Tip #204: Terrific Training Materials

Last October in a train the trainer program in Atlanta, I believe it was LeeAnn Tamerius and Donna Carson from Procter & Gamble who brought in a wonderful book that they highly recommended for ideas in how to create visually appealing and reader-friendly training manuals. They especially liked the format ideas for training, including great buttons to indicate the nature of the page: reference, activity, key point, etc. If it was another person in that class and you are reading this Tip, please accept my apologies for a poor memory and let me know, so I can give correct attribution.

Written by Darlene Frank, the title is a mouthful: Terrific Training Materials: High Impact Graphic Designs for Workbooks, Handouts, Instructor Guides, And Job Aids.

Midwest Book Review describes the book as follows:

"Terrific Training Materials: High Impact Graphic Designs is "must" reading for anyone involved in the preparation of effective written materials for training manuals, documentation, product information, news releases, publicity materials, workbooks, etc. Readers will learn how to dramatically improve the communication quality of their printouts, flyers, manuals, etc. through the power of good graphic design. Terrific Training Materials shows how, through dozens of ready-to-use examples, how to add visual interest and training impact to texts. Terrific Training Materials is ideal for desktop publishing projects and the independent publisher or writer will quickly be producing more attractive and effective publications from simple publicity releases to catalogs to books. Over thirty ready-to-use design specifications are included. Terrific Training Materials is essential for anyone just starting out, and a useful reference for even the most experienced writers and publishers.

Learn how to incorporate the power of more effective graphic design in your manuals, handouts, and job aids. This unique new resource will help you improve the visual appeal and effectiveness of your printed materials through the use of graphic design techniques. Whether you're designing a one-page handout or a 200 page leader's guide, this book is a rich resource you can turn to for layout ideas and advice.

A resource section includes 34 ready-to-use design layouts for workbooks, handouts, instructor guides, and job aids. All the specifications are included so you can quickly and easily reproduce these proven graphic designs in your own training materials.Ó

It sounds great, doesn't it? I'm convinced! Now that I have found my notes about it, I'm going to order one for myself.

If you've used anything similar or even used ideas from this book that you found really added pizzazz to your training materials, please let us know.

Tip #203: Break-Time Boogie

There is a very cute timer animation called Break-Time Boogie that I use in my programs. With music and animation, it adds characters as the minutes count down- either for 10 or 15 minutes. It is fun, the music is upbeat, and it beats the monotony of a countdown clock or timer projected on the screen.

Kathy Fraser attended a train-the-trainer program I facilitated in New York City before Christmas and was interested in getting a copy for her company. I told her I had purchased it from Trainer's Warehouse. On January 2nd, she discovered that it was no longer available and contacted me to see whether there was another place that sold it. I contacted a Trainer's Warehouse representative, Lonnie, who gave me the sad news that it was a program they had produced in-house but discontinued. Apparently, focus group feedback had indicated it was too unsophisticated and limited.

I explained that I train new trainers every month around the country who would love to use the program and would not be disappointed with its limitations. I also told the representative that there were no other timer animations available right now to my knowledge, after a lengthy Google search- and that Trainer's Warehouse was missing a huge and eager market for the program.

Well, on January 3rd, Lonnie called me back to say they had reconsidered their decision to stop producing the program- and it was entirely possible that they might reintroduce it very soon. How's THAT for listening to customers???!!

This message came on January 17th:

"Hey Deb,

I thought I'd let you know that I emailed Trainer's Warehouse yesterday and asked them about Break-Time Boogie. I received a reply today from Joyce that it will be definitely coming back. It will be available in about two weeks, sell for $10 and the code will be SOBGY. Pass on the good news!

Kathy:

Thanks, Kathy!

So, I am now officially passing on the good news: a fun countdown animation program available in both PC and Mac-compatible versions- at an amazingly low price!

Here's to Trainer's Warehouse, for their wonderful, prompt and positive response to customer feedback!

Now, please show them I was right about there being a market for the product and go get one for yourself!!! The website is . [Disclaimer: Please note that I am

Tip #202: Employee Care Kit

We've discussed the use of metaphor as an organizing principle for a training program, but the Wisconsin Department of Corrections took it one step further. They created an Employee Care Kit that they gave out to over 160 office support staff during a two day annual training event, as well as to probation and patrol agents at their Agent Basic Training. It is an idea from a former staff member that Nancy DiBenedetto has used at unit meetings. Now, Linda Zimbelman, Shelly Weber and Jean Schriever make up the baggies for training.

The Kit is a simple Ziploc baggie filled with the following items as well as a multicolored printed list that explains their significance:

Puzzle piece: you are part of the big picture
Peppermint: you are worth a mint!
Rubber band: to stretch yourself
Jolly rancher candy: to remind you to take time to laugh
Cotton ball: everyone needs a warm fuzzy
Q-tip: to keep your ears open to all possibilities
Tootsie roll: bite off only what you can chew
Pen: to replace the ones that everyone keeps taking
Eraser: erase the bad day troubles
Lifesaver: when you are drowning in work
Band aid: when things get a little rough

Isn't it wonderful? It is elegant in its simplicity!

If you have done or seen something similar, please let me know and I'll post it in the next Tip.

Tip #201: Transformation

Learning involves a transformation of thought, attitude or behavior into something new and different. Since this is the beginning of a new year, it seems appropriate to discuss the Hoberman sphere.

A Hoberman sphere is a structure that resembles a geodesic dome, but is capable of folding down to a fraction of its normal size by the scissor-like action of its joints. Its inventor, Chuck Hoberman, holds several patents on folding techniques, many of which resemble the designs of Buckminster Fuller but for the folding aspect. For those of you who want a word for the day- or possibly the year, a Hoberman sphere is not a true sphere, but a polyhedron known as an icosidodecahedron!

It is really an engineering marvel, or so I've been told by engineers in my classes! This is so because the sphere can maintain two different states: both closed and expanded.

I have used a Hoberman sphere in my local training classes for many years. (I've been hesitant to travel with it, for fear it would get broken in transit). Mine is a rainbow- colored plastic version that expands to approximately 10 inches. It just sits in its expanded state on my front table. It is a wonderful visual metaphor for transformation and also for keeping an open mind! I purchased it at a crafts store for much less than it cost at Toys 'R Us. There are Hoberman spheres of all sizes available, from smaller than mine to much larger. There are even ones that glow in the dark.

It is also a great kinesthetic object for a classroom, because folks can throw it- and in one visioning class, folks even decorated it!