What Is Training?
by Don Elkington

Education is a change in knowledge.

It is often said that the reason a lot of training doesn`t work is because it isn`t really training at all. Much of what people refer to as training is actually education.

Think of a professional runner. He or she gets an education on how to run (stance, stride, pace, footwear, etc). All of this education is important in order to achieve success, but it doesn`t stop there. The runner trains for the race, applies the education, then trains some more.

So really, education is our attempt to give our learners broad information on a subject; no attempt is made to develop skills. Training, on the other hand, is the deliberate attempt to build a set of skills.

"Ignorance of all things is an evil neither terrible nor excessive, nor yet the greatest of all; but great cleverness and much learning, if they be accompanied by a bad training, are a much greater misfortune." … Plato

Keeping in mind the differences between training and education, read the following quote from Jim Clemmer (a Canadian author and consultant).

One of the biggest causes of wasted training dollars is ineffective methods.

To often, companies rely on lectures ("spray and pray"), inspirational speeches or videos, discussion groups, and simulation exercises. While these methods may get high marks from participants, research shows they rarely change behavior on the job. Knowing isn`t the same as doing; good intentions are too easily crushed by old habits. Theoretical or inspirational training approaches are where the rubber meets the sky.

What Makes Training, Training?

The simple answer is, training deals with building skills. So, in order to build skills, training has to do three things:

Assess learner`s skill level before training starts.

Common sense tells us there is no need to train someone to do something they already know how to do. It reminds me of the time I took a class in how to operate the a computer and they spent time teaching me how to type. I already knew how … what a waste of time and money.

Design a program based on sound adult learning principles,

including:

realistic scope

clear objectives

appropriate methodology

numerous opportunities to practice skills with feedback and suggestions for improvements

competent instructors

Assess learner`s skill level after training is over.

If your learner`s skills did not increase, your training didn`t work.

Training is a change in skills.

Education is a change in knowledge.

"Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten." … B.F. Skinner

"The primary purpose of education is not to teach you to earn your bread,

but to make every mouthful sweeter." … James R. Angell

Training that produces tangible, measurable results starts by changing behavior … which ultimately changes attitudes. Most executives and many trainers get this backward.

If you`d like more information, feel free to contact me via e-mail (donelk@elkcon.com) or by phone (901-751-3553).