Tech4Training

If you're reading this, you already know a thing or two about tech, training, and HRD. Feeling ready to step up your game? Try these three tips to turn your current run-of-the-mill training into a standout session.  #1 A picture is worth a thousand words, literally. (Well, almost literally.) It's going to be hard, but it's time to let go of wordy PowerPoint presenations. You can still provide detailed handouts (or save a tree and go digital!), but if you're presenting on-screen, try replacing text with images, screenshots, infographics, charts, or videos. By making your presentation more graphic, your students will be more engaged, and more apt to pay attention to what you say.  You may have heard of the 1x6x6 rule; one idea per slide, comprised of six bullet points or less, with six words or less for each bullet point. While that rule may have worked in the past, it just doesn't cut it now. To start, try for three bullets per slide, but don't stop there.

First, let me start this post with a moment of honesty.  I did not want to start a Twitter account.  In fact, I've felt a sense of pride for avoiding one all these years. I have my Facebook and Instagram, but I've always considered Twitter to be the preferred social media platform of celebrities and teenagers.  But, hold your breath for this announcement…. I was wrong.  In fact, I was dead wrong. I've only been on Twitter for a short time, but I can already see that I vastly underestimated it's value. In fact, I believe Twitter may be the ultimate PLN , and here's why: It's more than just Twitter. Twitter does limit posts to 140 characters, which can be a challenge. But, of course, you can link to websites, blogs, or other media, which essentially makes your posting ability limitless. Within Twitter, you can actually easily search for and access several different aspects of your PLN.  Hashtags- the ultimate searching and categorizing tool.  Speaki

Quick tip!  I tried Piktochart  for the first time this week, and it was amazing , easy , and free ! Even a creatively-challenged person like me can make fun , eye-catching infographics. More to come later! 

I realized something this week. Up until now, I've been very  greedy with the internet. It's all take, take, take, and never give anything back. I didn't even think I needed to give back; the thought never crossed my mind.  What have you contributed of value to the internet? Anything? Ever?  (I'm not counting your 900 selflies, 13,000 pictures of your dog, and the occasional picture of your feet in the sand.)  Is it really fair to take from the internet and never give back? Someone has to create new, innovative content, so why not me, or you? If not us, then who? After this class ends, will you keep expanding your PLN and writing comment-worthy blogs?   Or, will you shut down your Twitter and Feedly on the day class ends? I challenge you to consider giving back just fraction of what you take, even though you won't always be graded on doing so. 

Let's face it-- as great a technology can be to assist with delivering training, it can be disastrous when the tech doesn't work. Picture this:  Your employer is sending you to a conference in another state. You’re scheduled to attend several important training sessions. You're eager and ready to learn, planning to take notes and report back to your teammates when you return to work in a few days. It’s your first session, and you make it to the conference room, find your seat, and it's time to start! The speaker makes their way to the podium, begins their introduction, turns on the projector, and…. Well, they’re trying again to turn on the projector, and…. They cannot get the projector on, but they’re calling for reinforcements. Meanwhile, you're tuning out. Half the room is checking e-mail, the other half is on Facebook. By the time the session starts, it's too late. The presenter has already lost the audience, and it's going to be an up