Why Civil Engineering Training Should Be On-Demand
I remember trying so hard to line up everyone's schedules. Construction season was right around the corner, and our staff needed training right now. Not only did we need to rush a presentation on ADA ramps (Americans with Disabilities Act), but we had to find a time that worked for the people learning and the people who could share their experience. This is the third of the seven learning needs for civil engineers: on-demand.
Where lunch and learns fall short
Lunch and learns can be a very powerful way to share knowledge. The presenter gets to practice their speaking skills, and there's a lot of back and forth. But they rely heavily on people being available at the same time, and that rarely lines up with when the need hits. We spend all that time arranging one, and then someone new joins and they've missed it. Now part of our staff stays untrained until the next lunch and learn, a year or two from now.
Lunch and learns should be an addition to your learning structure, not the foundation.
Why it matters
On-demand means the training is there when the need shows up, so the timing stops depending on everyone's schedules.
Follow along for the fourth learning need, coming next week.
About the Author
Laura Oxsen is a dual-licensed Professional Engineer and Certified Learning & Development Specialist, and the founder of Oxsen Learning. She built her training courses from real experience mentoring engineers through these exact workflows.
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