During the hour-long free Webinar, learn techniques for quickly learning new software applications as well as new procedures regardless of the subject. Learn strategies for gaining the information you need to get up and running when something familiar has changed or when you are faced with an entirely new experience. Using the right strategies can save time and energy. Learn: • How to use the MISS strategy to quickly learn about a new software product. • Different strategies for information gathering. • Different individual instruction strategies for professional growth and lifelong learning. • How to leverage online help strategies This Webinar will provide valuable tips and best practice for learning about new processes and procedures. Because we are involved in informal learning each and every day, these sessions are intended to provide you with ideas and strategies to help you get the most of your learning opportunities and help you excel in your career.

1. Your path to
learning: How to
find your way alone
Stan Skrabut
@uwcesedtech
#uwces
http://www.slideshare.net/skrabut

2. Every day there seems to be something new to learn.

3. On a regular basis, you find yourself facing new
challenges.

4. You are concerned about the time and energy it takes
to get on the right path.

5. You want to be able to pick up something new with
minimal effort.

6. Let me show you four strategies to help you learn
something new easier.
Trial Information
& Gathering
Error
Individual Online
Instruction Help

7. Trial and error is a
tried and true
method for finding
the right path.

8. "Trial and error, or trial by error, is an experimental method of problem
solving, repair, tuning, or obtaining knowledge" ~Wikipedia

9. You try a possible solution, and repeat until you have success.

10. When faced with a similar problem, you will start
where you last left off.

11. This strategy is most useful when you are familiar
with similar tools, devices, and applications.

12. When learning by trial and error, expect to make mistakes.

13. In order to learn something new, we must either
learn from someone else, or learn from our mistakes.

14. Your risk taking may be informed by your experiences
and knowledge, but it is still a risk.

15. Mistakes should be shared so that others can learn from the
process. This helps reduce mistakes in the future.

16. Here are two strategies for using trial and error to
learn new software applications.

17. The first is the Menu Item Search Strategy (MISS).

18. When MISS does not work, you may have to read the
manual or access online help.

19. Information
gathering is a
useful strategy for
discovering a new
path.

20. Technology has significantly changed how we conduct
information gathering.

21. Many people start with the Internet and then move
on to more specialized libraries and databases.

22. Always keep an eye out for and capture best practices.

23. Share useful finds with others either independently, placing
them in subject guides, or on another Web resource.

24. Determining the sources for information changes with
each problem that is encountered.

25. Odds are that you are not the first person to run into
the problem you are facing.

26. In many cases, people go to the Internet first,
specifically Google, before talking to a colleague.

27. You should become more familiar with the search
query structure for different systems

28. Here a couple of suggestions for gathering
information on a topic on a regular basis.

29. One of the most powerful learning tools available to
individuals is the RSS feed.

30. Twitter searches are another powerful way to tap into
the information stream.

31. When you find information, you are strongly
encouraged to share it with others.

32. One of the more powerful things we can do for adult
learners is to create learning resource guides or lists.

33. Here are tools you can use to collect and share
resources for others

34. With Evernote, you can capture virtually everything
and organize them with tags and "notebooks".

35. Sometimes you
need some
individual
instruction to
move you along on
your path.

36. Individual instruction is any activity done at a learner’s pace
without unneeded instruction ~ Hoffman

37. One of the methods for supporting employees and
their informal learning is with a corporate library.

38. Learning management systems are another method
for distributing learning content to employees.

39. Developing a video tutorial library is another great
way to help others learn how to do something.

40. Learning guides are invaluable resources for helping
others develop skills. ~ Tobin

41. Job aids can be pushed out to users when and where a
person needs it most, while performing a task.

42. For a learning organization, learning materials can be
prepared for individual consumption.

43. There are a number of ways in which organizations
can support individual instruction.

44. Recognize instruction completion in performance reviews.

45. Reimburse learners for expenses incurred for
individual instruction.

46. Make learning a job requirement.

47. Sometimes you
need a guide, and
online help can be
that guide.

48. Most software applications have hundreds of features and it
is virtually impossible to be an expert on all of them.

49. Help system are often task aware, and will provide users with
solutions specifically related to the task at hand.

50. The help feature can be accessed through either a
toolbar menu item, or by pressing the F1 key.

51. Help systems can be loaded on the computer with the
application, or they may be Web-based.

52. Some software applications are supported by
discussion forums where participants help each other.

53. These forums help users solve problems as well as provide
tips and tricks to get the most out of a software application.

54. These help forums may be sponsored by the software
companies or be operated by interested users.

55. Today I showed you four strategies to help you learn
something new easier.
Trial Information
& Gathering
Error
Individual Online
Instruction Help

56. Here are the sessions scheduled for the next five
months.

Individual
Strategies
Organizational
Strategies

Collection
Strategies

Creation
Strategies
Interpersonal
Strategies

57. Questions?