Train by the Minute
Do you have a minute? It seems that is about all the time anyone has these days. But a minute is enough for even the most-stressed individuals to take in some bite-sized educational updates.
The U.S. Fire Administration sends out one-page “Coffee Break” training bulletins every Tuesday. The bulletins target fire and building inspectors and provide technical training in fire-protection systems, building construction, codes and standards, inspection techniques, hazardous materials, and administrative tips. Each notice includes a photograph or illustration tied to a training lesson.
When I interviewed NFA Deputy Superintendent Robert Neale for the January Size Up, he credited Gordon Graham with triggering the idea for bulletins a number of years ago.
“I attended one of Graham’s presentations and took away the importance of short, training chunks on a regular basis,” Neale said. “Rather than trying to teach somebody to sit through a 3-hour class and retain everything, hit them with a bullet points and hit them often. Graham documented it with the short briefs at shift change for the California Highway Patrol.”
A former fire inspector in the state of Washington, Neale decided to build training tips around his personal collection of photographs. Starting in 2004, Neale put together photos and fire code lessons into a one page bulletin and sent it by email to his personal list, the Code Council list, architectural associations, fire training and local chapters.
In 2005, the National Fire Academy’s IT staff suggested Neale putting Coffee Break on a listserv with a goal to hit 5,000 readers every Tuesday. “Last month, we were at 33,639 [readers] in 13 countries around the world, which tells me there’s a crying need for that type of training,” Neale said.
Neale said plans are underway to do more targeted training bulletins, including one on arson. The NFA’s Learning Resource Center currently offers helpful tips on how to do Internet searches and research. Coffee Breaks even include short videos on fire-sprinkler inspector and main drain tests.
While short, targeted bulletins and videos never will replace full training sessions, the material offered does serve as a quick refresher or reminder that can fit into anyone’s busy schedule. The idea also opens a host of other learning opportunities within a shift, team or organization.
If your department has some unique training options, let us hear from you.
February 8th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
I have attended a number of Gordon Graham’s presentations and I couldn’t agree more with the concept of short training chunks on a regular basis. I recently retired from the fire service where ICS was a normal part of our routine. I am currently working for a large water utility where I plan to teach NIMS/SEMS/ICS to folks who have no previous exposure to it and who will more than likely not use it on a regular basis. I have been looking for a canned program that would allow me to distribute short 5 minute refresher lessons that can be delivered during regularly scheduled gatherings such as safety meetings. I would be very interested in finding out if any thing like this exists.
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