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TRAINING TIP 26: The Six Trumps of Sharon Bowman

By Edwin Pauzer posted 08-03-2017 08:48

  

The Six Trumps of Sharon Bowman almost sounds like the title of a Sherlock Holmes novel, but it is really about making your training stick, information that is remembered, and skill retention. For those of us in training, that is as thrilling as a Sherlock Holmes mystery.

 

First, a little background: Ms Bowman has written a number of books in the field of training, and she is completely opposed to conventional teaching or training, so she has developed the “six trumps.” The dictionary definition of trump is to override.

 

Trump 1:   Movement Trumps Sitting

When participants move, they get an increase in oxygen which in turn enhances alertness, which means they are going to function at a higher level.

 

Trump 2:   Talking Trumps Listening

Ms. Bowman doesn’t mean that the instructor should be doing more talking. She means the learners should be talking more. In fact she likes the idea of the learners getting up periodically to teach one, a few, a group or the class what they just learned. If you’ve had quite a bit of experience in training, you’ll find that you actually learn more by teaching.

 

Trump 3: Images Trumps Words

Most of us are visual. We link events and words to images and vice versa. Visuals clarify what the words cannot. In our Train-the-Trainer class I ask participants to draw an animal by giving a description it--long ears, long tail, snout, humped back, hairy body, front paws of claws and hooves on the hind feet? Besides some cartoon-like and amusing artwork, no one comes close to identifying the noble aardvark, but when I show them the picture, the verbal description suddenly makes sense. You can draw the images and you can have your class draw them.

 

Trump 4:   Writing Trumps Reading

Writing is reinforcement of what the learners just heard. It might also be in the form of pictures, and anything visual is the most potent sense for learning and memorization. It is also impossible to daydream when the learners are writing. Learners will also remember what they write longer than what the instructor writes.

 

Trump 5:   Shorter Trumps Longer

Lecture should top out at 15 minutes because some have already travelled to distant Lotto–winning fantasies after 10. Make them stand, stretch, walk, talk, or write.

 

Trump 6: Different Trumps Same

If you recall in TRAINING TIP 1 we asked you to recall a list of 20 words. Most of you remembered the word artichoke. Why? Because it was novel; it stood out, and you remembered it because of that. Novelty in your training will work for you.

 

You want your participants to not only achieve the learning outcomes from your training, but have them transfer that skill to the job. You want it to become part of their long-term memories.

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