Learning Myths with Dr. Will Thalheimer

Another lunchtime webinosh with Dr. Will Thalheimer. The topic today: Myths the business side has about learning.

But first, the news.

Learning News

Inaugural oath flub. Justice Roberts tried to administer the oath from memory. He should have had a job aid.

Next Brown Bag will be Friday February 6th. Stay tuned for topic.

Question of the Week -- Economy

How has the economy affected your learning unit?

• 9% Hit us Hard
• 47% Hurt a little
• 41% Not much effect
• 3% Helped us

MYTHS the Business Side Has about Learning

Client asked him to develop a course for business side. To help improve on-the-job learning. Thought it would be good to address myths (asked clients, asked question on LinkedIn, looked at books).

Everybody's got myths: business side, learners, learning professionals

Captured 140 myths and categorized them (not a scientific set of findings...)

Asked participants to submit the own myths they've come across.

Most Popular Categories of Myths (A Top Six List)

6. Manager think learning and development is a low-priority part of their role.

5. Learners know how to learn.

4. Training and instructional design require no special skills or competencies.

3. Information presentation is sufficient as a training design.

2. Training alone produces improvements in on-the-job performance.

1. Bad learning designs are thought to be good learning designs.

Other High-Importance Categories:

• On-the-Job learning is forgotten or not utilized or not supported.
• It's a training issue. ("We need a course on this" when it might really be a management issue).
• Formal training has little impact.
• Experienced workers don't need training.
• Learning development is easy and can be shortened or short-changed.
• Measurement myths
• Technology is key to learning success (we must use elearning, social media, video etc. -- nothing else is effective).
• Learning designs don't need to specifically minimize forgetting (enable remembering).
• Content doesn't need validation. (Do we really know if we're teaching the right stuff?)
• Particular behaviors are easy to learn.
• Learning is always beneficial. It is never disruptive or distracting. It never misinforms.
• Opportunity costs of learning can be ignored.
• We have to measure ROI.
• We don't have to measure learning.

Bad Learning Designs Thought to be Good Learning Designs (a partial list, I can only type so fast!)

• It's good to have new employees take ALL elearning courses right before they start work
• Employees only learn by doing
• Readings is always bad, boring
• Training can be just as effective if we make it short
• Training doesn't need pre or post work
• We should and CAN cater to learning styles
• Six-hour online course is fine
• Some learning media are inherently better than other
• More info = more learning
• People remember 10% of what they read, 20% of what they see
• Most communication is by body language
• We need more exciting visuals to grab attention
• Immediate feedback is always better

What Can We Do About It?

Given that the Business side holds some myths as self-evident, what can we as learning professionals do about it?

55% responded that these myths cause great damage to learning and development.

Business side doesn't understand what we do, don't see the value add of learning and development.

From participants:

• We can be mythbusters
• Gently guide and present the right solution when presented with the wrong one
• Need to discuss learning models and theories when appropriate (educate our clients)
• Have proof and case studies of good design
• Stick to the truths we know and respond to the business side tactfully (L&D is often seen as arrogant)
• The best leaders DO understand the value
• Provide real evidence of success
• Help management solve problems, don't just do a workshop

Help people understand how learning works.

Learning Intervention --> Performance Situation --> Learning Outcomes

My notes from other Webinoshes in this series:

• Instructional Objectives -- How Some of Them Work
• Smile Sheets

And don't forget:

Will Thalheimer: The Learning Show: Don't Forget Forgetting

Update: Here are Will Thalheimer's notes on the session.