Teaching requires a lot more than just standing in front of a group of strangers and reading from a textbook. Adults have special learning needs, and the best I.T. Trainers know how to reach them on their own level, tapping into their life experiences in order to impart new information.
Adult Education: Guidelines for Effective I.T. Training
Everyone has some knowledge to offer to the world, but not everyone is adept at teaching. Within an adult environment, the challenges can be greater than those of an elementary school classroom, since your options for presenting information and dealing with problematic students calls for a completely different approach. The best I.T. trainers will intuit the mood and flavor of the arena, and be able to swing into adaptation mode before the class actually begins.
Course Sign-Up Policies
Set-up is a critical element of success during a classroom presentation. Long before the students ever hit the seats, you’re going to need to know some basic information about who will be present. Whether you’re teaching evening courses at a local high school, technical courses at a business college or simply running the training area of a local company, the course of events is pretty much the same.
Establishing an open-classroom policy which allows anyone to attend a course without specifically signing up for it can cause far too many complications, and you’ll run the risk of having students in the classroom who don’t truly belong there. In addition, seating and equipment needs will become a problem if you have don’t have the option of closing the registration after a specific number have signed up.
The process should begin by requiring some form of sign-up and posting the prerequisites so that only those who are qualified will plan to attend. For instance, if you’re planning to offer a course in Microsoft Word, and the courses are divided into Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced sessions, then you’ll need to make it clear that only those who have completed the first level can attend the second, etc.
For those rare cases which present students who already have some form of familiarity with the subject matter, but need to go on to something a bit more advanced, you can speak with them individually to determine whether or not they should receive Advanced Placement. An assessment test is highly recommended for those who sign up for a course, in order to ensure that they’re being placed in a class that will properly address their needs.
Materials
Whether you plan to use textbooks or manufacture material of your own, always be sure that there are enough books and/or handouts for everyone who’s signed up for each course. It pays to have extras on hand, as well, since the integrity of the materials may be compromised – e.g., a book may have a missing page, or one packet of handouts may be faded due to toner problems which occurred during the printing process.
These, along with an attendance sheet and any other teaching aids that may be necessary, should all be put into place well before the sessions begin. If you have back-to-back classes, then you’ll have to prepare several set-ups before the teaching day begins, so that you won’t have to scurry to get your materials together between classes. Since students sometimes linger, you won’t always have time to take care of last-minute business before the next class begins.
Equipment Inspection
Inevitably, there will always be a piece of equipment that won’t work if you fail to check it before the beginning of the teaching day. Within an I.T. environment, it’s particularly necessary to do random testing of the computers each day, so that you’ll have the opportunity to address any problems before class time, or – in the worst case scenario – you’ll be able to make arrangements for two students to share equipment. This is always discouraged, since – in effect – it robs the students of critical hands-on time that’s necessary in order for them to put the practical side of the class to use.
You shouldn’t have to run tests on every program or application each day – only those which will be the focal point of the classes that you’ll be teaching. If, for instance, you’re teaching an Excel course, then you’ll want to test that particular application on each of the machines in order to ensure that they’re functioning properly.
Taking Care of Environmental Needs
Ideally, the room in which a class is being held should be fully ventilated, offer some sort of soundproofing and have adequate lighting. In most scenarios, however, that ideal is never achieved. If a good ventilation system isn’t in place, try to leave a window or two open, if the weather permits. In this case, you’ll also need to leave the door to the classroom open, so that you can generate cross-ventilation. This, of course, takes away from the soundproofing capabilities of the room, if they’re present in the first place.
Lighting should be bright enough to see the materials without being harsh enough to hurt their eyes. Dim light will only lull them to sleep, and bright light will distract them and cause physical discomfort. Try to aim for the middle of the proverbial road. If the ability to adjust the lighting through a dimmer exists, then strive for a setting that’s somewhere in the middle, or just a tad brighter.
Adequate room should be given to each student – not only between students, but also on their desktop. If they feel cramped, they’ll be too easily distracted by their own discomfort – or what their neighbors are doing – and they may have trouble performing in class. Keep in mind, too, that many people are truly claustrophobic and wouldn’t be able to tolerate this type of environment.
Understanding the Adult Learner
Before you ever stand in front of a classroom full of adult learners, you’ll need to understand the best way to approach their needs in order to help them to achieve success. While there are certain techniques that work best for children, the same holds true when presenting information to adults.
Adults are visual learners, so it’s important to use as many visual aids as possible. One of the reasons that college students don’t often do well in a traditional lecture course is that, while they do take in some information when presented in an aural environment, they do much better when they can actually see what’s being explained.
By its very nature, an I.T. class offers learning on the visual plane, since students will be working with PCs. Additional aids would include a whiteboard or chalkboard, LCD presentation and textbook graphics. Be sure not to focus for too long on any one visual aid, or their attention will stray. Try to spend no more than a few minutes on each item before moving on to something else. Since the adult attention span is only about 10 to 12 minutes long, the learning environment should be constantly changing in its approach.
In addition to gaining more from a visual presentation, adults also do very well in a hands-on environment. Therefore, it’s best to build classroom projects into the learning process. If they can apply what they’re learning as it’s being presented, then they’ll stand a far greater chance of understanding and remembering the information. This will also give them the opportunity to ask critical questions about the functions and operations that they’ll be required to perform as the project progresses.
Another thing to keep in mind is that many adults are intimidated by computerized equipment and will be hesitant to touch the keyboard, for fear that they’ll “break” something. Great patience and the assurance that anything that they might do can be “undone” will be required in most cases. This will especially hold true for much older adults, who may not have had previous exposure to such equipment. The bottom line is that they’re going to be nervous, and many of them will have the added fear of being unable to understand and retain information due to their age, so take it slow and easy, and don’t minimize or invalidate their concerns.
Beginning the Class
Many trainers forget to introduce themselves to the class, simply assuming that they already know their name from the paperwork which they received upon registration, or because they’ve written their name on the blackboard. Even in such cases, introductions are still important – and professional – and help to break the ice.
As an extension of that, an attempt should be made to have students introduce themselves, so that they can begin to feel more comfortable and more a part of what’s happening around them. Since they’ll be interacting on some level throughout the course, it’s always best to get the introductions over with, en masse, so that there’s no awkwardness later on if students are called upon to work together. If the training is being done within a working arena, many or all of them may be already acquainted; otherwise, introductions aid in getting the class to gel from the onset.
Just as in the case of K-12 teaching environments, it’s best to maintain some amount of professional distance. The difference with teaching in the adult arena is that, since you’re – more or less – surrounded by a group of your peers, it can be a bit more relaxed. In other words, be yourself and do your best to impart the information effectively, without appearing to be unapproachable or, worse, superior. If you keep the perspective that you’re simply sharing your knowledge with others who are interested in what you have to say, then you should be able to avoid those traps.
This isn’t an invitation to stand up in front of the class and tell them your personal history. Unless specifically asked, you shouldn’t use the classroom as a forum to spout off about your own qualifications or accomplishments. This will only put a barrier between you and the adult learners, and you’ll most likely be seen as arrogant. That’s no way to gain their confidence. In the case of a college or technical school – in which the students have to pay in order to attend – this will only waste time and, in effect, waste their hard-earned money.
Course Presentation
The last thing that an adult student wants to hear is a bunch of I.T. jargon. If they knew what all of this meant, they probably wouldn’t need to be in the class, to begin with. Your presentation should be in plain, easy-to-understand English that taps into their life experiences. For instance, everyone can understand the concept of moving out of their home into a new one. Let’s face it, we’ve all done that at one time or another. When it comes to understanding the “Copy” or “Move” concept in Microsoft Word, however, many adults become confused.
A better way to present the information, then, would be to apply the concept to moving from one house to another. If you’re talking about the “Move” operation, for instance, you can explain it in terms of moving from an apartment into their first new home – they remove all of their belongings from one place and physically transfer them to the new location. They still only live in one location, albeit a new one. That, in essence, is how the “Move” operation functions.
In order to explain the “Copy” operation, you might use a similar comparison. Propose the idea of buying a cabin on the lake in a nearby state, while continuing to maintain their residence in the current location. In effect, they exist in both places, but their “original” home is still where it always was. It’s just that they now have a “copy” of their living environment, as well, so that they have homes in both places. This, then, is the concept behind the “Copy” operation – the original is where it always was, but there’s now a duplicate somewhere else.
If your plan is to stand up in front of the class and read from a textbook, then pack your briefcase and go home. This is the worst possible presentation technique that has ever darkened a classroom’s doorway, and most adults will turn you off almost immediately. Drop the textbook – you should know the material without having to read it, anyway – and become actively involved in the class. It’s just as important for the trainer to participate as it is for the students to do so. In fact, they’re far more inclined to respond to someone who’s animated than to a trainer who stands stock-still reading from a book. Keep moving, stay within their line of vision, love what you’re doing – and let it show.
Do your best to draw the participants into what’s being presented. Encourage questions and/or insights, and be prepared to explain things in more than one way, since this is often necessary. People perceive things differently and, since there will be a variety of age groups present, some may be more familiar with the concepts than others, and patience will be needed in order to get the information across effectively to such a diverse group.
If the class is going to be lengthy - 90 minutes or longer - plan to take a short break every 45 minutes. It can get fairly uncomfortable to sit on a hard classroom chair for any longer than that, and this will also give them the opportunity to use the restroom or grab a quick refreshment, if necessary. Just be sure that no food or drink comes back into the classroom at the end of the intermission. Not only will this distract them from what’s being presented, but it could be hazardous to computerized equipment, as well.
Homework
If the course is ongoing, such as in the case of a technical school or college, work may become necessary outside of the classroom arena. When offering a technical course, writing needs to be tempered with practical applications, so be prepared to offer an at-home project that will need to be done, as part of the requirement for completing the course. It’s important, in that case, to make yourself available during off-class times, in case students need some extra help. In many cases, teachers or trainers will offer an hour or two each week during non-class times for the purposes of tutoring or additional assistance with what’s being covered in the classroom.
Grading Systems
When you’re doing the I.T. training within a work arena, grading usually isn’t necessary. A simple pass or fail designation is typically all that’s required. Within a formal school environment, however, grades will almost always need to be issued, so it’s important that records are kept and saved for at least a year – longer, in many cases. Today, this is done electronically, but it pays to have a back-up of those grades – either in electronic form or written (printed) form. That way, if a student contacts you after completing the course with questions about their grade, or if you’re approached about their grades for a transcript request, then you’ll be prepared.
Course Completion
Adults, like children, enjoy receiving something for their efforts and, as a dedicated I.T. Trainer, you should be prepared to hand them a certificate or other form of achievement indicator. There are lots of templates that provide great diplomas and certificates for just such an occasion, which can be found on a variety of software or – for those using Microsoft – through the templates section of their website. If they can be printed in color, so much the better. Many of them will frame these and place them on the wall near their desk at work – especially if they were earned through their company’s training department.
Course Follow-Up
Just as important as the classroom phase itself is the need to keep thorough records of all training that was received by those students who have attended your classes. One of the quickest and most efficient ways to manage this recordkeeping is through a database. That way, a student’s name can be called up at any time, and you’ll be able to see which courses they took, and on which dates. Again, these should always be backed-up, in the event that there should be a system failure or some other anomaly that might violate the integrity of the database.
Summary
It’s important to remember that a number of factors come together in order to ensure success in the classroom. Whether it’s the environment, material, equipment, teaching methodologies or the ability to change tactics when you perceive that a student is having trouble understanding the information as it’s being presented, any one thing that isn’t effectively addressed can cause a breakdown in the learning process for the adult learner.
Maintain a professional attitude, be yourself, provide the proper environment for your students and, above all, always be prepared for the unexpected. If you can handle all of this and be thoroughly prepared with a strong knowledge base before you go into the classroom, you’ll be just fine.