difficult learners

August 2009

Difficult Learners

PersonalWhat’s in it for me?How much time will it take?What is my part?

ManagementHow do I make this work?

ImpactHow will the learning of this material impact

my teaching?

3 Stages of Concern

How can I use this – tomorrow…Preconceived ideas and biasesWhy are we doing this?Old habits die hardFilled with fear of riskDon’t want to changeTime….Not knowing something may reveal an

inadequacy

Adult Learners – Difficult to Work With…

Feel SafeBe Autonomous

Option of working solo, in pairs, or in teamsEnjoy SuccessFeel valued and cared forEnjoy themselves

Adult Learner Needs

ExplorerLove being in the training and want to learn as much as they can from the session

VacationersVacationers want to have as much fun and free time as possible.

PrisonersPrisoners resent being in the training and imagine themselves breaking free.

3 Types of Learners

A difficult participant is anyone whose attitude or behavior prevents that person or others from meeting the objective.

Difficult Participants… What can we do?

Start on TimePraise “on-timers”After breaks, start with hot topicsDo a classbuilderUse a visual timerDon’t wait and delay your training

Latecomer

Clear table of all personal belongingsMake a To-Do list, and have them set it aside

for laterStructure interaction among team members –

don’t use “group work”Use proximity to encourage eye contact and

engagementHave a private discussion with the participant

Preoccupied

ClassbuildingTeambuildingAssign jobs and tasksHave teammates practice “encouragers”Enlist their ideas after teamwork or pair work

Introvert – Shy or Fearful

Select who startsUse proximitySet ground rules for both the good trainer

and the good participantSelect the teamsUse talking chipsUse timed turns within the group

Domineering – shares war stories, asks meaningless questions, bosses others

Explain the three types of participant: prisoner, vacationer, and explorer. Follow it up with a RoundRobin activity: Which one are you?

List the benefits: “What’s in it for me?”Allow them to leaveUse negative examples about yourself to

illuminate their behaviorEmpathize and move on

Prisoner

Assign them to do researchGive referencesState factsAsk the class – What are 5 reasons why?Project quotes

Prove It

Conduct a pre-testAcknowledge expertiseAsk them to share successesDraw a common object – penny

Sometimes we don’t know everything we think we know

Watch them teach the content

Know It All

Explain why training material is required and critical

“Parking Lot” – participants put questions on wall and trainer answers them after the break

Explain how lucky they are

Can’t Afford to Spend Time

Give examples from their job or in their content

Use concrete examplesGive testimonialsShow dataTell successes, but say that they “May not

work for you”Ask them why? Why not?

Yes, But

Identify and handle the problem participant quickly and effectively.

Turn difficult participants into assets.Turn questions and skepticism into

opportunities to delve more deeply into the material.

Conclusion