’d become tech savvy. However, looking back, I realize I only used about a quarter of the features the computer had to offer such as sending/receiving e-mail, searching the internet, and typing documentation in a word processing program.
Today, as I’ve proudly made the commitment to “get with it,” I currently use my new laptop computer to do all the things I listed above, but I’ve also learned how to download music, videos, and pictures. And I’ve even joined some social networking sites like LinkedIn. Minor accomplishments for some, but for me, I feel I’ve made great strides. As far as the classroom goes, I’ve ditched the dinosaur of an overhead projector and I now instruct using a multimedia projector and a laptop. I continue to educate myself on the latest advances in e-learning. Recently I read a wonderful book called “The Synchronous Trainer’s Survival Guide.” And as you can tell by reading this, I’m even writing a training-related Blog!
Change and advancement are wonderful things, but they don’t happen overnight. For me, change has to be gradual. I’m most comfortable taking baby steps, especially when it comes to technology and e-learning. I am, however, finding that my baby steps need to be taken at a brisk pace, because when it comes to technology, something is always being updated, changed, or revised.
Wish me luck!
Langevin Team
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Another topic for you to explore would be change management. Understanding change and its impact on people may help you overcome some of your resistance.
I do find it interesting that someone in education is so resistant to change. Isn’t change a prerequisite in being an excellent trainer, developer, designer, educator?
Rob,
Thanks for keeping up with myself and the other Langevin instructors on our newly launched blog.
I wanted to take a few moments to respond to your recent comment. The blog was written in an attempt to share that I have welcomed change in the way things are now done in the classroom, especially regarding technology and e-learning. I was hoping the title conveyed that. However, because I’m human, I admit that it took me a minute to warm up to and embrace the latest and greatest in classroom technology.
I learned a long time ago while facilitating Diversity & Inclusion programming, in order to make change, one must own up to his/her own personal feelings of resistance and other baggage. Personally, I feel I’m doing that, but as my blog suggests, it’s not happening overnight. I’m most comfortable with baby steps.
I agree with you wholeheartedly that change is a prerequisite to being an excellent trainer. That’s why I’m willing to do just that –make changes and adjustments as necessary.
Thanks for reading,
Jeff