Video games are one of the largest media entertainment products in the world right now. But what if video games were used as a training tool? That's exactly what James Baldwin did with F1 racing games, and now he drives F1 professionally.
Video games are one of the largest media entertainment products in the world right now. But what if video games were used as a training tool? That's exactly what James Baldwin did with F1 racing games, and now he drives F1 professionally.
Think back to the last time you learned something on your own. How did you do it? Did you read a book? Watch a YouTube video? Just dive right in? Chances are, you didn't do a multiple choice test, print off a certificate, and call it good. With all the different ways of learning, why do companies train using one of the least preferred learning methods?
There is no question about the necessity of training. But according to a Forrester report, 40% of employees and managers are not satisfied with their on-the-job training. So when does training become unnecessary?
According to Training magazine, companies set aside 16% of their budgets to train staff. This is often because training has become the go-to solution for business problems. After all, a 30 minute PowerPoint presentation is easier than addressing difficult, core issues. However, this can lead to what we call “first gear training” where companies put in a lot of RPM’s but don’t get very far.
Even if you’ve never heard of normalization of deviance, you’ve certainly experienced it. Ever seen someone with a full cart in the express checkout lane? Or seen someone switch lanes without using a blinker? Normalization of deviance is how unsafe or rule-breaking behavior slowly becomes tolerated. And it can be deadly.
A lot has been cancelled due to the COVID pandemic. Sporting events, in-person meetings, stable supply chains, and Broadway plays. Some of these are a step in the right direction - we here at CrossBraining welcome the work-from-home revolution. Others can feel like a step back. But one thing deserves to stay cancelled: old training methods.
Think of the last time you wanted to learn a skill. How did you do it? You probably sought out information, spent your free time learning, and found ways to practice. In other words, you pulled the knowledge to you. Contrast that with your most recent training experience. Did someone push knowledge onto you, perhaps with a lecture or PowerPoint? Learning science says one of these approaches is much more effective than the other.
You can learn a lot by just looking at your training. These are some warning signs that your training might be ineffective.
When you were learning to ride a bike, did you use training wheels? This is called scaffolding, and it’s a well-known aspect of how humans learn. Scaffolding is breaking skills up into smaller, interlocking chunks that build on each other.
When you were learning to ride a bike, did you watch a quick video, answer some multiple choice questions, and call it good? Obviously not, but that’s how a lot of “video learning” is done.
