Asked and Answered: Fun and Interactive Software Training

Asked and Answered: Fun and Interactive Software Training

Asked: How do I make software training interactive and FUN?

Answered: I recommend making the training highly interactive throughout. If you are familiar with The Bob Pike Group, you know we are all about the learner and being participant-centered. In technical training, a couple ideas I would suggest would be:

A. Pair up learners and have them do a matching game. The matching game could consist of matching an old icon to a new one; having them locate which tools go in which tab and have them do a sort; or terms and definitions. For example, on Card A, write "The options tab includes what tools?" Card B would have the answer, OR you could have each of the answers on separate cards and they need to select all. In this case, let them use their computers to click around in the new program.

2) Create WHY cards and hand them out to learners as they come into class. Let them know that you will be stopping along the way and asking WHY. Have them listen for the answer to their card(s) and jot it down so that when you stop at different points and ask which WHY cards have been covered, they will have an answer to share.

You can also look at several books The Bob Pike Group has authored that give a lot of ideas on opening and closing your session. I would recommend SCORE 1 and SCORE 2 or if you like content frames for a quick start to your class Powerful Presentations. Otherwise try the books 50 Openers or 50 Closers.

Becky Pluth is vice president of training and development at The Bob Pike Group.

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