blog of engagement

When my parents taught me to swim, they said the best way was to jump right in.  Sure enough, as soon as I swallowed a gulp of water, I began kicking and splashing and trying to stay afloat.  People say that the best way to learn something new is to dive right in and starting practicing.   But is that always the case?

Recently, a client purchased a web-based hiring program to help streamline the selection process for new employees.  They needed to quickly train manager-level employees to effectively use the new program.  Now, we know that one of the best ways to learn new things is to try it out – but people also need a full understanding of exactly what they are being taught and why.  Here at Root, we accomplish this by using the “context, content, practice” method for learning.

For this client, we set the context by giving background information and introducing the topic to the users.  This is a great way to identify the big picture and explain the benefits of the learning.

Next, we provided the users with content.  We walked them through the program and how to use it through screen captures.  Users could interact with the program in a self-paced yet guided experience.

Finally, we allowed the users to practice using the program on their own.  They could try all of the functionality of the actual program but in a simulated, practice environment.  Users explored the software within the e-learning module until they felt comfortable with it.

The 30-minute online training – why they were asked to learn this, what the program was all about, and how to use the program – was just the start.  At this point, users were asked to dive in and start using it.  But even when they were expected to use the program as part of their daily tasks, they were given resources to help them swim, such as paper-based job aids.

So, while the “just dive in” method might work when teaching someone how to swim, at Root Learning we’ve found that adult learners retain more knowledge when we set the context, provide learners with the content, and then allow them a chance to practice using the information.