RE: How do you conduct live software training workshops properly

["Jessica Weissman" <Jessica -dot- Weissman -at- hillcrestlabs -dot- com>]

No.  Assuming that you are training users on software that manipulates
some kind of database, a training database is a database with mock data
set up for the training.  This database is smaller than the live
database in almost all cases, gives predictable results for exercises,
and does not compromise the privacy of any person whose information is
included in the live database.

One way to do this is to have some database jock scramble a copy of the
live data.  This means switching values around in columns, so Person A
is shown with the street address of Person B and the birthdate of Person
C and so on.

With workpiece software such as Word or InDesign you need the equivalent
- partially finished documents that the users can play with.  It really
helps to have everybody trying to achieve the same result from the same
starting point.  Later on you can do freer exercises, but predictable
ones at the start keep you sane.

- Jessica

-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Ng [mailto:kjng -at- gprotechnologies -dot- com] 
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 9:05 PM
To: Jessica Weissman; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: How do you conduct live software training workshops
properly

*This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate(r)
Pro*
What a gem! 

That's why I love this list and its contributors...how pertinent.


A training database is...
 - A list of attendees?
 - A spreadsheet with a list of training feedback questions/answers? 


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