Response to Mary Krentz: Fast Company Article " Learning Without Limits"

I sure enjoyed your summary of this article, so much so that I will be finding it in my stack of magazines and putting it in a file as a reference! I would also enjoy attending a training with Beth Thomas. I would guess that Beth has experienced her share of unproductive trainings or has felt her time was not put to efficient use while attending. These reality tested pieces of advice are really accurate.

I really like the advice about schedules. It is amazing how many businesses or organizations don't take a look at the clientele they are scheduling for. Whether it is a day of the week or a time of the year, it is important to respect the audience you are serving. An important lesson for all of us to remember.

I would love to be at this training - with interaction every 8 minutes. Your brain would get involved and likely apply information to a part of your work making it very practical. Interaction allows you to learn what others think and practice and how it might apply to you.

Games cause different reactions for an audience and I would gauge this one differently for each audience. Not all people are comfortable playing games or contributing in a game situation, especially in an audience where they might not know others. It is important to respect the audience and the comfort levels of all those in attendance.

Four hours is a great recommendation for the length of trainings. The preparation needed for a four hour training is also important to recognize. There are often challenges of breaks and meals to consider, but four hours of time to participate in a training is perfect for almost everyone.

Get 'em while they're young! I can think of several situations in Extension where we would probably still have employees if we had kept them up to speed and informed them of critical components of their job. Training and contact with employees has benefits for everyone and should be recognized as a valuable component of the job.

These are great reminders for me to remember when I plan and prepare training in the 4-H program. I can only believe that respecting these pieces of advice will affect attendance as well.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2000