Editor’s note: In this new multi-part series, Devin Purcell will tackle the skills shortage that the fluid power industry is facing and offer creative solutions to address this challenge.
Contributed by Devin Purcell, Technical Trainer
Following up on my discussion about the brain drain that we are experiencing in the hydraulic industry, I now offer some strategies that you can use to increase the knowledge transfer from experienced repair technicians to junior repair technicians.
One of the best ways to cover all aspects of learning is to outline the learning objectives that you want to cover during training. Learning objectives are simply described as: what learners will be able to complete/repair/diagnose because of the training process they have completed.
Outlining and documenting your training process is important. While you could simply jot down on a piece of paper what you expect the student to learn over the course of training, this is not effective. You should think of processes being as effective as the time you put into them.
Bloom’s taxonomy outlines six levels to show higher level understanding of material learned. Image AdobeStock
To bring more professionalism to your standard processes, think of learning objectives as your agreement with the learner: if they pay attention and put in the work, the learning objectives outline what skills they will have after the training is completed.
So how do we create simple to understand learning objectives? Educators use Bloom’s Taxonomy to outline six levels that each show a higher level of understanding of the material that is being learned. They range from remember, which is simply the ability to remember facts, to the highest level, create.
If you have the time to study Bloom’s Taxonomy, you will have a secret weapon when making new learning objectives. Time however, is not always something we have. So how can we make learning objectives that work for us?
Step 1. Take your list of training needs/requirements that you have previously outlined and convert them to simple one or two sentence topics. Make the sentences specific — you want to outline “specific” tasks that they can complete. For example:
This — learner should know how to reseal hydraulic cylinders
Not This — needs to know how to repair hydraulic cylinders
Step 2. Convert your point form notes into complete sentences, such as:
This — The learner will be able to demonstrate the proper process of re-sealing hydraulic cylinders.
Not This — learner should know how to reseal hydraulic cylinders
Step 3. This is where things can get as complicated as you want them to get. In step 2, I added the word demonstrate. This is a verb, or action word that has been added. This is where Bloom’s Taxonomy can help us write better learning objectives. By using the word “demonstrate” I can test the learner’s ability and understand that they have applied what they learned and know how to properly reseal a hydraulic cylinder.
Step 4. Be as specific as you want to be. For example, if you are having issues with your junior technicians identifying piston seals correctly, you can include another learning objective to ensure this is covered during training.
For example: The learner can explain the proper procedure to find correct piston seals for a hydraulic cylinder.
While this may seem like a lot of work to craft learning objectives for your training program, it is one of the most important steps. Think of it as the agreement between you and your junior repair technician of the things they are going to learn. Take groups of learning objectives and place them in a simple timeline. Without this, the training process can feel overwhelming and unachievable.
By using proper learning objectives and a timeline we can ensure that the training process is not only achievable but can be completed in a reasonable timeframe.
Devin Purcell is a repair professional with more than 20 years of industry experience. As a freelance writer and technical trainer with an OEM forestry manufacturer, these skills are used to enhance the performance of learners. Contact him at devinj.purcell@gmail.com.
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