Comments on: Be a Designer, Not Just a Trainer

By: Ellyn

Ellyn — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:56:23 +0000

*raising hand* I consider myself an HPT professional. “HPT & Learning parts and go straight for Training or eLearning. Why is that?” … because IMO, most of the population came from training TO HPT rather than (other) user-advocacy positions. And other HP disciplines, such as human factors, are aligned with ACM and SIGCHI, for example–heavy hitters. FWIW, eLearning Guild has free membership, ASTD has a spiffier website. ISPI needs to step up and market (which costs bucks) to compete, and let go of this second-class attitude!

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:19:13 +0000

Great advice, Dave. It is interesting, almost sad, to watch our focus go toward the DO but then the client focus on the KNOW. Sometimes it is very difficult to help them get their focus where it should be. The first hurdle is us. The second hurdle is them – helping them overcome a perception we have created. Yikes!

By: Dave Ferguson

Dave Ferguson — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:04:10 +0000

Early in my career–just before starting a full-time job as “writer/instructor”–my boss-to-be sent me to a workshop on programmed instruction.

The original designers included people like Geary Rummler and Dale Brethower–groundbreakers in the field of performance improvement.

As a result, I learned to take a systems approach toward things that look like training problems. Even where there are clear skill/knowledge gaps, I’m guided by Joe Harless’s advice…

“Never ask what the client wants people to know.” He’ll tell you. And it’s likely to be History of Widgets, Theory of Widgets, Widget Appreciation.

The right question is “what do you want people to do?” In the best of worlds, that strips away a lot of nice-to-know impedimenta.

And, if the client thinks they do need to know the history of widgets, you’re forewarned.

By: KarROX

KarROX — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 06:38:41 +0000

The best this I liked about this post is the title “Be a Designer, Not Just a Trainer”. Thanks for the input.

By: Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:43:23 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Lydia. It made me realize how US centric I am. Yes, I had hoped that we could have moved beyond that by now, but was also hoping that others in the world were further than we were. Guess not.

By: Lydia Zhang

Lydia Zhang — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:23:47 +0000

Kivin, I have the same problems. I’ve been trying to introduce HPI/HPT to Chinese training professionals but found they have less interest in this topic but much more in training. I felt frustrated when an introduction to Gilbert’s BEM was regarded as “frontiers” and “something not practical”. I thought it would be better in the US.