VECTOR SOLUTIONS MONTHLY BLOG ROUND UP: OCTOBER, 2019

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As they do every month, our parent company Vector Solutions just published their round-up of blog articles published in the previous month by their different business units and brands.  This includes an article from your friendly neighborhood Convergence Training.

These articles, all originally published in the month of October, 2019, include:

  • Vector Solutions on the value of using EHS management software for improving workplace safety (this is a nod to our new safety management software, Vector EHS, created by new acquisition IndustrySafe)
  • IndustrySafe announcing the upcoming arrival of version 6.0 of the IndustrySafe/Vector EHS safety management software just mentioned
  • RedVector with a list of resources for the recent Manufacturing Day celebration
  • SafeSchools on launching a list of vaping prevention resources
  • SafeColleges announcing a recorded webinar on positively influencing campus culture
  • Exceptional Child on understanding ADHD and helping students succeed
  • TargetSolutions on the role of clean PPE in preventing cancer in firefighters
  • And your friends here, Convergence Training, with a recently recorded webinar on evidence-based training practices

If we’ve sparked your interest, check out the October, 2019 Vector Solutions Blog Round-Up.

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What Is Design Thinking?

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If you’ve never heard of design thinking, you might find this brief introduction of value. If you’re already using design thinking, we value your additional insights and contributions in the comments section below.

So what is design thinking, those of you who’ve never heard of it before may be asking? Tim Brown, the president and CEO of IDEO (who played a big role in the development and spread of design thinking), puts it this way:

Design thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation that draws from the designer’s toolkit to integrate the needs of people, the possibilities of technology, and the requirements for business success.

You can use design thinking to help create better products, services, and experiences for your customers; to help improve workplace conditions for your employees; to improve workplace processes and procedures; or to fix other problems. In that sense, it’s a bit of an all-purposes problem-solving tool with a focus on empathy, being human-centered, and the user’s experience that includes a healthy dose of collaboration.

We’ll provide a quick overview of design thinking in the article below. We’ll also provide links to resources where you can learn more. If you’ve used design thinking yourself at work, please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section.

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Facilitating Change for Performance Improvement & Innovation: A Discussion with Arun Pradhan

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The one constant in the universe is change. Or so the great philosophers say.

Given the possibility that this is true, it makes sense for all of us to be better prepared to acknowledge the inevitable nature of change, prepare for it, and learn to benefit from it when possible.

To help us wrap our heads around this, we touched base with L&D guru and change agent Arun Pradhan (you may remember our earlier discussion with Arun on lifelong learning and learning agility). A million thanks to Arun for sharing his thoughts with us on change.

As for you, you’ve got two choices–watch a recording of the video discussion immediately below, or scroll down further to read a transcript. Either way, we hope you enjoy this.

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ANSI/ASSP Z490.1 & Z490.2 Discussions at ASSP Podcast Webpage

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The first of two discussions about the Z490 series of ANSI/ASSP standards for EHS training is now available at the ASSP Safety Standards at Tech Publications podcast webpage.

Find the podcast about Z490.1, the standard for all EHS training, here.

In mid-November, the podcast about Z490.2, the standard for ONLINE EHS training, will be published as well. We’ll update this article at that time to provide a link.

Both discussions feature Jeff Dalto of Convergence Training/Vector Solutions, who was on the sub-committee that created Z490.2 and is on the committee to update Z490.1. Read Jeff’s last update on the creation of Z490.2 here.

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Intro to Systems Thinking for Workplace Performance Improvement

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It’s common to hear people talking about the importance of systems thinking in the workplace these days.

The point that folks make is that if you want to really solve problems, or really grasp opportunities, you’ve got to think of issues systemically.

I’ve heard this same basic point made by people in different work circles: learning and development, safety, operations, maintenance, HR, and more.

And beyond that, the point is often extended with some helpful advice: think of connections instead of disconnections/silos; think in circles instead of in a linear manner; think in wholes instead of parts; think of synthesis instead of analysis; think of relationships instead of about things in isolation. Be big-picture. Be holistic.

And that advice is good, to a point. But I also find it somewhat vague and hard to act on.

As a result, I decided to do a little reading on systems thinking to learn more. I’m hoping that by learning about different systems archetypes, different components of systems, and the different ways systems grow/decline, it will make it easier to identify systems at work, determine how they work, and then try to change them when I want to.

I’m doing this as a bit of a “learning out loud” project, not entirely knowing where this will go or how useful it will be. As a result, even though I always invite your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below, that’s especially true for this article. If you’ve got your own favorites sources about systems thinking, your own thoughts about systems thinking and how to apply it at work, or if you can begin to point out how to apply some of the lessons below in specific contexts, please do share!

In the credit-where-credit is due section, I should note that this article is largely based on the first-half of the book Thinking in Systems: A Primer by Donella H. Meadows. We are deeply endebted to Meadows here and in no way do we think this captures all the great thought in the book. Please consider buying a copy of the book today, as it goes into much more detail and includes many helpful examples and illustrations. It’s our plan to return to some of the materials in the second-half of Meadows’ book in future articles.

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Vector EHS Software Demo: Linking Safety Data & Safety Training Webinar

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Our parent company Vector Solutions recently acquired Industry Safe, maker of safety management software. That means Convergence Training can now offer the Industry Safe safety management software to our customers–we call it Vector EHS.

Watch the recorded webinar below for a discussion of linking safety data and safety training and to see a demo of how to do this with Vector EHS.

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What Is Evidence-Based Training?

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Not that long ago, we wrote a blog article about learning myths, and in that article, we promised we’d cycle  back and write another on evidence-based training practices. This is the fulfillment of that earlier promise–an article on evidence-based training. (Note that in addition, you might want to check out this free, recorded webinar on evidence-based training and learning myths and this discussion about learning maximizers and learning myths with Dr. Will Thalheimer).

We’ll give you an introduction to evidence-based training in this article, explaining:

  • What evidence-based training is
  • Why we believe you should use evidence-based training methods
  • What are some evidence-based training methods
  • Where you can learn more about evidence-based training

Along the way, we’ll also link you to some other articles and interviews we’ve already done on evidence-based training practices, including interviews with some of the learning researchers out there.

We hope you’ll enjoy this and invite any questions.

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LMS Basics: What is a SaaS LMS?

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In this issue of our ongoing LMS Basics series, we’re going to take a little dip into the alphabet soup of the learning technology world by exploring what a SaaS LMS is. That’s a software as a service learning management system for those of you who still use words to communicate and think.

If you’d like to know what a SaaS LMS is or what some of the advantages are, read on.

Also, don’t forget to download our free LMS buyer’s guide either here or from the button at the bottom of this article.

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Implementing HOP for Safety Management in Oil & Gas

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Human and Organizational Performance, or HOP, is a new approach to occupational safety and health that’s becoming increasingly common at worksites around the world. HOP has some similarities with other forms of so-called new safety, such as Safety 2 and Safety Differently.

We recently had a discussion with safety consultant and HOP learning facilitator Helen Harris about her experiences implementing and using HOP for workplace improvements at two different companies in the oil and gas industries. Thanks to Helen for her time, insight and experience in the interview below.

Note: You can watch a recorded video of our discussion below or you can read a transcript of the discussion below that.

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Recorded Webinar: Evidence-Based Training Practices

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Our friends at RedVector once again had Jeff Dalto of Convergence Training over at their webinar series, this time for a discussion of evidence-based training methods and learning myths. We’ve got a recording of the webinar below for ya.

Kasey of RedVector and Jeff discuss the following in the evidence-based training webinar:

  • What is evidence-based training
  • How people process information
  • The difference between training delivery methods and instructional methods
  • Blended learning solutions
  • Evidence-based training practices (a partial list)
  • Learning myths
  • Where to learn more

We’ve got the recorded webinar for you below. It clocks in at about an hour and eight minutes. Please enjoy it, let us know if you have questions, and please leave suggestions for future webinar topics if you have any.

Also, feel free to check out the previous webinars in this ongoing series, which have dealt with:

And now, with no further ado, our recent evidence-based training practices webinar, below.

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Silica Compliance for Construction Infographic

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Need help complying with OSHA’s 1926.1153 Respirable Crystalline Silica standard? You’ll find the infographic below to be helpful if you are.

Download it now and let us know if you have any additional questions about the Silica standard or need help with training for silica awareness, other safety and health training, or other safety management needs.

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Free OSHA 1926 Silica Construction Compliance Infographic Download

Download this free infographic outlining an employer’s major responsibilities for complying with the OSHA 1926 (Construction) requirements.

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