Well I don't use it everyday!

[Mlibrarianus]

Hey Gang,

I had a staff member put into words something I've suspected for some
time in regards to why staff don't retain skills taught. "Well, I
don't use it everyday" even though multiple trainings have been
offered, after a one-on-one session and even with very explicit
instructions posted easily found on the Staff Intranet.

Is it a legitimate reason or an excuse or both? I agree that if we
don't reinforce skills learned they do tend to escape us but when
you've been offered one-on-one help and have written instructions
something about this smacks of an excuse. Mind you this was a high
level, smart staff member and not someone who is easily confused by
technology. But I've gotten this response from others as well (just
hearing it from her really mystified me).

So do you run into this? If so, how do you deal with it? Is it
something that is rampant in this profession or just human nature? I
know I'm full of questions today. I guess I'm looking to the hive
mind to help me figure out how to get staff to use the right tools
even if they don't use them on a daily basis (and they aren't that
difficult - e.g. if you can email you can post to the Intranet).

Weary and frustrated in Columbia,

Beth Tribe

[Maurice Coleman aka baldgeekinmd]

sounds like a topic for the next show ...

[Julie Strange]

I do very much run into this, Beth. If something is beyond someone's
learning curve and they don't do it on a regular basis so it's rote,
it's hard to remember.

Example: staff on AskUsNow! who monitor only once ever few weeks ask
for refresher trainings more than staff who do it weekly or multiple
times a week; regardless of how long they've been doing it.

Example: i'm learning Drupal. Last week i was taught how to do
something. It was easy enough (so i thought) but when i tried to do it
again today i had to look back at my notes and get it wrong a few
times before it started to sink in due to repetition.

Depends on the person, their curve, and what's "frequent" for their
brains to make the new pathways.

~Julie

On Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 4:07 PM, Maurice Coleman aka baldgeekinmd
<baldge...@gmail.com> wrote:
> sounds like a topic for the next show ...
>

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[pollyalida]

I run into this in my classes all the time. Sometimes people come back
and repeat sessions. I still provide paper handouts with detailed
instructions for some classes, so most people can usually use those to
refresh their memory. Frankly, I use those handouts to refresh my own
memory - since, yep, I don't use those tools every day.....
Eventually, bits of things will stick, some won't. The only time I see
that as a problem, is when they use that as an excuse not to try to
figure it out.

[Stephanie Zimmerman]

I can so relate to this Beth.  I get that response all of the time.  I have to say I do agree with them as I don't retain things well that I don't use over and over again.  What bothers me is that I spend hours putting together comprehensive manuals and Quick References and video tutorials.  When I attend a training with references like that, I can then replicate what I need to do by going to the references.  Then, if I'm really stuck, I contact the trainer for help letting them know I did try to replicate what I learned using all of the resources.  The majority of people who contact me don't bother opening the manual I gave them or using all of the resources posted to the intranet - this is tough to understand.  So I step them through the same thing over and over because they don't do things enough for it to stick.  First however, I ask if they checked the manual or send them the link to the intranet page.  Usually they say they don't have enough time so they just called me.  It's my job and I'm happy to help, but I too just don't get it nor know of a cure.

What keeps me going is it seems to be the same people over and over who do this.  There are many I never hear from who I assume are using the resources and learning how to do things for themselves.  If I focus on that, it makes it better.  Being a negative type I do seem to hear the whiners more than the self sufficient!!

Sincerely,

Stephanie Zimmerman