If you are a trainer or a SME who delivers training, one of your major responsibilities, and possibly one of your major challenges, is knowing how to use the conversation that takes place during training delivery to meet your learning goals. Some trainers welcome unplanned, spontaneous interaction with learners. Others prefer a more controlled Q&A...
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Consider the SME’s Strengths: from “Effective SMEs”
March 12, 2018
This is an excerpt from Effective SMEs: A Trainer’s Guide for Helping Subject Matter Experts Facilitate Learning.” In this excerpt, Dale Ludwig (Turpin Communication’s Founder) and Greg Owen-Boger (Turpin’s VP) discuss the importance of designing learning to play to the SME’s strengths. Learning conversations do not necessarily follow a logical path from A to B...
read moreDesigning for Busy People at Work: from “Effective SMEs”
February 12, 2018
This is an excerpt from “Effective SMEs: A Trainer’s Guide for Helping Subject Matter Experts Facilitate Learning.” In this excerpt, Dale Ludwig (Turpin Communication’s Founder) and Greg Owen-Boger (Turpin’s VP) redefine “adult learners” as “busy people at work.” Let’s begin by refining our understanding of business learners. Learning theory tells us that adult learners need...
read moreThe 3rd Fundamental Principle of Success in the Training Room: From “Effective SMEs”
February 7, 2018
This is an excerpt from Effective SMEs: A Trainer’s Guide for Helping Subject Matter Experts Facilitate Learning.” In this excerpt Dale Ludwig (Turpin Communication’s Founder) and Greg Owen-Boger (Turpin’s VP) discuss the third of three fundamental principles for success in the training room. Design and Delivery Must Focus on Initiating and Managing the Learning Conversation...
read moreThe 2nd Fundamental Principle of Success in the Training Room: From “Effective SMEs”
January 22, 2018
This is an excerpt from “Effective SMEs: A Trainer’s Guide for Helping Subject Matter Experts Facilitate Learning.” In this excerpt Dale Ludwig (Turpin Communication’s Founder) and Greg Owen-Boger (Turpin’s VP) discuss the second of three fundamental principles of success in the training room. Learning Events Succeed on Two Levels: Plan and Process Creating the conditions...
read more2017 Year in Review
January 4, 2018
2017 Was a Big Year We celebrated Turpin’s 25th year in business. In case you missed it, Dale wrote 25 Lessons Over 25 Years, which is an excellent read. During the year, we delivered a lot of training and coaching for our long-standing clients as well as a few new ones. Along with that, we reached several...
read moreStarbucks #ProjectGiveGood Recognizes Turpin Cares
December 29, 2017
Turpin Communication employees and “friendlies” were busy this holiday season (2017) supporting people in need through the Turpin Cares project. “We teamed up with Almost Home Chicago and the local Starbucks to provide gifts and pantry items to locals in need. Once everything was tallied up, the holiday project provided 40 individuals with gifts and a whopping 776 pantry...
read moreThe 1st Fundamental Principle of Success in the Training Room: From “Effective SMEs”
December 11, 2017
This is an excerpt from “Effective SMEs: A Trainer’s Guide for Helping Subject Matter Experts Facilitate Learning.” In this excerpt Dale Ludwig (Turpin Communication’s Founder) and Greg Owen-Boger (Turpin’s VP) discuss the first of three fundamental principles for success in the training room. Trainers and Learners Are Equals With a Shared Purpose Many SMEs come...
read moreCriteria for Selecting Instructional SMEs
November 28, 2017
This is an excerpt from “Effective SMEs: A Trainer’s Guide for Helping Subject Matter Experts Facilitate Learning.” In this excerpt Dale Ludwig (Turpin Communication’s Founder) and Greg Owen-Boger (Turpin’s VP) discuss the importance of selecting the right person for the SME-as-trainer job. It goes without saying that SMEs must be experts in the subject matter...
read moreTurpin Cares: Women’s Shelter Benefits from Care Packages
November 20, 2017
On Saturday, November 18, 2017, Turpin Communication employees and “friendlies” came together to assemble 40 care packages for a group of homeless women in Chicago. Each package contained about $50 worth of food, toiletries, first aid items, gloves, and a hand-knit hat and scarf. They also included a lot of love and a personal handwritten...
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