World Grain - January 2016 - 90

MILLING OPERATIONS

training many generations in one setting
is to just address it. By recognizing the
challenges that training a diverse population can provide at the beginning of
training will help dissolve some of the
bias in the room. Recognize that everyone will bring different skills and experiences and that regardless, all will be
important to the training.
Although younger employees may
be more technically advanced because
that is the world they grew up in, an experienced employee will bring the real-world examples that enrich discussions. It is also important as a trainer
to dissolve your own individual bias.
Just because an employee is younger
doesn't necessarily mean they will be
more technology advanced, and vice
versa. It also doesn't mean that their
personal experiences in the workplace
are any less valuable to training discussions.
DIVERSE TRAINING METHODS
With diverse ages in a training setting,
it is important to utilize several different training methods. This is actually
true regardless of age, because everyone
learns in different formats. Some individuals might be content with sitting
and listening to a presentation, with lit-

tle interaction, while others may prefer a
more kinetic experience with the ability
to physically interact with equipment or
a product during training. If possible,
provide several different avenues of
training. A presentation could be accompanied by a video and a hands-on
demonstration.
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and engaging training might be great
for some but not for everyone. There
is certainly a balance between engaging and outlandish. In lieu of over-thetop production, consider incorporating
discussion time. If you are training a
large audience, maybe this is done in
smaller settings. If this is done in a facility, maybe teams can be tasked with
a challenge, goal or outcome and could
reconvene after they have completed the
task. Again, not everyone is going to enjoy this type of training, but providing
different avenues will engage everyone
regardless of age.
When employing different methods,
be consistent and repetitive across the
methods. This ensures that everyone is
hearing the same information regardless of the platform in which it is being
shared.
Adult learners are complex, so by
providing several different outlets for

training, regardless of age, they will
help them certainly gain the most out
of their training. Another tool to utilize
during training is through seeking feedback. This can be done informally just
through a series of verbal questions or
more formally through written or electronic feedback. It is important to ask
when participants felt the most engaged
in the training. This is great feedback
for presenters as well. It is equally important to ask when they didn't feel engaged or pulled into the training.
Finally, request feedback following the training. What went well? What
needs improvement? If you have a multigenerational audience, pay attention to
areas that can be improved upon for the
next offering. Implement the feedback to
continue to improve training and provide
the best learning environments possible.
When a trainer is able to provide quality trainer, regardless of the age of participant or the topic, everyone gains from
the experience.
Brandi Miller is assistant director of the
International Grains Program Institute at Kansas
State University. She can be reached
at bmmiller@ksu.edu.
We want to hear from you - Send comments and
inquiries to worldgrain@sosland.com. For reprints of
WG articles, e-mail reprints@sosland.com.

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90

For more information, see Page 114.

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January 2016 / World Grain / www.World-Grain.com

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World Grain - January 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of World Grain - January 2016