Dear Becky: I'm still on a “high” from all the great sessions I attended last week at the conference. I've been telling my co-workers that they must come with me next year. I'm working on ways to put all the wonderful information I gathered to use in our programs. I attended your session on writing objectives. I really enjoyed learning how to write a good objective and it was interesting to learn about adding the degree of measurement If the program is a three-hour program, is seven objectives too many? Is there a rule of thumb about the number of objectives you should have?

After recently attending a two-day Boot Camp with trainer Becky Pluth, MaryClaire Rocheleau emailed her boss: Thank you! The class I attended this week was phenomenal. The content was not only appropriate to my current level of knowledge but provided me with at least 20 tangible ideas that I can put into immediate use for the PMPI Training. I continue to appreciate your allowing me to step out of my “paid role” to explore what I am finding to be my passion. I aspire to be like the trainer who facilitated this session Again, thank you! I am truly lucky to have such a supportive and encouraging boss and do want you to know how much I appreciate you. She then followed up with us to relate how the Boot Camp had been implemented—in some rather unexpected ways!

Alternative Technology: Adobe Reader Goes Out the Windows? Many of us complain about the slow-poke nature of loading Adobe Reader. In Outlook, I just use the PDF preview option so I don’t have to load the whole program. Here are other free alternatives for viewing PDFs:

A great flip chart tip I learned years ago was to...

Don't just tell participants your information. How bland! Use another version of AAA to validate the experience in the room, highlight information, and have them act upon what they've learned.

The latest industry information on new offerings in the training world as well as tips for making a trainer's life easier--both in and out of the classroom. This month includes Univ. of MN and continuing education, live internet browsing in PowerPoint, free airport WiFi, and e-learning software for games/game shows/crosswords with free trial.

Becky Pluth presented a concurrent session at the 2008 Pike Ascent on how to design and deliver participant-centered computer based training (CBT). Sound impossible? Here are a few of her creative tips:

How can you continue the learning after the class is done? Here is an activity that gets participants listening and sharing during class that can be used and built on after class:

When other trainers have the chance to ask Bob Pike anything they want about his experience in training, some surprising and fun answers come out. At the 2008 Bob Pike Group Ascent, concurrent session attendees were able to �sit at his feet� as it were and listen to the �The Top 10 Questions Trainers Ask� with some of those questions coming from the audience. Here are a few of the questions and the answers Bob gave:

Rich Ragan Receives Honor Increased Competition, Expansion Key Challenges for 2008, Blanchard Says Research Again Proves Baby and Adult Memories Work Best with Chunking Coaching Not Part of Performance Eval, Survey Says Send Large Files Now!