17/09/2019
Have you ever asked the question, "KAILANGAN BANG GANTO KAHABA?"
Kwento time (Read only if you like):
A doctor in private practice narrated to me his experience on the first day of a 4-day training seminar. The following are what he encountered (NB: Day 01 pa lang):
#1
Trainer: "Meron po bang may generators dito?"
Attendees: "Wala po."
Trainer: "Ok discuss ko na rin, for your information, yung Clean Air Act."
*And she did. FOR TWO HOURS.
Trainer (in the end): "Lahat po ito andyan rin sa handouts. Mababasa niyo rin po."
#2
Trainer: "OK, count off tayo, 1 to 5!"
Attendees: "1!" "2!" "3!" "4!" "5!"
Trainer: "Okay! Number 1 kayo ang Team Pakwan! Number 2 kayo Team Ponkan! Etc, etc... Gawa kayo cheer ha pag tinawag kayo dapat isisigaw niyo!
*Note that these are professionals, dentists, in their 40s and 50s. "Pero pang Grade 6 ang trato samin," he said.*
**THEN they were given OVER AN HOUR just to make those cheers.**
#3 (THE BEST)
Trainer: "Ok, tapos na tayo for the day, 5:30 pa lang. I-didismiss na namin kayo ha? Pero PAG TINANONG KAYO, SABIHIN NIYO HANGGANG 7:30PM TAYO ha?"
How do we find the balance between actual, actionable, and useful content, and ice-breakers and fun activities? Yes, trainings like these can be be totally boring, but would you rather have your attendees sit through a slow, grueling 40 hour training, or a faster, intensive, 16-, or even 12-hour training, supplemented by Self-Directed Learning and Advanced Readings? This is Adult Education, not elementary school.
You'll say, "per hour kasi bayad sa trainers na yan", but is that a justifiable excuse?
You'll say, "OK nga eh, paid kami para mag-seminar," but how many projects can you have finished, deadlines made, and actual work done, in those 40 hours?
Corporate Training is Adult Education, so trust your participants. If they are motivated enough to enroll in your course, they should be prepared when they come.
Know your audience. Create programs that are suitable to them, not make them suited to you.
Make ice-breakers and activities relevant, 'di yung may mapagawa lang, or worse, MAKAPAGPATAWA LANG. It's a training session, NOT a freakin' COMEDY BAR.
If it can be done faster, do it. Let's not get trapped by the "mas mahal, mas mahaba, mas maganda" mentality.
"Money spent can be earned , but time wasted can never be brought back."
Sorry pala mahaba. Sarap kasi ikwento. At least hindi 40 hours diba?