Ridge Insights - May 2007
The 3 Rs: Rigor, Relevance, and Relationship
Ridge Insights A monthly e-brief from Ridge Training
Date: May 22, 2007
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What We're Thinking About - The 3 Rs: Rigor, Relevance, and Relationship
In a recent "Christian Science Monitor" article, New Hampshire Teacher of the Year, Carolyn Kelley, described her method for making learning happen and stick. She called it the new 3 Rs: Rigor, Relevance, and Relationship.
(You can read more about Carolyn's inspiring story here: http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0301/p13s03-legn.html )
Kelley's insights are equally important to the corporate learning community.
RIGOR
Most training departments are working harder to do more with less. Too often that translates into less time for each training initiative. This new fact of life demands that every training be focused and rigorous, even more so if behavior change is the goal. The learning objectives, the way practices are structured, and the pacing must all make every second count. Creative reinforcement methodologies must be in place to compensate for the fact that trainees have less time to process new information and integrate new habits in the classroom.
RELEVANCE
The biggest turnoff for learners (from high schoolers to high performers at work) is when a learning initiative fails to answer the question: So what? Carolyn Kelley is an outstanding teacher because she "makes it so urgent… they (her students) know they need to learn this in order to do what they want to do." From the pre-work (or course overview) to the final action planning, every beat of a training must answer that "so what?" question. When people get the sense that they are in a rehearsal for real life, they become engaged, even fired up. Relevance is key.
RELATIONSHIP
Asking, or demanding, that people change their behavior is no small task. If people don't trust their teacher/facilitator/trainer or don't feel that this person is credible, they will become resistant to learning, even if they see the relevance of the new skill or behavior to their job. Trust and credibility are earned by demonstrating not only subject matter knowledge, but by embodying the core qualities of empathy, genuineness, and respect for students. A more in-depth article on these core qualities of trainers can be found here: www.ridge.com/downloads/Select&TrainTrainers.pdf
Rigor, relevancy and relationship give us a new lens for looking at teaching and learning in our organizations. These 3 Rs beg the questions:
How can we challenge learners and support them so that they can be successful?
How can we make our work feel urgent to their success?
How can we help our trainers embody the qualities they need to connect with their learners?
Finally, how strong are rigor, relevance and relationship in our own trainings?
If you're curious about this last question, go to the source. Add questions to your evaluations that ask about rigor, relevance and relationship. Listen to what participants say. They're the ones who can really tell you how well you're practicing the three new Rs.
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Copyright 2007 - Ridge Associates, Inc. - All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2008 Ridge Associates, Inc. All Rights Reserved.