Making Good Choices About Training and Education

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Making Good Choices About Training and Education

• Steve A. Hicks, Ed.D.
• University of North Carolina
• School of Public Health
• Office of Continuing Education
• steve_hicks_at_unc.edu

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Is Training the Solution?
Performance
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Evidence Workplace Performance

1. Do I know what is expected of me at work?
2. Do I have the resources and materials to do my
   job right?
3. Do I have the opportunity to do what I do best
   every day?
4. In the last 7 days have I received recognition or
   praise for doing good work?

Buckingham Coffman, 1995
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Evidence Workplace Performance

1. Does my supervisor or someone at work, seem to
   care about me as a person?
2. Is there someone at work who encourages my
   development?
3. Do my opinions seem to count?
4. Does the mission/purpose of my company make me
   feel my job is important?

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Evidence Workplace Performance

1. Are my co-workers committed to doing quality
   work?
2. Do I have a best friend at work?
3. In the last 6 months, has someone at work talked
   to me about my progress?
4. In the last year, have I had opportunities at
   work to learn and grow?

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A Strong Case

• 1,2,3,4,5,6 have the strongest correlation to
  organizational performance
• 1,2,3,5,7 have the strongest correlation to job
  satisfaction and retention
• How many relate to lifelong learning?

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Opportunities for Workplace Training and
Development

• Individual training
• Classroom
• Self-paced learning (e.g., CBT)
• Simulations (e.g., drills)
• Performance Development Plans
• Orientation/On-the-job training
• Coaching/Mentoring
• Project work

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If Training is the Solution

• How do you decide?

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First Consider The Goal and Gap
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So Where Are You Headed?
If you dont know where you are going, then any
road will take you there.Lewis Carroll
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Where is Your Gap?
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How Do You Decide about Training?

• Style

• MPG

• Power

• Environmentally
• friendly

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How Would You Shop Today?
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Would You Buy a Car from These Guys?

• How about buying training from them?

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Vehicle Body Type

• Training Format
• Will it accommodate you and your plans?
• Degree or non-degree?
• Classroom or online?

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Engine and Horsepower

• Instructor
• Does s/he have
• Experience?
• Depth of knowledge?
• Ability to communicate?
• Energy and enthusiasm?
• Objectives / Competencies

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Vehicle Parts

• Content
• Is it plain, clear, need-to-know information?
• Is there not too much and not too little?
• Integrated?

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Vehicle Service

• Learner Support
• Do they stand behind their products?
• Is there truth in advertising?
• Where do you go to get service?
• Are they reliable? Convenient?

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Vehicle Safety

• Standards/ Certification
• Is content reviewed by experts?
• Do they meet standards?
• Is information accurate? From a credible source?

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Tires

• Learner Interaction
• Does it smoothly move you to action?
• Is it engaging?

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Test Drive

• Sample
• Course materials
• Practice
• Are there opportunities for practice?

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Paint and Trim

• Materials and Resources
• Are they up-to-date?
• High quality?
• Available when you need them?

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AC/Heating Systems

• Atmosphere
• Is the facility comfortable?
• Are beverages and appropriate meals provided?

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Fuel and Oil

• Assessment and Measurement
• Are evaluations from other learners available?

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Brakes

• Breaks
• Do you get a chance to stretch?
• Ask questions?
• Is the content taught at a reasonable pace?

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Price Considerations

• Cost
• What are the total costs of investment in terms
  of time, energy, effort, money?

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Considerations for Training

• Course Overview/Expectations
• Learning Objectives/Competencies
• Assessment and Measurement
• Resources and Materials
• Learner Interaction
• Course Technology
• Learner Support
• Accessibility

www.qualitymatters.org
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Sifting through Training Opportunities
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Public Health Training
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publichealthpreparedness.org/
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www.train.org/
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www.asksphere.org
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www.montereyinstitute.org/
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www.sph.unc.edu/oce/
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Public Health Academy
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How to Avoid Buying a Lemon

• Seek assistance
• University
• Practitioners
• Instructors
• Review content
• References
• Sample
• Standards

Train.org
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Summary

• GoalsWill it get you there?
• Resources constraints
• Make informed decisions
• Will it make you a better and safer driver?