Who Should Be Involved in Instruction?

Abstract

Alexander the Great credited his father for his life but credited his teachers for learning how to live well. His point was: teachers influence how people think, feel, and perform. The quality of the teacher, therefore, influences how well people learn to live. The same point applies to instructors and facilitators. Those who design, lead, or facilitate training must be competent—or even exemplary—because they influence the employees who are trained. Instructors are role models for those they train. Instructors must be competent in the subject matter and/or competent in the theories and principles of learning itself. The learning and development department should not be the resting place for those looking to glide into a peaceful retirement or the last refuge of the incompetent employee. Chapter 8 addresses the question: Who should be involved in instruction? What competencies are essential for learning and development professionals to bear in order to analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate learning experiences? How do organizations document learning staff qualifications?

Appendices

Manager Tips

• A. Involve line managers, learners, and instructional design experts in preparing job descriptions for professional staff positions within your learning and development department.

• B. Keep job descriptions accurate and documented for all positions within your learning and development department.

• C. Resist efforts to move problem performers from operating divisions into the learning and development department. Instructors should be the best performers—and not those nearing retirement who wish to ride out a few years with low-stress jobs, nor problem performers who cannot work effectively within operating departments.

• D. Commit to developing your learning and development staff as professionals. Do not assume that assessors, designers, or facilitators need minimal skills or do not require updating. Skills date quickly, and learning skills need to be kept current.

• E. Assess learning and development professional staff skills both formally and informally, and document professional staff development actions.

Supplement

Supplement Tool 8A : Checklist to Review Instructor Qualifications

Directions: Use this checklist to review instructor qualifications—and how well the organization ensures that instructors are well qualified. For each item in the left column below, indicate in the center column whether that action is taken. In the right column, indicate any relevant notes for additional discussion or review.