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| 1. |
Explain the ground rules up
front and honor them! - As part of the introduction, explain the class
schedule, break time, and guidelines. Explain that you value their time
and need their help in covering the material in the allotted timeframe.
Stick to your rules. Start the class even if only a few participants come
back on time. This is hard to do, especially if no one is in the room,
but try using tips #3 and #4 to show you mean to honor the time limits. |
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| 2. |
Preview coming attractions
- Give the participants a reason to come back. Before announcing the break
time, identify 2 or 3 critical job skills they will learn next. For example
say: "After break, you will save typing time by learning how to copy and
move text." |
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| 3. |
Close the door - Give a
non-verbal, visual clue that the break is over and class is about to begin.
You've established some measure of control and the late-comers realize
class will begin again, whether they are there or not. |
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| 4. |
Tell them a special command
or technique that's not in the course, but could save their lives (or at
least their time) - Every experienced trainer knows many tricks that
are not typically covered in class. Here's your chance to share those pearls
of wisdom. Prior to the break, be sure to announce this "knowledge byte"
will air immediately after the break. For example: "Be sure to be
back here by 2:45 to hear how to undelete a file." Use self-control and
do not tell the late-comers this secret. If enough have missed it,
you may want to do a re-run at the next break. |
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| 5. |
Make them pay - Sales staff
are the worse offenders of break time, since they spend all their break
time on the phone. Be understanding of the fact that sales people may be
losing money by being in class, but stress a respect of the time constraints.
The solution to one company's problems came right from the sales staff.
Working on the principle that "time is money," they agreed that latecomers
had to pay $1.00 a minute. At the end of class, the money was awarded
by a class vote to the sales person with the best presentation. |
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| 6. |
Give them a reward - We
all love "freebies." You can use mini-lifesaver packs or hard candy to
give out to those who come back on time. Or another approach is to use
macaroni to reinforce and recognize all good behaviors (i.e., asking questions,
answering questions, back on time, finishing exercises, etc.). At the end
of the class, the learners trade their macaroni in for inexpensive prizes
or company "give-aways." |
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| 7. |
Write down the time - This
sounds so basic, yet many trainers assume everyone knows when to be back.
Don't just announce a 15 minute break and let the group scatter. Be specific
and write the class start-up time on the board. |
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| 8. |
Have a clock in the break area
- This helps everyone stay on schedule. Just make sure it is synchronized
with the trainer's watch or training room clock. |
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| 9. |
Use a timer - Set a timer
out in the break area. This gives everyone a clear signal that the break
is over. |
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| 10. |
Feed them - If possible,
have the refreshments nearby. This makes it easier to stay close to the
room. Be sure to have signs posted if food and drink are not allowed at
the workstations. |
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| 11. |
Take mini-breaks without leaving
the room -- Computer training is stressful and physically demanding
for both the trainer and the participants. Frequent mini-breaks, in the
room, take only 2-3 minutes and can help rejuvenate and recharge. Use this
time to stretch and teach exercises designed for computer users. You can
also start a backrub chain (where everyone in a row gives a 30 second backrub
to the person in front of them), have silly exercises like a nerf ball
toss or writing your name with your foot. Vary the activity to keep the
interest high and the learners awake! |
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| 12. |
Take 1 longer break for phone
calls - Plan for a phone call break, and announce it in advance. If
you typically take two fifteen minute breaks twice a day, change it to
one 10 minute break and one 20 minute break. Let the class vote when to
schedule the longer break. |
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| 13. |
Time breaks during exercises
- Independent practice exercises are an important part of every computer
class to determine if the skills are being mastered. Plan an exercise and
break time together. For example, if you typically schedule a 1 hour lunch
break and there is a 15 minute exercise, set aside 75 minutes. Give them
control over their time; let the participants individually decide when
to work/when to eat. Again be clear what time class begins and stress that
the exercise is to be done by then. |
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| 14. |
Move lunch time - If you
break at 12:00 for lunch, chances are that the cafeteria is mobbed and
it's a bad time to make phone calls. Switch lunch to an earlier time (11:30
or 11:45) and the participants have adequate time to eat and make calls. |
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| 15. |
Do a quick and simple magic
trick - Everyone loves magic and if you schedule
a quick trick immediately after break, it'll catch their attention and
give them an incentive to be back on time. Be sure to practice the trick
so it's flawless and can be done in less than 2 minutes. |
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| 16. |
Show them how to do it -
Another variation on the magic trick is to do the trick before the break
and tell them you'll give them the instructions after break. Again there
is some incentive to come back on time. |
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| 17. |
Play music to signify the end
of break - Select well known tunes, tape the opening bars and use these
to announce the end of the break. You could also play "name that tune"
and reward the winners who showed up on time and correctly named the tune. |
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| 18. |
"Please leave" - If someone
is continually late for class, he/she probably has too much going on that
day to be away from the job. Suggest that he/she leaves and reschedules
at another time. This is a more effective use of the company's money then
having the rest of the class wait while the late-comer catches up, feeling
caught between the pressures of the job and the class. |
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| 19. |
Put it in writing - Prior
to the class, communicate to both the participants and the managers the
policy on breaks and start times. Write it in a positive manner to show
you are trying to maximize the learning and be considerate of the time
constraints. Be sure to get the support of the management and solicit their
suggestions to define and communicate the policy. |
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| 20. |
Clear your mind - Recognize
that everyone has to go back to a desk full of work and consequently come
to training with their mind cluttered with all the work they have to do.
At the start of the class, ask participants to write down 2-3 important
"to-do list items" they have to do when they go back to work and seal these
in an envelope. Tell the learners now that they have identified their action
items, they can clear their minds and focus instead on the course content.
At the end of the class, they can retrieve their envelopes and go back
to work. |
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