Training and Development: Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 - Essay Example

Training and Development: Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 Name Course Name and Code Instructor’s Name Date Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 I.Introduction 3 II.Lesson Plan 4 III.Training design 5 IV.Conclusion 9 References 10 Appendix 11 1.1 Lesson Plan 11 1.2 Evaluation Checklist 12 I. Introduction In training and development, numerous factors interplay with the aim of ensuring the learners understand what is taught. Numerous lessons require numerous strategies and methods in which the teachers and instructors can assist the learners in learning what it’s been taught. An example of such a lesson is that involving adult students learning Microsoft PowerPoint 2007. Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 is the frequently utilised software that is utilised in making visual aids that are utilised in presentations. The Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 is the most recent release of Microsoft PowerPoint that has intuitive layout and user-friendly compared to the previous packages. The aim of this training and development is to train and develop adult persons towards understanding Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 and also be able to utilise. Some factors that are brought into consideration include the lesson plan, training design and training evaluation. The aim of the lesson plan is to devise a strategy that layouts how the learners would be taught and the appropriate procedure towards fulfilling the obligations. The training design brings into consideration the manner and method in which the learners would be involved in learning. The training design acknowledges the uniqueness of adults as learners and their diverse backgrounds in ensuring they fulfil the training and development requirements. Moreover, the training evaluation process allows the instructor to gauge and determine whether the learner has understood what is been taught and the influence of the learning towards the future of the learner. II. Lesson Plan A lesson plan is usually created by a teacher or instructor detailing description of the course. This means that a lesson plan is created by an instructor with the aim of guiding the class instruction. The content and type of a lesson plan is dependent on the subject being covered, teacher’s preference and student’s needs (Milkova, 2013). Moreover, the institution or school might provide guidelines towards developing a lesson plan that is dependent to that institution. Therefore, the most important information that is contained in a lesson plan is what should be covered, time plan and also the objectives associated. This means that a successful lesson plan should integrate and address three important concepts which are learning/teaching activities, objectives for learning and student evaluations (Milkova, 2013). Lesson plan is an important integral that aims to guide a teacher towards fulfilling teaching obligations (Brigham Young University Department of Linguistics, 1997). Some of the benefits associated with a lesson plan for both the teachers and students include allowing staying on track, achieving specified objectives and avoidance of both unpleasant surprises and frustrations. In addition, a successful lesson plan allows an instructor to visualize every step of teaching resulting in effectiveness in teaching process. Moreover, a well created business plan allows and provides guidance for a substitute teacher. This means it would ‘save’ valuable time when a substitute teacher is introduced into the teaching process. An effective lesson plan also allows an instructor to reflect and analyse their teaching and provides a platform for future improvements. It also means that the teacher can reciprocate the successes of the business plan during formulation of future lesson plans. III. Training design Training takes different forms and is applied differently within the organisation and institutions. For an effective training process, it is important to consider training design. Training design provides a platform in which the needs of the students can be responded to and other directors or recommendations from other stakeholders. Training design is important in training sessions because it saves on time because each aspect of the training has been allocated a specific time frame. This also means it is a cost effective method since the activities, time and cost are interrelated and determines effectiveness of the training process. In addition, a training design brings into consideration the relevance of training requirements and outcome. This means the training design allows for inclusion of specific content that allows for achievement of specific goal. In addition, a training design allows customisation and employing most recent information towards ensuring the learners understand what is been trained and whether the training has positive or negative outcome. Moreover, the training design brings into consideration the aspect of flexibility in that it might allow for both learner and teaching practice methods. This also translates into evaluation in which the contribution of the training process and the training design achieves and whether the learners have development and understood what is been taught. Active learning is a strategy whereby the learners engage in learning activities such as discussion, writing, and reading or problem solving that promote synthesis, analysis and class content evaluation. Some approaches associated with active learning include problem based learning, simulations and case method, and cooperative learning (USC University of Southern California, 2013). Active learning has been associated with numerous benefits such as skills developed and teaching benefits. Therefore, the basic factors that are associated with active learning include writing, talking and listening, reflective and reading. In instructing Microsoft PowerPoint 2007, there are specific aspects that are considered to ensure effectiveness of training session. Collaborative learning and class discussion are the two most important approaches in which it would be utilised in teaching Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 (USC University of Southern California, 2013). The learners would be paired randomly behind the computers and are requested to perform certain tasks such as opening Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 while also allowed to question and also request for assistance from the instructor or teacher. The learners would be paired randomly to prevent friendly learners coming together but to ensure an effective team work is created in the learning environment. The training program would contain important directives and information that ensures the learners who are beginners appreciate the contributions and benefit associated with presentations and specially Microsoft PowerPoint 2007. This also means that is imperative for each of the paired learners contribute through presenting the arguments and questions, and other learners are requested to give feedbacks that can improve the training and development process. Adult learners have unique characteristics compared to younger learners. The adult learners are self directed and they aim to seek learning activities that enhances their own knowledge with the aim of achieving a specific need. This means that adult learners utilise the professional and personal experiences in learning process (USC University of Southern California, 2013). Other characteristics include adult learners’ appreciates information present that is relevant and contextual, adults learns aim to utilise learned information immediately and like sharing information with other participants (The Academy of Dental Therapeutics and Stomatology, 2013). Based on these characteristics, the adults usually prefer active learning to maximise on their internal urge of learning and achieving predetermined goal. Training evaluation allows assessment of a training program with the aim of determining whether it was an effective approach. The assessment is accomplished through collecting appropriate data on whether the learners were satisfied with the teaching, the influence of the training program and whether the information learned would be applicable to different situations. Training evaluation has numerous benefits to the learner and also to the instructor towards determining whether the training process fulfils the competency gaps. The training evaluation would ensure that the evaluation ensures accountability, provides a platform in which the trainer would receive feedback and also checking any costs associated. Numerous training evaluation models exist, which are applicable to different environments based on context and content of the entire program. The most effective evaluation method for the Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 is the Kirkpatrick’s four levels of training evaluation (The University of Sydney, 2013). The four levels are reaction, learning, transfer or behaviour and results. Reaction – This stage allows measurement of how participants in the training session react to it. This stage allows collection of information from the participants regarding their perception towards the training program. The reaction stage evaluation is important and crucial because it is easy, fast and inexpensive. This is the general view in determining whether the learners perceive positively learning of Microsoft PowerPoint 2007. Learning – The aim of this stage is to assess the measure of learning in which it has taken place due to the training session. In determining what is learned, it is important to conduct tests before and after training (USC University of Southern California, 2013). This stage goes beyond learner satisfaction and aims to assess the level in which the learners have advanced in knowledge, skills or attitude. When the training process begins, the learners are asked general questions regarding Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 and analyse whether the learners have some information. Behaviour – This stage aims to measure the transfer in which it has occurred in the learners’ behaviour because of the training session. The stage assesses whether the information learned are applicable to the predetermined benefit. For example, the learners should be able to utilise basic features associated with Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 and utilise such information in daily activities. Results – This stage measures on whether the training process has reinforced the learning process resulting in its application to the working environment. The learners should be able to utilise Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 through their daily life and also to result in benefit towards the workplace environment or individual requirements. The Kirkpatrick’s four levels model is applicable to the current training session because the learners would be assessed to determine achievement of the training program. Moreover, the model is easy to utilise and it is inexpensive in achieving the evaluation process. In assessing training session, it is important to collect data that can be analysed to assess the entire training program (USC University of Southern California, 2013). The data can be collected in a variety of means and regarding this training session, the appropriate method is utilisation of a check as illustrated in the appendix (Evaluation Checklist). The data collection strategy is appropriate because it utilises the benefits associated with observation. The learners would be requested to accomplish a given task and the trainer would monitor how the learner proceeds with fulfilling the requirements of training. Some of the benefits associated with this data collection method include provision of permanent record, it can easily complement with other data collection approaches, it is easy to utilise and also applicable to numerous learning environments. IV. Conclusion Training and development is an important component that drives productivity both in personal and professional life. Instructing adult learners in utilising Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 is an example of a component that a person is taught and assisted towards understanding how it operates. To fulfil the training process, a lesson plan is important since it guides the entire training to ensure efficiency is achieved. Moreover, a training strategy ensures the learners’ embrace the training and development and in this training, the most appropriate strategy is collaboration and class discussion. Utilisation of these strategies involves the learners and hence creates a lasting understanding of what is been taught. Moreover, Kirkpatrick’s four levels model is the appropriate framework to evaluate the training and development process. References Brigham Young University Department of Linguistics. (1997). Planning effective lessons for language teaching and learning. Retrieved from http://linguistics.byu.edu/faculty/henrichsenl/lessonplanning/ Milkova, S. (2013). Strategies for effective lesson planning. University of Michigan. Retrieved from http://www.crlt.umich.edu/gsis/p2_5 The Academy of Dental Therapeutics and Stomatology. (2013). Active learning strategies. Retrieved from http://www.ineedce.com/userfiles/4/pdf/CEStrategiesPpt.pdf The University of Sydney. (2013). Chapter 1: Appendix 2. Kirkpatrick’s four level for assessing training effectiveness. Retrieved from http://science.uniserve.edu.au/projects/service_teaching/chap1ap2.pdf USC University of Southern California. (2013). Chapter 8 – Using active learning in the classroom. Retrieved from http://cet.usc.edu/resources/teaching_learning/docs/Active_Learning_Florida.pdf Appendix 1.1 Lesson Plan Description: The lesson plan is intended for the beginners’ learners aiming to utilize Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation 2007. Lesson Session Objectives 1. Introduction to presentation Day 1: 3 hours Importance of presentation Application of presentation in personal and professional obligations 2. Getting started Day 2: 3 hours Opening a new presentation Opening a saved presentation Saving a document 3. Layout of frames Day 3: 3 hours Main window Presentation views Visual guidelines 4. Inserting content Day 4: 3 hours Text box and working around the text box e.g. moving Adding content such as WordArt Playing with shapes e.g. rotate and align shape 5. Formatting slide design Day 5: 3 hours Changing the background Changing the theme Editing slide master 6. Objects animation Day 6: 3 hours Analysing animation tab Modify animation effects Creation of slide transition 1.2 Evaluation Checklist Description: The instructor shall assess the accomplishments of each of the learner and indicate through observation on how the Learner accomplishes numerous tasks. The instructor then shall indicate the score on the following checklist: S. Criteria 1 Not capable 2 Poor 3 Good 4 Very good 5 Excellent 1. Can open a variety of new and save presentation 2. Ability to save a document on different storage media e.g. flash disk 3. Ability to analyse various features on the main window 4. Able to utilise different presentation views 5. Can visual guidelines 6. Can utilise text box and move around the text box 7. Able to add content from storage such as WordArt 8. Can format background and change the theme 9. Can modify transitions 10. Creation of slide transition Read More