In a posting in my companion blog, I reviewed Retiring the Generation Gap which argues that the generations have much more in common and differ little in attitudes and values. Of particular interest to trainers is the research on what type of training all generations prefer. Number one is leadership training which is closely followed by skill training with team building as the third most popular choice. Rounding out the top ten list are:

4. Problem solving and decision making
5. Strategic planning
6. Managing change
7. Computer training
8. Vision
9. Communication skills
10. Conflict management

What is also surprising are the preferred methods of learning.  For soft skills, the top five methods were:

1. On-the-job training
2. One-on-one coaching
3. Peer interaction and feedback
4. Discussion groups
5. Live classroom instruction

For hard skills:

1. On-the-job training
2. Workbooks and manuals
3. Books and reading
4. One-on-one coaching
5. Live classroom instruction

Elearning technologies were at the bottom of the list for all of the generations.  I believe that this is due to current broadcast model of elearning applications and, as the next generation of elearning applications incorporate more social networking, they will become more popular.  The ultimate killer app in elearning would be a just-in-time, on-the-job training program that could offer individualized coaching to the employee.

I just finished up three days of student PowerPoint presentations and they have been great!  The students are not reading the slides, they are engaging the audience, and their presentations are better-organized.  This has been immensely satisfying considering what their first PowerPoint assignments were like.  A little more tweaking and I have a great ebook on informative PowerPoint presentations.

This semester has been a great learning experience in terms of handling a modular course and refining my teaching methods to emphasize critical thinking.  I have one more week and then I plan to spend the rest of December putting together my article on the simulation class experience and (finally!!) writing up my new teaching method.  I know I kept promising that but now I have the requisite experience and testing to refine the method.

I was caught up longer in probate than expected and now the Thanksgiving holiday is upon us.