My Training Background

I recently was asked as to what my background was as an instructor and I realized that even though I haven't had a college or university education on instructing others, I have had quite a strong education along the way. Here is my history when it comes to learning how to teach adults and why I am so passionate about teaching...

​I have had professional Train the Trainer courses throughout my career. The first one was through Productivity Point in 1994.The training was done in Toronto.  It was from this training that I ended up working for them for the next 5 years. With Productivity Point, I was taught the Explain, Show, Do, Review method that I have continued through the years. It was here that I expanded my training from design software to office software. I taught courses in MS Word, Powerpoint, Outlook (before it was an online entity) and other programs.

Also, at Fanshawe College, I attended 5 Train the Trainer courses through my 10 years with the college through their Continuing Professional Development program. I have knowledge of  many Adrogogical concepts. With Fanshawe I learned more about Malcolm Knowles' concepts of Androgogy and the difference between visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners. It was instructing here that I experienced almost every kind of learner, from autistic, low functioning, ADHD and other types that stretched my skillset in caring for them as an instructor. 

I worked closely with Ruth Rodgers at Fanshawe College Contintuing Ed, a very accomplished Educator whose belief is that the instructor needs to make the shift from “subject matter expert” to “teacher of subject matter.” Taking her teacher enrichment training sessions at Fanshawe College helped me understand how I could be a better teacher. At this time, there was a real focus on the improvement of teacher to embrace many new teaching theories.