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