Product Training for the Technical Expert

19 Managing the Details: The Effective Administration of Hands‐On Learning

The administrative and logistical tasks required to run an effective hands‐on training program may or may not be part of the duties of the product subject matter expert. Either way, two things are certain: there are many administrative tasks to perform and they are important to the instructor and all training stakeholders.

Technical trainers are often chosen for their technical skills. I’ve established in this book that learning how to teach is a distinct skill that product experts must choose to develop. In much the same way, training administrators are often chosen for their administration skills and forced to learn how to do their jobs as they perform them.

This chapter will not cover how to do the job of a training coordinator or administrator. It will help trainers, however, understand the importance of the administration role and provide clarity regarding its purpose. No training program is complete without the administrative function in place. There are three administrative functions all effective training departments must fulfill (Figure 19.1):

1. Measurable. The course and program must be evaluated for effectiveness using industry‐based metrics and feedback.
2. Sustainable. The course and program must be repeatable with an established process for review, updates, or relevance.
3. Traceable. Records must be retained for reporting attendance, certification, compliance, and/or revenue.

Figure 19.1 Three ...