Provide lots of links – Another part of today’s digital magic is our ability to access content instantaneously. This can enhance learning markedly for those who want more information on a topic. While simply allowing them to search the web using keywords may work, it is generally better to provide appropriate links so their content is more guided and specific. I sometimes ask everyone in a class to go a certain link, watch a short video, and discuss it in groups. This is also a great break from listening to the “talking head.”
Make it entertaining — One of the advantages of today’s technology is that you can create instant training tools. A couple of weeks ago I conducted a couple of seminars on safety training and Millennials at a utility conference. During each session, I broke the audiences into teams and asked them to create a two- to three-minute video on a safety topic of their choice. This 20 minute exercise resulted in some straightforward, but amusing video clips designed to engage and reinforce. As an example, here is one a team produced on lifting. Any instructor can produce video and audio clips, provide links to resources on the web and a host other other options to help reinforce initial instruction.
Assess learning immediately – Traditional training and education has assessed learning at the end of a course or after a large segment of content has been delivered. Today’s technology allows us to poll learners on what they understand instantaneously using downloadable software and smart phones. (Contact me for resources on this.) Even outside the classroom, it is critical to check in more often to determine whether the content is being absorbed and synthesized. This also feeds Millennials’ desire for more prompt feedback and sense of achievement.
Think like a Millennial – Content experts, regardless of their position, have a tendency to do two things that impair Millennial learning: 1) They brain dump, rather than remembering that the novice learner is stretching simultaneously to adapt to both the environment and the content being delivered. This would overwhelm anyone. 2) They also provide unnecessary context, stories, stats and trivia that may fascinate them but blur the learning experience. It can be tough for someone with 15 years of content expertise to winnow their vast knowledge down to just the essentials. In fact, it is sometime better to ask a relative newcomer to teach basic content to novice learners since the relative newcomer will have more empathy and know how much content to deliver at once. Besides, this is a great way to observe and motivate emerging contributors.
Use think-alouds – One of the most effective ways for an instructor or supervisor to determine if someone one is thinking the right way is to listen to their thoughts. The next time you are training someone on a technique or procedure, present them with a problem to solve. Then ask them to think out loud as they work to resolve it. This will allow you to see how they think and correct/guide their process if it starts to go off track or gets stuck. A practice like this will also show you how you might provide better initial instruction. This, of course, works on anyone, not just Millennials.
Hold their feet to the fire – Anyone with children knows that sooner later, you have to cut the apron strings. I may sound like a broken record at times, but the most effective way to train Millennials is to get them to think for themselves. Quality thinking takes time and effort. Millennials who have grown up immersed in a menu-driven environment sometimes lack the experience of really digging deep to come up with the best solution.
Well, there’s a dozen practical ideas I, and others, use to train Millennials every day, bu it’s not just about having a bunch of great strategies. Ninety-nine percent of the effort is implementing. Let me know what works for you.
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