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Peer-Driven User Training

CAD Manager's Toolbox: Your deputy trainers can help shoulder the responsibility of training, and provide your users with a fresh perspective.

Many CAD managers are responsible for running training programs in their company, yet they don't have enough time to create the materials required to conduct training. If that's true for you, why not rely on your power users to conduct peer-driven training that encourages efficiency and best practices?

Here are some tips to get your peer-driven training going:

Select deputy trainers carefully. Your deputy trainers could be power users, engineers, architects, or even someone from your CAD reseller. The important qualifications are that this person must have knowledge worth sharing and be able to communicate that information well. Remember, nothing is worse than training conducted by someone who can't teach!

Stress production. Deputy trainers should pass along tips that reduce clicks, picks, and wasted time. The goal is for expert users who've found a better way to accomplish real-world tasks to share their knowledge — not to introduce totally new features that will confuse users.

Record it. Make sure to record the sessions your deputy trainers perform using Camtasia or a similar video/voice recording tool. After all, if you don't record the training you can't reuse it!

Amend your standards. If your deputy trainers have discovered better ways to accomplish their daily tasks, why not include their methodologies in your CAD standards? Just because you didn't personally develop the helpful tip or trick doesn't mean it shouldn't be adopted as a company best practice.

Using deputy trainers allows your users to learn from their peers, providing them with a different perspective and giving you a break from preparing all the training materials. You'll never know how many excellent tips, tricks, and methods your power users will teach you until you ask — so ask!


Got a question or tip for the CAD Manager's Newsletter? Send it to me at rgreen@cad-manager.com. If I use your suggestion in the newsletter, you'll receive a cool Cadalyst prize!