We presented our workshop on "Instant Messaging and Chatting Online" at the Lowman Home Community. I feel like our presentation went really well today. Our presentation was well prepared and executed as we had planned.
With each person needing to create an individualized account, we felt it was best to work one-on-one with the participants. They responded to this teaching method very well. While the participants had written instructions in front of them, they followed better when we could explain the exact step they were working on. The participants proceeded at different paces as some had email addresses they could use as their screen name and others needed to create a screen name from scratch as their email address was already in use as a screen name. With a small group, we were able to integrate some of the training tools discussed in Learning at Work (Chapter 7). For small groups they said that games were an effective teaching tool. We used a game as our group activity. Writing down all the participants screen names, we switched them and had the participants IM to find out who they were talking to. I feel they not only enjoyed this game, but also learned something. Soon, they were asking their neighbors to switch their papers so they could add another new "buddy" to their "buddy list".
I am glad we did this project, I feel like both sides gained a lot.
I am glad to see that the project went well down at the Lowman Home. I am sure that they appreciate all that we have done for them and they enjoy the company as well. So far I have seen nothing but success out of each project.
ReplyDeleteThe game idea was a great way to have the seniors communicating with one another. It wasn't something that was difficult and they all gained the opprutunity to practice the skills they learned in the lesson.
ReplyDeleteWe had a similar situation with our training workshop. We also ended up sitting down one on one with the participants to go through the steps. I think it's true that it is good to have the steps in front of them, but they prefer to talk through it with us so that they can ask questions as they go. I'm glad your workshop went well!
ReplyDeleteOur group experienced the same thing, we only had 4 residents so were able to sit with each of them. I think that individual attention is the key for the residents to understand the new material. I'm glad that your session went well. I think that we got more out of it than they did.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Kelly, our training project went very well. The participants responded very well to having someone right beside them to help describe what they needed to do. The game went really well and it seemed like participants really enjoyed it. I am also glad that we participated in this training project.
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