Recognition of the importance of training the workforce about health and safety is gaining momentum and training needs to be taken serious by all parties involved. To get the message across takes more than handing out notes or showing some video clips.
Education and training can be offered in many forms. Most-recently, 'e-learning' has become a popular way of providing education. E-learning allows learners to learn from the comfort of their homes or workplaces, and when it suits them without inconveniencing them with the need for them to be at an educational institution at certain times. At least; that is what some of the institutions that offer e-learning, claim.
While its advantages are undisputable, it leaves a question, how much of an advantage the learning programme is. Health and safety officials do not operate as a call centre in the workplace by only taking incoming calls; they are expected to take action. For that same reason one shouldn't expect future health and safety officials to acquire knowledge through a one-way and limited (digital) portal like e-learning.
Meeting up with facilitators and fellow-learners on a one on one basis and ask and exhaust any queries and questions they might have, is an important way of acquiring information. Conducting classes with practical demonstrations will also be much more helpful than handing out leaflets. Practical displays enable student to understand more, and easily, as they are exposed to what they are learning about, visually as well as being able to touch and experience.
Classroom training is perceived as one-way communication at some institutions. This way of training has reflected loopholes as learners are given less or no chance at all to express their ideas and thoughts. Training programs should include discussion sessions to encourage students to explore the field. While online chat-rooms might be popular platforms for exchanging personal information, it hasn't proven itself yet as a way of improving education as interactivity in classrooms is, therefore, needed.
As it differs from learner to learner how well they manage to absorb and 'store' knowledge and information, the 'acceptance of information' needs to be assessed from time to time. Employers and co-workers cannot afford to find out by trial-and-error whether the learner has succeeded taking note of the study material and mastered the ability to apply the information. It is, for that reason, essential to have learners assessed from time to time. This can be done by having learners writing exams or submitting tasks but, more importantly, this is also something that can be done by assessors when lecturing learners.
Experienced and well-informed assessors have the ability and skills to sense and notice very quick whether learners understand and absorb information provided. But they can only do so when both students and assessors interact as body language and facial expressions are, amongst others, the most important clues to either substantiate or contradict a verbal message.
There is nothing wrong with adopting modern technology or considering new solutions to improve knowledge and skills. But that doesn't mean that they guarantee a major improvement or that one can do away with proven solutions.
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