March 5, 2009
Dear Everyone:
So I’ve been teaching
SharePoint Foundations
(beginning end users) since last October.
Last month, our Manager announced that all of my fellow
Information Management Consulting analysts would also begin presenting
training. We had a
“Train-the-Trainer” Workshop with a full day of how to give training in
general. Then I spent the
next afternoon going over the SharePoint Foundations material, offering
insights and advice. I even
offered to let at least one of them sit in on my next class to observe
before they started doing the training themselves.
The silence was deafening.
SharePoint Foundations is part of the Information
Management Academy, along with several other courses.
The IM Academy has a Director.
The Director decided to take matters into her own hands and
started scheduling various analysts to first observe a session, then be
the “second” in a session, then lead a session themselves.
The Director likened me to a “shepherdess” who would guide and
watch over the “flock” of newly-minted trainers.
There was one analyst who declared that he had
studied the training materials, done the exercises, made copious notes
and was ready to start.
We’ll call him “Dorian.”
Last week “Dorian” sat in a virtual session with me.
Then this Tuesday, I started a physical class with “Dorian” and
two other analysts who were there to “observe.”
I handled all the pre-class duties and did the
first half of the session.
Then “Dorian” took over with the second half.
I thought “Dorian” was doing all right, given it was his first
time in front of a real class; however, I apparently didn’t pick up on
how much trouble he was actually having.
After demonstrating some modules, while the students were doing
their hands-on exercises, “Dorian” asked me to take over the rest of the
session, which I did.
Later, I was told that I should have been like a
“Mommy” with a toddler, following him every step of the way with a
pillow to put in front of, or behind him, in case he fell.
I never should have let him “fall” in front of the students.
OK.
First, there is the argument that the “toddler” is
never going to learn how to walk on his own if an overprotective “Mommy”
keeps throwing pillows in his way.
Second, I’ve never been a “shepherdess” before and I’m certainly
not a “Mommy.” I don’t have
the skills yet.
Furthermore, these people are neither “sheep” nor
“toddlers”; they’re well-paid adults who can take responsibility for
themselves. This morning
another analyst (we’ll call him “Morris”) presented a virtual session
from his desk in “Hobby”.
“Morris” did much better, although I could tell he was nervous because
he was talking much more quickly than normal.
He got off track a couple of times, but I was able to gently
redirect him. See, I’m
getting better all ready.
We’re going to have a “workshop” tomorrow where all
the analysts who care to participate will practice their presentation
skills and knowledge of the material.
In the meantime, we’ve been told that two of them have paying
customers to support, so they probably won’t be doing much of the
training in the near future.
Which simply means I’ll continue to carry most of the load by myself.
In other news…
The
condo is painted.
“Val, the Tile Guy” not only completed the painting last Monday,
but he even installed the ceiling light fixture that “Jeannie” had
picked out for the kitchen at no extra charge, despite the fact that he
had to go out to get and install an electrical box in the ceiling before
he could set up the light.
Of course, he knows we’ll be working on the
townhouse once I move and he
wants the work.
The carpet has been ordered, and paid for; I’m just
waiting to hear from the installers to schedule a couple of days for
them to rip out the old carpet and install the new.
And we need “Jeannie’s” friend, the plumber, to come down and
replace the existing toilets with new, chair-height ones.
One more thing.
We’ve had a lot of rain lately and it’s been much appreciated.
But for now, please just pray for lots of snow in the mountains.
Love, as always,
Pete
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