"You know more than you think you do": helping participants transfer knowledge

Abstract

Software training can be challenging, particularly with complicated programs and new users of technology. However, there are ways to help people get over the "fear factor" of trying something new by putting information in a context that makes sense to them. This may be by pointing out commonalities across programs, or by using analogies that make sense to a particular user population. By using visual clues, you can help participants transfer skills and knowledge from one software program to another. While this is especially true across programs from the same vendor (for example, transferring skills from Adobe Photoshop to Adobe Illustrator, or from Microsoft Word to Microsoft PowerPoint), there are also many visuals that are the same across a variety of programs. By making users more aware of the cues with which they are already familiar, you can help them gain confidence and reinforce their skills. Using scaffolding techniques like analogies that strengthen the concept being taught, you can guide participants through new or unfamiliar tools by building on previous knowledge that they may not have realized they possessed. This paper focuses on techniques - including improving visual skills and analogy - that can help your participants get the most out of your one class session.