VRDS has designed each course in our curriculum from the ground up to be focused on building the right skills within the student, not just having them listen to information. We develop material, course room environments and delivery methods that are experiential, fun, and practical.
We live by fundamental training principles, including:
The Most Basic Human Need:
Training and learning doesn’t have to be a burden. Some suggest “to learn” is our most basic human need. We strive to develop courses so you have fun learning: flinging, spinning, and conducting acts of physical and mental creativity. Dress comfortably.
Launch, Explore, and Summarize Methodology:
This three pronged approach is what fundamentally differentiates our courses. First, we launch an idea or tool by providing the minimum effective practical knowledge required to begin using the method. We then explore with examples, exercises, and interactive labs – elaborating as we go. Finally, we summarize our findings and monitor our skills development. This is the methodology that holds the course together.
Short Attention Span Theatre:
People, regardless of age, have attention spans of twenty or so minutes. We strive to engage you with a host of varied and creative approaches.
Progressive In-Class Labs:
Labs are initially conducted in small groups which are continuously decreased in size until the student is comfortable designing, conducting, interpreting, and presenting their own results and findings.
Lots of 1-to-1 Attention:
This is achieved in many ways, dependent on the student’s preferred learning style, including: in-class walkabouts, mentoring sessions, personalized labs, and continued coaching support after training.
Skill-based Training:
The word “training” conjures up images of skills development. In contrast, “education” is primarily about obtaining knowledge. Obviously, knowledge is a prerequisite to training. Unfortunately, most corporate training and almost all higher education is exclusively knowledge-based (i.e., long lectures, multiple choice exams, and case studies). Our courses move you from education to training as quickly as possible through experiential learning.
Learn by Hand First:
We analyze and communicate lab results with many techniques that require facts, calculations, and doodles. We learn to do this first by hand to gain a deeper understanding of the tools and techniques. Bear with us on this one because it is the number one positive comment we receive on surveys. We will be creating a lot of flip-chart dust. We will write results down, discuss them with peers, check our intuition versus results, and present conclusions to the class for validation and reinforcement.
Practical Statistics:
Only practical statistics are taught. If we can't use it or don't need it to further a more advanced tool or technique, we don't cover it.
Unique Content:
We provide you with content that is not found in traditional training. Our decision trees and job aides are a passion with us and accelerate your skills development.
By upholding these principles to the highest regard in every class we hold, we ensure that the student is employing best way possible to build the skills that she will need to apply in her process improvement work. However, this is just the first step.
