In Which Owl Focuses on Training

I almost wrote "user training," which makes information users sound like seals balancing beach balls on their noses.

My colleague and I at work have seen a good deal of success with the following approach to information resource training: instead of (well, in addition to) offering training to groups that might use a resource and might be interested in the subject, we are heavily emphasizing one-on-one instruction after the user has been placed on a project that will be using that resource.

For example, people on projects that will be using either travel photo blogs or wikis to manage information are receiving individual instruction from us "in the moment," when the resource is most relevant and they are most motivated to learn and play in the environment.

We'll continue the group brown bags and pointer emails, of course. But approaching things this way is going to be the best way for our company, I think.