Last night I attended a CSTD event focussing on how Research Meets Practice and how some HR & Training Professionals are informing their practice with research. I personally attended 3 of the 5 sessions (which was the formula for the evening).
Dali Hammouch, Senior Advisor-Capability Development, Rio Tinto, discussed on the impact of space on human dynamics and had us reflect on the importance of the physical spaces of the environments in which we learn. Dali is interested in how the configuration of training or meeting environments enhance or hinder communication. Fascinated by the results of his own experience, he decided to look at studies in human and physical geography in order to inform the way in which he set up his environments.
Saul Carliner, Associate Professor, Concordia University, discussed the perception of customers of workplace learning services that is how do other individuals in the organization perceive training and its overall impact. There are a lot of things we assume about training and how others perceive training efforts but Saul decided to start looking at the research and see what it informed him about perceptions. Surprising results so far!
Kenneth Brown, Associate Professor and Henry B. Tippie Research Fellow, University of Iowa discussed how he leverages theory and research to improve utilization of e-learning. Kenneth draws on the validated theory of behavioural change (transtheoretical model of change) and a theory of technology usage (technology acceptance model) to develop a practical model which aims at predicting e-Learning adoption and use. He is currently testing his model.
Being a huge believer of research into practice, it is encouraging to see how other professionals are focussing on the evidence provided by research into to design environments, make statements or implement programs.
For more information about the importance of research into practice, I dug up the two following blog posts: What Is Scientifically Based Research? by Stephen Downes and The worst of best practices and benchmarking by Clark Quinn.
References:
- Research Meets Practice | CSTD Event | 09 August 2010
Initially published on Brandon Hall’s Workplace Learning Today