Hospitality TrainingDo Learning Styles Matter?

Ali Green, CHA2/24/11

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For the next hour……

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Background Info

The Study

The Results and What that Means to You

Learning Styles – Digging Deeper

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Special ThanksGary WhitneyJesus RiveraWarren Jahn

First and ForemostThank you all!

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The Back-story

For the LOVE of training

What is happening in our industry?

Shift Happens

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Pilot Study

East Carolina University – 2009Results – Not Significant

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Here is my real question that sparked this entire study.

If I can get the employee into the “right” training delivered online or traditional – will this help the industry retain employees?

The Problem

EconomyService LevelsRapid Change

Large Turnover in Hospitality/Lodging Industry36 – 300% (Cho, Woods, Jang and Erdem, 2006)

Costs Roughly $140 Billion in 2002 (Incentive Research Foundation)

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The Purpose

To determine if a relationship exists between learning styles of employees and the preferred instructional delivery mode in hospitality training.

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The StudyResearch Questions

•Does the employee’s learning style determine his/her preference for training delivery mode?•Does an employee have better learning results via online or traditional instruction mode?•Does an employee have better learning results if delivery mode is matched to learning style?•Should hospitality-training organizations match instructional systems delivery (ISD) content with learning styles?

Goals

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Online Synchronous one day workshop

TraditionalFace to face one day workshop held at hotel in meeting room

MaterialSame material delivered to both online and traditional

InstructorSame instructor for both online and traditional

N=120 minimally. 60 per cell.

Reality

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PERFORM

MaterialSame material delivered to both online and traditional

InstructorInstructors for both online and traditional = Jesus and Warren

n=79 58 Online 21 Traditional

Reality

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Study and Instruments

Quasi-ExperimentalOnline Survey Software: Opinio

• Index for Learning Styles Assessment and demographic information (Felder and Solomon)

• Pre-Test• Post - Test

•11 Items•Developed by Jesus and Warren•Posttest 1 additional question

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44 Questions6 Additional Demographic Questions

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The Results - ILSDoes the employee’s learning style determine his/her preference for training delivery mode?

The ResultsPre and Post Test Outcomes

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Should hospitality-training organizations match instructional systems delivery (ISD) content with learning styles?

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Discussion/Implications

Testing – Pre and Post SignificantNo Significant Difference – Delivery Mode and Preferences

Learning Styles – Visual/Verbal is the stand out

Learning Styles and ISDOnline “saves” moneyEmbrace Distance LearningShould be testing

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Reaching one learner at a time to change the training world.

AND WHAT ABOUT YOU?ILS Outcomes

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Individual Results

Mindtools.com28

Active Learners – if you act before you think you are apt to make hasty and potentially ill-informed judgments. You need to concentrate on summarizing situations, and taking time to sit by yourself to digest information you have been given before jumping in and discussing it with others.

Reflective Learners – if you think too much you risk doing nothing. Ever. There comes a time when a decision has to be made or an action taken. Involve yourself in group decision-making whenever possible and try to apply the information you have in as practical a manner as possible.

Active - Reflective

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Sensory Learners – if you rely too much on sensing, you can tend to prefer what is familiar, and concentrate on facts you know instead of being innovative and adapting to new situations.

Intuitive Learners – if you rely too much on intuition you risk missing important details, which can lead to poor decision-making and problem solving. Force yourself to learn facts or memorize data that will help you defend or criticize a theory or procedure you are working with. You may need to slow down and look at detail you would otherwise typically skim.

Sensing - Intuition

Mindtools.com

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Visual Learners – if you concentrate more on pictorial or graphical information than on words, you put yourself at a distinct disadvantage because verbal and written information is still the main preferred choice for delivery of information. Practice your note taking and seek out opportunities to explain information to others using words.

Verbal Learners – when information is presented in diagrams, sketches, flow charts, and so on, it is designed to be understood quickly. If you can develop your skills in this area you can significantly reduce time spent learning and absorbing information. Look for opportunities to learn through audio-visual presentations (such as CD-ROM and Webcasts.) When making notes, group information according to concepts and then create visual links with arrows going to and from them. Take every opportunity you can to create charts and tables and diagrams.

Visual - Verbal

Mindtools.com

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Sequential Learners – when you break things down into small components you are often able to dive right into problem solving. This seems to be advantageous but can often be unproductive. Force yourself to slow down and understand why you are doing something and how it is connected to the overall purpose or objective. Ask yourself how your actions are going to help you in the long run. If you can't think of a practical application for what you are doing then stop and do some more "big picture" thinking.

Global Learners – if grasping the big picture is easy for you, then you can be at risk of wanting to run before you can walk. You see what is needed but may not take the time to learn how best to accomplish it. Take the time to ask for explanations, and force yourself to complete all problem-solving steps before coming to a conclusion or making a decision. If you can't explain what you have done and why, then you may have missed critical details.

Sequential - Global

Mindtools.com

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Individual Results

= Group

= Individual

Group Results

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Let’s Talk

How can you use this as a trainer?

How can the learners use this information?

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Just for you

Parker Palmer – Teaching to the one

Andragogy vs. Pedagogy

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There is more……

Contact me for specifics on what was presented.

Ali Green 505-977-1200 aligreen2010@gmail.com