U-Blog 3

Last weekend I did my training observation at the Create IT Computer Camp, and really enjoyed it. The training session consisted of Dr. Norris giving a lecture on emerging technologies and the future of technology.

The session was very informative, and it was interesting to evaluate the lecture from a training standpoint. As a student, I am used to focusing on gaining knowledge from lectures, so at first it was hard to focus on the training aspects. As the session went on, it became easier to separate the two.

I began to focus on the tools Dr. Norris was using to convey his points. By far, the most useful tool in the lecture was his use of video to back up his lecture topic. Not only were the videos informative, many of them were also very thought provoking. I think that the use of multimedia was a good choice for his intended audience – the 20 high school age kids in attendance. I think that generation would gain more from a training session involving more digital or technological methods, and the interest level of the audience that I observed backs that up.

Here are some of the videos he used during the session:

Intel's Vision of the Future:


Photosynth:


Car tech = way cool. Here's a piece CNET did on the VW Gypsy Interface:


Google Latitude: Good for friends, bad for stalking...


Prometeus - The Media Revolution:


And, the closing video of the presentation. Here is... The Future:

U-Blog 2

The topic for the past week's module was "The Adult Learner." I found the topic very interesting, and really gained some useful knowledge from the article titled "Quick Tips for a Senior Friendly Computer Classroom."

The article consisted of 5 steps to help older adults learn. The steps were:

Step 1: Create an Environment for Learning

• Put Students at Ease
• Tell Students What to Expect
• Make It Easy to Ask for Help

Step 2: Present Information Clearly

• Make Sure You Are Understood
• Encourage Questions

Step 3: Help Students Stay Focused

• Keep Focused on the Goals
• Stay on Task
• Keep Discussions on Track
• Minimize Distractions

Step 4: Help Students Retain Information

• Repeat and Reinforce
• Use Written and Visual Information
• Provide Hands-on Practice
• Schedule Classes Close Together

Step 5: Accommodate Physical Changes

• Vision
• Hearing
• Motor Skills
• Other

The article goes into a little more detail on each step, citing specific examples of what to do, which is what makes it so valuable. The information and tips it gives are very applicable to our upcoming project. The examples of strategies to take are things that could actually help in a live training session. This is what makes the article stand out. Too many articles on the topic are written just on the science of training, and while interesting, are not helpful in the real world. I will definitely be referencing this article as we get closer to the training session dates.