It had only been a few weeks since I got my new job as an “Access Training Instructor.” I was assigned to give a “Radiation Worker Review” class, which was an annual requal class for anyone who had to work in a Radiological Controlled Area. So everyone in the class had worked at the plant for one year. Most for many more. Barb came up to me after our second break and said “Hawk, what’s wrong with you?” I was taken back a bit and asked her what she meant.
Barb told me she was surprised I was such a BORING trainer! She thought that when I came out to Access Training I would give fun classes. She said without restraint that I was acting like a “regular boring instructor.” Barb and I had worked together for a few years in the Radiation Protection (RP) Department at Salem Nuclear Generating Station.
Yes, I was a bit of a fun character when I worked in the RP department–always laughing and “cutting up.” So, that’s why Barb was surprised I had turned into this “regular boring instructor.”
That’s all it took. It’s surprising sometimes how one statement, article, book or event can drastically change your life-path. Well, what Barb told me that day was one of those moments for me. From that point on I made a personal oath that I was going to be myself when I train (and now, give talks) and use every device I could to make my training fun, interesting, interactive and helpful.
Here’s a short list of some of the unusual ways and things I’ve used:
- Live animals-(Emperor Scorpion, Red-Knee Tarantula, Miniature McCaw, Beta Fish and Cock Roaches)
- Fake animals-(Insects, chickens, monkeys, fish, cats, dogs, etc.)
- Songs, Poems, Stories and all kinds of Riddles, Jokes, Optical Illusions and Pictures
- Skits, Short Videos, Costumes, Finger Puppets, Large Puppets, Crazy Hats, etc.
- Props to varied to list even 10% of the total here but a few memorable ones include: whips, fake brain, chicken feet, baby powder, cookie boxes labeled as “beta butter cookies,” “alpha wafers,” “neutron mix” etc. and very large styrofoam tools
- Interviews, pictures, drawings, and original craftwork
- Known Game Shows, Original Games, Team Games to Create Useable Products i.e. Safety Marketing Plans, Meeting Goal Template, Safety & Health Mascots, Posters
- Anything else my imagination can come up with that is possible
How about you? Any life changing career moments or something you’ve done to make your safety & health training more fun? Please, I’d love to hear about it.
‘till next time.
Richard
