Last time we learned some tips for creating a visual experience for our learners.  Now let’s talk a little bit about auditory learners.  This group of people needs to hear a concept in order to best understand it.  If you send someone an email of instructions and they call you to talk it through, don’t get annoyed, this person most likely needs to hear to learn.  Fortunately, if you are providing your users with an instructor-led training program, then you are taking care of the needs of your auditory learners.  However, if you hand a new hire a manual or direct them to online help to learn the staffing software, then you will find that they will probably be less productive and have more questions (making you less productive).

Some of the same methods of delivering training that I mentioned in my last blog regarding visual learners will also apply to auditory learners.  Recording live training and creating self-guided training videos are great ways to deliver training.  Just remember to include the audio.  I have seen companies put a lot of effort into creating training videos, but then decide to leave audio recording out and offer text captions only.  To me, that is like baking a really delicious chocolate cake, but not putting any frosting on it.  It isn’t effective for auditory learners, so remember to take the extra step to record the voice over.

Another approach to increase retention for our listening learners is group discussion.  Retention will increase when the person hears the questions, answers, and discussion of his peers.  When delivering a training class, leave time for open discussions at the end of a session and be prepared with a few questions or comments to get the conversation flowing. 

Outside of the classroom, a monthly conference call amongst users focusing on new functionality, existing workflows, or general questions could really add value to your training program.  Aconference call to discuss the product could drive home the information for those users that aren’t likely to read the manual or play around in the product.  Don’t get frustrated if only a select few users attend.  Not everyone needs this approach to learn. 

Capitalize on one of tools that VCG provides.  Each week we send out a product tip of the week for StaffSuite and Pointwing.  It’s great to forward the email on to your users, but you may also want to discuss it in your next team meeting to ensure that your team not only sees it but hears it too.