No More “Death by PowerPoint”
13
Jun
Having suffered through more than my fair share of painful investigator meetings and site training programs, I’ve been reflecting on what makes an ideal study start-up or investigator meeting. Strategic and successful meetings go beyond boring the audience with bullet-point saturated PowerPoint slides and encompass the following best practices:
- The training focuses on addressing the site’s core training needs (identified up-front through needs assessments)
- Specific, behavioral learning objectives drive the content and knowledge validation assessments, not a “canned” agenda template
- Recognize that training is a continuum and allows for more than a one-time training event only
- Prioritize the “must have topics” for what the site immediately needs to get started and provides alternative training timed to when the site’s need the information
- The “What” to do in the protocol is aligned with the “Why” to put things into the appropriate context to secure site buy-in as well as understanding
- The flow of information is logical and taught through the most effective format applying core principles of adult learning theory
- Recognize that “telling ain’t training” and incorporate protocol simulation activities to transfer the protocol into practice
- Leverage face-to-face sessions for strategic relationship building and applied learning that can’t be effectively taught through other formats
- Face-to-face meetings are conducted in an environment that is conducive to learning and maximizes peer-to-peer interactions / shared learning (e.g., strategic seating chart mixing sites of different experiences as well as sites intermingled with study team members)
- Incorporate interactive training designed to appeal to adult learners. For a listing of 101 interactive training techniques, check out the following:
http://www.slideshare.net/coloradostatelibrary/101-interactive-training-techniques
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