Letter to Teachers

Letter to Teachers

Dear Teachers Everywhere,

This week is teacher appreciation week, a week that would normally allow us to shower you with flowers, cards, lunches, and other small tokens of our gratitude for what you do for our children every day. And even though we’re not able to bring you lunches or baskets of goodies, we have truly never appreciated you more than we do this year.

Throughout this crisis, you have modeled exactly the kind of resilience we hope our kids will learn from this experience. You have stepped up to the plate, learned new technology, redesigned lesson plans, and worked even longer hours than usual to ensure our students stay on track. You have become our first responders, counseling our high school seniors and coaching our kindergarteners through what will likely be the most difficult school year they will ever face. And you’ve done it with patience, optimism, and enthusiasm. You inspire us.

We parents, especially those of us with zero teaching experience, are struggling right now. We’ve long since forgotten the periodic table and we’re pretty sure “new math” is actually hieroglyphics...translated in Latin. We’re simply not equipped to do what you do. And that makes us appreciate you even more.

Given this experience, I’m not sure coffee shop gift cards and goody baskets are sufficient. A week at a beach resort seems more appropriate. But the beach resorts are probably closed, and you will likely reach retirement age before making it through the drive thru line at the coffee shop these days. So for now, please accept a humble thank you for everything you are doing for our children, and for being the type of people we hope they will someday become.

Sincerely and Gratefully,

Parents Everywhere

When you can’t move the mountain, do these 3 things

When you can’t move the mountain, do these 3 things

We would all love to be mountain-movers. Let’s face it…struggling to push that pile (but winning) as the “Chariots of Fire” encore plays in the background, it’s every manager’s dream. But it doesn’t happen that way in reality. In reality, we’re the ground force, flattening mole hills along the way so the bigger guns can roll through. And these days, those mole hills seem like Everest.

When did you decide to lead a virtual team? Was it when you took that class in college on deciphering spreadsheets and fielding conference calls with your perfectly manicured hands while your genius children homeschool themselves? No, wait! I bet it was that Peloton commercial where you pictured yourself waking up to fulfilling, interruption-free exercise and then taking on the day with your sheen of sweat glistening like diamonds of optimism. Yes?

No. But there’s another reality… a REAL reality.

The virtual environment is new to many of us. It doesn’t mean we can’t do it; it means we have to learn how. So, while you can’t move the mountain, you CAN do these three things:

1. Connect with your team.
   Tell them openly and honestly you don’t have all the answers but that you are hardcore working on it. You’re here for them, you’re in this together, and you will not let them down. Share the organization’s goals and strategies for overcoming this crisis as best you can.
   

2. Meet individually with team members to let them know their career paths are intact.
   This new virtual environment doesn’t make them less visible or sideline their career goals. On the contrary, this is a chance for all of you to demonstrate your resilience and your adaptability in the face of change.
   

3. Identify the skill gaps on your team.

   This is a “no man left behind” kind of time. Call on more tech-skilled team members to coach those who need more help. It’s all hands on deck, here. Teams that grow together thrive together, and teams that thrive together survive.

You can’t have all the answers today. None of us do. But you can be part of something bigger and better if you step up to the plate today ready to lead.

***************

If you want to become a transformational leader of virtual teams, you can check out Cynuria Consulting’s Virtual Manager Bootcamp. This interactive webinar training series was designed to give you the tools you need to take action today to transform your virtual team.

About the author: Elizabeth Moore is a Project Manager and Senior Instructional Designer who frequently collaborates with Cynuria Consulting. 

Leading teams, and yourself, through a crisis

Leading teams, and yourself, through a crisis

As business owners none of us are new to navigating uncertainty, yet the current social landscape is unprecedented, at least for our generation, and we find ourselves caught in a whirlwind of global proportion. Certainty for financial stability is low, anxiety levels are high, and fear is having a field day across industries, countries and generations.

Our brains have a strong distaste for ambiguity, so we stay glued to the news looking for answers – good or bad, that might shed some light on what’s next while we ride the rollercoaster of emotions as part of a package deal . The truth is, we just don’t know how this is going to play out.

So how do we, as leaders, stay engaged and keep our teams engaged in the midst of all this when we’re feeling rather powerless?

Take a moment

Making any kind of decision in a moment of panic is guaranteed to rebound, so before you do anything – breathe. Literally, take a breath, or two, or three. Ground yourself in the present moment. Acknowledge everything that’s flooding your brain and body and just let it be. Bottled up emotions have the sneaky habit of resurfacing. Let them flow through you so you can release them and be present to the problem at hand. If you’re having trouble quieting your brain, linked is a guided meditation to help center yourself in the midst of what might feel like chaos. 

Address the elephant in the room

There is no doubt that your team and those around you are grappling with the same questions and concerns you have. Acknowledge those fears, speak of them freely, model for others how expressing doubt, anger, sadness, or concern is warmly welcomed. It might sound counterintuitive, but as a leader, vulnerability in uncertain times is your biggest strength. In this workbook, there are some questions and prompts you can ask your team, and yourself, to encourage them to open up about what they are feeling.

Re-evaluate your “shoulds”

Forced pauses are just not fun, regardless of the catalyst. And yet, they can be a blessing in disguise. As we’ve built and shaped our businesses, some of the decisions we’ve made with regards to how we do business have likely, subconsciously, come from how we believe things should be. We now have the time and opportunity to evaluate how many of those shoulds are actually true, how many are really serving us, and decide what to replace them with. Where in your business are things not flowing smoothly and efficiently? If you look carefully enough, there’s a strong chance you’ll discover a should that needs replacing. You can refer to the workbook for some prompts to help you think through what might need some tweaking.

Reassess who you want in your corner

The moment you hang up your shingle of ‘Business Owner’ the swarm of experts telling you what you need or don’t need or should or shouldn’t do to be successful, is overwhelming. And in times of uncertainty – such as these, you don’t have to go far to find experts ready to feed your fear under the guise of ‘wanting to help’. The temptation to give these people space will be strong as their outside voice will strongly resemble your inside voice and you’ll be inclined to believe they are right. Be very selective with who you allow in your corner. Don’t panic buy. Think big picture. Is the advice of this person in service of your future self and the future of your business? If not, run.

Focus only on your next step

Most business owners are strategic thinkers; that’s part of the reason they went into business in the first place. So, navigating blindly without clearly seeing the next 5+ steps can feel disempowering. The good news is action brings clarity. Every step you take reveals the next, similar to driving through the fog where the road reveals itself as you inch forward. Rather than focusing on finding THE solution to the current crisis, which at this time may be out of your control, what is one small action you can take that you do have control over? Maybe it’s filing the stack of papers that have been collecting dust on your desk for months or reaching out to other businesses in the area to form partnerships and help each other when we all come back to “business as usual” or maybe it’s brainstorming with your team some of the lessons learned from the current situation so you are better equipped for the next apocalypse? The idea is to focus your energy on whatever is in your control. It may sound futile, but it will give you a sense of purpose and accomplishment, help you feel a little less lost in this chaos and who knows, maybe like Isaac Newton who formulated his law of universal gravitation while “social distancing” during the bubonic plague, you’ll be struck by an idea that will transform your business. One foot in front of another as the path reveals itself. You can refer to the workbook for some prompts to help you identify what your next, first step might be.

Look for the light

Humans are hardwired with a negativity bias. We have a tendency to look for – and find, the broken parts, we revel in gossip and are 5-10 times more likely to share a bad experience than a good one. The trouble with this is staring into the void only reveals more void. When we focus on what’s not working all we end up finding is more things to fix. Yet, in every situation, no matter how dire, there is always light. It might be dim, faint and distant, but it’s there and when you focus on what’s working you prime your brain to be in solution-finding mode; you feed it possibilities and it lights up like a Christmas tree. What possibilities are present for you, now that you’re not rushing from task to task? What opportunities has this dip in the market possibly created for your business? Do an inventory of what is working for you. Look for the light. That’s where the end of the tunnel is. In the workbook, I’ve included a few prompts to help redirect your attention to things you can build on.

Practice compassion

Putting aside all positive strategies, it’s fair to feel whatever you and your team are feeling now. Everyone is scared and ill equipped to deal with the uncertainty of what lies ahead. Therefore, the invitation to have compassion, for others yes, but more so for yourself, is almost mandatory if we want to stand a fair chance of making it to the other side of this. Be kind to yourself and remember that we are all doing the best we can.

In closing, if you or any of your teammates are feeling overwhelmed by the current situation, please reach out and ask for help. It takes courage to raise your hand and admit you need support. Be brave and stay healthy. And if you do not feel comfortable speaking with anyone in your network, for whatever reason, my door is always open. No strings attached, no catch. Just a welcoming hand, an open heart and a judgement-free space for you to just be. You can reach me through email ombretta@ownyourstep.com.

About the author: Ombretta Mancini, ACC, ELI-MP is a Certified Coach and Facilitator who frequently collaborates with Cynuria Consulting. She is also owner of Own Your Step Consulting.

This article originally appeared on the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce website, published on March 24, 2020.

Case Study: Podcasts as part of a blended learning curriculum

Case Study: Podcasts as part of a blended learning curriculum

Did you know that most people listen to podcasts in order to learn something new? This is certainly one of the reasons why audio sources such as podcasts have become a popular knowledge transfer tool among adults and kids alike. At Cynuria, we’re always looking for ways to design and deliver learning content that individuals are eager to consume. This is why - based on the popularity of podcasts and how effective audio learning can be - we often recommend including some form of audio learning as a relevant and timely method to include in your learning mix.

Short format podcasts are particularly effective when applied to learning programs designed for busy professionals who may not be able to complete several chapters of pre-course reading, but could make time to listen to a five-minute audio interview. This is why one of our most recent projects that focused on flipped classroom learning incorporated an audio component as a part of a broader blended learning program that also included a series of animated videos and job aids.

Working with the client, we started by identifying five key personnel across the organization: a training program manager, a subject matter expert, an instructor, and a participant who shared their experience about flipped classroom learning.

Each participant was coached through the recording experience using talking points and scripts, with a focus on capturing lessons learned, tips and tricks designed to inform other training managers, SMEs, instructors, and participants who might want to try using a flipped classroom teaching format or become involved in one.

With recordings complete, the audio files were made accessible through a virtual audio library. Providing a total of 43 minutes of learning time, the podcasts can now be accessed at any time by staff enrolled in the flipped classroom training program.

If you have questions about how to integrate podcasts into your blended learning curriculum or want to know more about flipped classroom learning, we are here for you.

Taking your classes and teaching online is easier than you think

Taking your classes and teaching online is easier than you think

If there was ever a time to take your training online, that time is now. With millions of Americans at risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus, virtual training opportunities have emerged as a great way to practice social distancing. “The less we all come into contact with each other, the slower the virus will spread, giving our healthcare system more capacity,” said Alex Mohseni, MD FACEP, Medical Director of Accuhealth.tech and co-host of Mastering Medicare. 

While taking your training or teaching online may seem intimidating at first, it doesn’t have to be a nerve-racking, anxiety-inducing exercise. If this is your first time preparing an eLearning course, use these three steps to go virtual with confidence: 

1. Pick a Virtual Classroom (Webinar) Platform

Your institution or organization may already have a platform in use such as Skype and Google Hangouts, in which case your choice might already be made for you. If you’re in the market for a virtual classroom platform, consider using easy to implement and moderately priced tools such as Zoom, Webex, and GoToWebinar.

Before your first online lesson, take some time to familiarize yourself with the features offered. Functions such as chat pods, polls, screenshare, and recording options may seem overwhelming at first, but can truly enrich the learning experience and make it new and fun for both you and your students!

2. Prepare to leverage virtual interactive elements

With the help of the available features of your webinar platform, think about how you can connect and engage with your students in real time while resisting the urge to lecture. Incorporate the use of your camera for a personalized introduction or a fun ice breaker exercise, or share your screen to show a funny video clip or interesting website.

If your technology allows for it, try drawing and writing on your virtual lecture slides to emphasize concepts. During class, interact with your students through question and answer prompts the way you would in a traditional class setting: use chat questions and polls to hear from your students and to make participants feel part of the learning process. 

3. Tweak your presentation for virtual classroom success

While most of your content will transfer seamlessly, making a few adjustments can make a world of difference for bringing your students along on an exciting and stimulating learning journey. 

Break up key points. Learners in an online setting will need bite-sized information presented in a way that promotes information processing and recall. By breaking up key points instead of using summary slides, learners will find it more interesting and engaging to follow along. If your training is running long, cover your most important points first.

Add more graphics. Depending on your subject matter, text heavy slides may be inevitable. When possible, opt for visually stimulating material that breaks up the monotony of text and holds the attention of the viewer. If you don’t have access to custom graphics, try a free image library such as Unsplash to find material that complements your verbal remarks.

With the help of these guidelines, we hope you have a successful first online class experience! Virtual classroom settings can be the source of inspiration and fun for both teachers and students. We encourage you to have the courage to try something new, and to go boldly into the virtual world! 

 If you’ve got more material than you can handle during this crisis or simply need a hand with conversion of your course in half the time, we’re here to help. Contact us for more information.  

5 steps to get your class or training online in 15 minutes or less

5 steps to get your class or training online in 15 minutes or less

If you’re an educator, coach, trainer, or manager faced with the need to quickly and efficiently share content with your students, clients, or colleagues online, follow these five quick steps: 

1.Choose a 15 minute segment of material that you would like to share

Start by reviewing your material and selecting critical takeaways and key learnings that you want to share with your audience. If you have a lot of material to share, consider offering short recordings as a series. Recordings of 15 minutes or less are easier to produce and are more likely to keep your audience captive for the entire duration of the class. 

2. Chose an online tool to record and edit your presentation 

If traditional conferencing tools are not exactly what you need to effectively communicate with your audience, select a tool that allows you to record, save, and share your presentation on-demand virtually. Two options for such tools include: 

Loom 

Loom is a screen recording tool that lets you talk through your class material as if you were in front of your learning audience. Loom offers free plans for individuals, including free Pro subscriptions for educators. In response to the coronavirus, the company removed recording limits from their free plan, in addition to offering their Pro plans at half the cost until July 1, 2020.

LearnMax

LearnMax is a cloud-based tool that can be used by a large or small enterprise, government, community college and K-12 school, as well as by teachers and tutors. allows users to set up distance learning programs by creating video classes that can be taken on demand or conducted live. The service is cloud-based, with features that enable attendance tracking, time spent in class, and interaction through chat, video and broadcast. LearnMax is also compatible with Google Classroom as well as popular Learning Management Systems including Canvas, Blackboard, and Moodle. 

3. Record your presentation

Using your previously selected tool, record your presentation. If this recording format is new to you, remember not to rush through your content. Using a written outline or short script can help facilitate a smooth narrative.

4. Save your recording online 

If your organization or institution doesn’t already have a content sharing platform, large files such as screen and video recordings may be difficult to share through email. By using a cloud-based storage solution such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or Microsoft OneDrive, your content can be easily accessed through link sharing. Don’t forget about specifying link sharing privacy settings before distributing your content. 

5. Share your content

It’s time to get your students to view and listen to your recording! Share a link to your recording  with your students and/or colleagues through email or social media. As a best practice, don’t forget to ask for feedback to make changes or to improve your next recording. 

If you need more help converting your teaching material into an online course, we’re here to help. Don’t hesitate to call (202-742-7760) or email us (info@cynuriaconsulting.com) to find out how we can help you provide the most effective and inspiring learning solution tailored for your students. 

Podcast Culture: The value of audio learning

Podcast Culture: The value of audio learning

I am a few years late to the podcast craze that’s sweeping popular culture in the United States. Living in the D.C. Metro area, my commute confines me to my car for no less than an hour and a half each day, Monday through Friday. Several months ago, my usual go-to methods for passing the time – a handful of Top 40 radio stations on repeat and spontaneous phone calls to family and friends – were failing to engage me like they once could. I was bored and listless and merely enduring what had grown to feel like an endless commute. So, I decided to jump on the audio listening bandwagon.

I downloaded Serial Podcast and dived into the captivating story of teenage heartbreak, murder, and the search for truth. Instantly I – like thousands of others who had listened to the story of Adnan Syed and Hae Min Lee – was mesmerized by the audible narrative unfolding between my dashboard and me. I began to look forward to the minutes before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. when I could rejoin Sarah Koenig in her quest for justice.

According to Gary Vaynerchuk in his article, The Rise of Audio & Voice, consumers are beginning to replace entertainment, such as music, with information, such as podcasting. I certainly contributed to this trend. In fact, “audio is up 76 percent year-over-year, eclipsing video with 250 billion annual streams,” Vaynerchuk says. Additionally, in 2016, there was roughly one-and-a-half times more audio consumed than video, according to Nielsen statistics on streaming.

Why? Quite simply, the mediums available to consume such content are more efficient and effective than ever before. They’re also mobile and they enable multitasking – one of America’s greatest addictions.

It’s no wonder that methods such as mobile learning and microlearning are gaining attention in our field. Many adults are receiving knowledge vastly from audio sources, and we as learning leaders must take note and heed the call. Design and deliver learning so that individuals are eager and able to consume it. For example, rather than dragging people into your in-person workshop, engage with them on their iPhones via bite-sized chunks of accessible and digestible information. Or, even simpler: Record subject-matter experts (SMEs) and weave the podcasts into your blended learning programs as we did for one of our federal clients. Learners may not be able to commit to completing several chapters of pre-course reading, but most likely they can make time to listen to a five-minute audio interview.

Our team’s most recent audio learning project focused on creating a series of podcasts as a part of a broader blended learning program that also included a series of animated videos and job aids. The five podcasts that came out to 43 minutes included interviews with a training program manager, a SME, an instructor, and a participant who shared their experiences about flipped classroom learning. We were able to capture some great lessons learned and tips and tricks for other training managers, SMEs, instructors, and participants who might want to deploy a flipped classroom or become involved in one.

There is much research being done about the future of jobs and the effects of artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality on how we live, work, and learn. But as Vaynerchuk wisely observes: “Before AR and VR and AI, audio is going to be the next major platform shift for consumer attention. It’s here today! What are you going do?” What experiences do you have with audio learning? What plans are you forming to incorporate more audio in your mobile learning, microlearning, or blended learning initiatives? We would love to hear your thoughts.

How personality profiles and training lead to sustainable team success

How personality profiles and training lead to sustainable team success

Talent management models are shifting as more employees trade full-time employment for contractual, project-based work. With the emergence of the so-called “gig economy,” a new set of challenges has emerged for team leaders. To maximize organizational effectiveness, it is now more important than ever to engage team members in their daily work by making it clear how each individual contributes to the mission, while simultaneously making sure that team members understand how to work toward common goals. 

Professional development assessments such as the DiSC assessment can identify personality traits, strengths, talents, and stand-out behaviors that can help engage employees in their work.

Based on the DISC theory of psychologist William Moulton Marston and transformed into a behavioral assessment tool by industrial psychologist Walter Vernon Clarke, the DiSC assessment centers on four different behavioral traits including dominance, influence, steadiness, and conscientiousness:

• Dominance puts an emphasis on accomplishing results, the bottom line, and confidence.

• Influence manifests as the pursuit of influencing or persuading others, openness and relationships.

• Steadiness focuses on cooperation, sincerity, and dependability.

• Conscientiousness emphasizes quality and accuracy, expertise, and competency. 

One of the unique features of the DiSC profile is its ability to improve team dynamics by identifying individual contributors’ leading behaviors and illuminating how these traits work together in a group environment. Leaders and members of high-performing as well as conflict-laden teams, can benefit from completing the DiSC assessment to more effectively understand and manage interpersonal interactions. Team leaders in particular can influence team dynamics by understanding how the behavioral characteristics and patterns caused by their dominant trait can help or hinder team efficacy. 

Training is key

For the benefits of DiSC and other assessment tools to have a measurable impact, investing in training is crucial. Seasoned facilitators ensure that employees not only learn more about their behaviors and strengths, but understand how to apply these skills on the job. A properly implemented DiSC training can help team members experience a higher level of job satisfaction in the workplace. 

During a recent DiSC assessment led by Cynuria Consulting, participants envisioned using strategies they learned from the workshop in the following ways:

• Improving customer communication

• Better understanding team and processes

• Reflecting on sales situations and customer and co-worker interactions

• Adapting to customers, especially when defusing situations

• Empathizing with stakeholders

Cynuria Consulting offers a variety of workshops to teach leaders how to successfully implement these tools by offering a two-hour, half-day, and full-day training sessions. Contact us to learn more about how we can help bring the power of behavior assessments to life in your organization. 

New Small Business Organization Meets with Councilmember Marc Erlich

New Small Business Organization Meets with Councilmember Marc Erlich

Members of the Growing Business Circle (GBC) met with Councilmember Marc Erlich on July 6 in Silver Spring, MD to discuss opportunities for civic engagement within the small—and growing—business community in Montgomery County.

The session was organized and moderated by Gabe Hamda, president and CEO, ICATT Consulting, co-founder of Access Business Team and co-founder of 21st Century Community and Houri Tamizifar, President and CEO of Cynuria Consulting and founder of the Women’s Entrepreneur Forum.

“The theme of our work together is to increase small business win participation in Montgomery County contracts and grants, which translates into an increase of well-paying local jobs and local economic growth,” stated Houri Tamizifar.

"And the cheapest way to create jobs and grow the local economy is to enable small businesses win more contracts and grants," echoed Gabe Hamda.

Leaders from local companies gathered for a structured, yet creative session. GBC members addressed both specific support needs for small businesses and ideas on how their own work can improve the quality of life and health of the economy in the area. Collectively, small businesses make up 95% of the business community in Montgomery County, many of which minorities and women. As a group, they want to be recognized for this influence.

Prior to the meeting, members of GBC participated in a survey in order to prioritize and consolidate their common needs and opportunities. Together, they proposed a list of meaningful, actionable items to achieve their goals. GBC’s requests included: better communication and outreach to small businesses for contracting and grant opportunities; incentives to connect well-established businesses to small new businesses for guidance and collaboration; an alternative membership organization to the Chambers of Commerce, which is financially out of reach for most small business; and an increase in set-aside percentages to be competitive with the D.C. market.

One member also pointed out the larger tax burden on small businesses than on corporations—the latter receiving considerably higher tax breaks than the small shop owners who file their business revenues as personal income. Personal income tax and property tax in Maryland are some of the highest rates in the nation.

Councilmember Erlich addressed the group with earnest words of validation, emphasizing the need to support growing businesses and bring in more, “We’ll be a much better community when these buildings are occupied and the storefronts are occupied, and people are busy at work,” he said, adding “That’s something we’ve got to be really serious about.”

GBC officially thanked Councilmember Erlich for his time and genuine interest and attention to the small business community, "We are very grateful to you and the community you represent and so excited to be able to meet and discuss with you on the opportunities open to small businesses like ours."  The group also emphasized the need for more attention from the council, "[We] think what the councilmember is doing today should continue.  Continuing the conversation with small businesses is the only way our community leaders can learn about our pain points and continue to help us grow."

What Role Does Bloom's Taxonomy Play into eLearning Interactivity?

What Role Does Bloom's Taxonomy Play into eLearning Interactivity?

It’s an exciting time to be in the learning and development profession. As new technologies emerge and insight into brain science unfolds, your tools as a trainer are more sophisticated and your role in supporting learning is more complex than ever before.

According to the Association for Talent Development (ATD) report, Playing to Win: Gamification and Serious Games in Organizational Learning, approximately one-quarter of the 551 survey respondents incorporate a high-level of eLearning interactivity, with 25 percent using gamification in their training courses and 20 percent applying serious games. Nearly half of survey respondents – 46 percent – reported that they are considering such use in the coming year.

Levels 3 and 4 eLearning Interactivity

Gamification and serious games are both examples of Levels 3 and 4 eLearning course interaction. Training using Level 3 interaction is highly complex and customizable, and the learner has a great deal of control. At level 4, the learner is fully immersed in her learning experience. Such interactive course elements are on the rise, according to this research, particularly for employee training, new employee onboarding, and high-potential employee development programs.

At a high level of interactivity, the goal for course design is not to merely impress learners with the bells and whistles of training design – although serious games and gamification are excellent tools to increase participant engagement. Rather, the priority is to enhance understanding, impart knowledge, conceptualize ideas, apply training, and allow for reflection.

Take Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning for example, a theory guiding our practice since its establishment 60 years ago. These six levels (or orders) within the cognitive domain encompass the simple recall of facts (Level one) to evaluation of newly learned material (Level six). For learners to effectively move up the chain of orders from memorization to application and analysis, and eventually evaluation, eLearning interactivity must be laser focused on training outcomes. To this end, each video, game, simulation, multimedia, and other interactive element incorporated within your course design must be aligned with such strategic goals.

Based on our research, we concluded that highly interactive eLearning courses share the following best practices:

• Apply real-life scenarios to encourage the learner to think and evaluate the outcomes based on decisions she needs to make in the moment

• Allow for the learner to explore, search, or investigate to accomplish learning goal(s)

• Supply sufficiently challenging and relevant activities that will have the learner reflect, process the information, and transfer learning to his long-term memory.

From Best Practice to Applied Practice

This year we are working with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), a nonprofit organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety for all 50 states and the U.S. territories. We developed specific criteria with the goal of elevating course interactivity to 50 percent at levels 3 and 4.

“Serious game use in the learning and development sphere aims to expose learners to new experiences and skills through simulations built around stories, goals, feedback, and play”

“Serious game use in the learning and development sphere aims to expose learners to new experiences and skills through simulations built around stories, goals, feedback, and play,” cites the ATD research report. NASBLA represents the quarter of organizations that stand on the leading edge of eLearning by adopting cutting edge training design and delivery methods. With the ultimate goal of boater safety in mind, NASBLA understands that creating highly interactive boater training will better engage learners and move them to advanced levels of learning evaluation and application.

We are excited about our work with NASBLA and other organizations that are committed to reimagining the possibilities of their eLearning courses. Now that you have read this article, do you feel that your eLearning courses align with these trends? Have you selected the right learning outcomes for your courses and does it give you the results that you were expecting? If not, one of our experts at Cynuria Consulting would be happy to guide you with your eLearning strategy.

Digital Job Aids: Mobile Learning Made Simple

Digital Job Aids: Mobile Learning Made Simple

Did you know that in 2018, less than two years from now, 2 billion people will use smartphones and 1.4 billion will own mobile tablets? Device proliferation is on the rise as technology continues to advance and global access to digital tools increases. Additionally, did you know that by the year 2020, more than 50 percent of the workforce will be Millennials? Members of this demographic, born from the early 1980s through the late 1990s, were the first to grow up with computers in their homes and have a great familiarity with and dependence on technology in both their personal and professional lives.

The Mobile Learning Landscape

Have you been in the workplace learning profession for at least a decade? If so, you have most likely seen a shift from widespread use of formal, face-to-face learning methods to a greater focus on blended, e-learning, and mobile approaches. Organizations aiming to revamp their existing learning and development strategies to better serve today’s workforce are adopting mobile learning programs that reach employees where and how they learn best.

Are your learning initiatives meeting the needs of today’s diverse, multi-generational, and tech-savvy workers?

Despite such high use of mobile devices and a growing demand for digital learning, only 34 percent of  organizations have mobile learning programs according to recent research by the Association for Talent Development (ATD). And a mere 31 percent of organizations with mobile learning programs characterized their efforts as highly effective. Budget constraints, poor IT infrastructure, and lack of internal learning function skills to support mobile learning are the top reasons cited for low adoption and program ineffectiveness.

The Value of Digital Job Aids

The good news is that mobile learning doesn’t have to be difficult. You can begin to take small steps today to incorporate simple and powerful digital tools within your training repertoire. One such method is the mobile job aid. Mobile job aids to the rescue!

Digital job aids provide the following benefits:

• Fully capture the processes, policies, and tools involved in a training program or initiative

• Include many visual elements, such as flowcharts, swim lanes, and process map

• Can be accessed via a mobile app, providing on-demand support

Digital Job Aids in Practice

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is developing new training on inventory management processes, policies, and tools and considering the use of digital job aids to supplement this training. Such mobile tools would provide the following solutions to FAA’s challenges:

• Merge many existing documents to create an interactive tool that contains all information related to FAA’s management of physical inventory

• Highlight touchpoints and distinct responsibilities during complex processes

• Provide employees just-in-time assistance during the inventory process without the need to shuffle through papers

Many public and private sector agencies have already adopted mobile job aids to streamline complex processes and increase training efficiency. For example, one smart device app provides a series of checklists to guide employees in the implementation of standard processes on the job, ensuring compliance and accuracy. Another digital job aid is essentially a mobile version of one organization’s procedure manual, which employees can download and use in the field while conducting inspections. As seen in these examples and confirmed by ATD research, digital tools are most widely used by sales and operations functions, both of which require just-in-time information while working outside of the office or with highly regulated procedures.

Your Time for Mobile Learning is Now

The learning landscape in today’s workplace is ripe for mobile solutions, and many organizations are beginning to get on board. Don’t be left behind. Your learners are calling for simple, practical, and accessible tools. We would love to hear your experiences with digital job aids, so please leave us a comment. Also, if you want to dive deeper into this topic, send a message to info@cynuriaconsulting.com, we’ll be happy to guide you in this process.

Three characteristics that will lead your startup to success

Three characteristics that will lead your startup to success

What did Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs, and Walt Disney have in common? They all had a deep desire to make a difference. Each one had a different mission, audience, and message but what they certainly had in common was their unwavering belief system, along with their incredible passion and resilience to drive their ideas and their message forward. These are the three solid characteristics that will lead your startup to bountiful success.

1. WHAT IS YOUR ESSENCE, WHAT IS YOUR WHY?

According to Simon Sinek, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” People didn’t come to hear Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. because he was a great orator, people came to hear him because of what he believed in. This means people buy into what you believe in and what your dream about. For you and your organization to be successful, you’ve got to sell what you believe in. A very strong and firm belief system can take you and your organization a long way.

2. ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR WHY?

If you are able to identify your purpose in life, what you tend to gravitate to, or what simply makes you happy then the passion will come naturally. Once you find your essence and feel a genuine need to drive forward and feel authentic about describing your message and your mission, you’ve got this box checked. Use that passion, embrace it, and you will naturally inspire your people to believe in you and your organization, paving the way for high levels of employee engagement and success.

3. ARE YOU IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL?

When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was blocked time and time again in Selma, did he give up? Did Steve Jobs quit innovating after getting fired from Apple in 1985? And Walt Disney was told that a giant mouse on screen would terrify women. Fortunately, that didn’t stop Walt and Mickey Mouse is still alive in our hearts and on our screens. Ask yourself if you believe in your mission and how many walls you’re willing to break down to achieve your goals.

Cynuria Consulting was created with a clear mission in mind, one that we are passionate about and one that we are determined to pursue until we leave our mark with our clients, with our employees, and with our communities.

3 Incredible life and business lessons to learn from Portugal’s improbable triumph at the Euro

3 Incredible life and business lessons to learn from Portugal’s improbable triumph at the Euro

While the world, and specially Portugal, celebrates their historic 1-0 win against France during this year’s Euro finals in Paris, at Cynuria Consulting we cannot stop thinking about how this victory leave us many lessons that can be applied to our daily lives, and to your business as well.

1. You don’t need a champion to save the day

When Cristiano Ronaldo left the field in tears, on the 24th minute of the game due to a knee injury, the majority of the soccer world probably thought the game was over for Portugal and that France would inevitably become the champion. Up until that moment, and pretty much for the rest of the match, France was far superior. The French had plenty of opportunities to score, but failed. Portugal, on the other hand, even without their superstar, continued to play in the same orderly manner, as a team, just as they had been doing during the entire tournament. They went into the tournament with the idea to play as a team, without heavily relying on Ronaldo’s brilliance, but sticking to a philosophy of hard work and consistency. This mentality, among other things, was the determining factor for their victory. 

2. Team work beats talent

An important point to emphasize, never, during the entire championship did Portugal rely completely on Ronaldo to save the day. He contributed equally, but the entire team worked together to keep moving forward until the final, and ultimately, the championship. The complete opposite happened during the Copa America final held in New Jersey just a couple of weeks ago, where Argentina completely relied on what Lionel Messi could do during the game to win. With a Messi short of brilliance and ideas during that final, Argentina ended up losing to Chile, a better TEAM.  Chile has a solid team, with a couple of world class players. However, none of them come even close to Messi’s level and brilliance. It is for that reason that Chile never relied on just those key players to win, but worked together to achieve their dream.

3. Have faith

This is a key element to success that sometimes goes unmentioned in business talks. Faith, or believing in something is incredibly important when starting any kind of endeavor. When the Euro began, no one but the Portuguese, believed they had a chance to win the trophy against the likes of Germany, Italy, France, or even England. However, with a plan in mind, and the desire to make history for their country and themselves, the Portuguese team began the improbable journey that ended last night with their historic win against the more powerful and local France.

To put this in perspective, you don’t need a celebrity investor, superstar employee, or the best tools in the market to achieve your goals. Assemble a team that believes in the mission and the work you are doing, create the culture that revolves around them, and the results will come. It may take time, but with persistence, hard work, and faith you will achieve them!

What other life/business lessons can we add to this list?