Training Industry Magazine - Spring 2016 - (Page 58)

MEASURING I M PAC T FOUR WAYS to become an AGENT OF LEARNING, NOT CHANGE - AJAY PANGARKAR, CTDP, CMA, & TERESA KIRKWOOD, CTDP A workplace learning practitioner's primary role is to promote learning but to also be learners themselves. This is not meant to be an ideological statement but rather a practical one. In the past year, we've encountered some resistance with many practitioners regarding this thought and got a subtle hint of cynicism as well. We don't want to lump all practitioners in this bucket. But regretfully, we are encountering this worrisome trend that appears to be more the rule than the exception. At a recent regional learning conference, one participant came right out and blasted the presenter with, "Why should we even believe that what you say would work?" Even though we were shocked, the audience appeared to endorse this comment. Many would say, "The presenter must have said or did something to deserve this question." In certain situations we would agree with you, but not in this case. The learning practitioner could have asked for clarity by phrasing their 58 question as, "Could you provide examples of how you see this working?" Ultimately, the initial attack was unprofessional and the cynical tone demonstrates the participant's resistance to learning. Hopefully, you became a learning practitioner because you have a love for learning. This is the reason why we are in it. The discovery and the privilege to help others learn is what fuels our passion. But unfortunately, we increasingly encounter audiences and meet individual practitioners alike who are defensive about their own professional development. Why is this the case? Learning is an open, sharing and democratic process. Those with protectionist attitudes have no place here. There are also some learning practitioners who hoard their knowledge out of fear of loss or fear of change. In either case, this does not bode well for the learning process. While it is human nature to be defensive and cynical at times, it is a serious issue if

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Training Industry Magazine - Spring 2016

Training Industry Magazine - Spring 2016
Transforming the Classroom Experience
Table of Contents
Onboarding Successful Leaders
Will the App Become the New Classroom?
The Evolving Classroom
Developing Micro-Learning for Micro-Moments
Testing the Waters with Mobile Learning
Incorporating Instant Messaging into Communciations Training
Tools for the Mixed Physical and Virtual Classroom
Training a Diverse Workforce
Next Generation Classroom: Providing the Ultimate Learning Experience
Meeting the Five Moments of Need
Save the Learners: Build a Serious Game Strategy
Universal Design for Learning
Cars.com: Revolutionizing the Classroom Experience
Crossing Cultural Training
The Changing Face of Training Outsourcing
Design Learning so Everyone Gets an 'A'
Creating Brain-Compatible Materials
Four Ways to Become an Agent of Learning, Not Change
BizLibrary Invests in the Science of Memory
Company News
What's Online
Training Talk

Training Industry Magazine - Spring 2016