Training and Reading Level

Abstract

In preparing training materials, we often assume that the personnel for whom we are preparing the materials have a working knowledge of what we are teaching them. This is not often true (regardless of what we would like to think). In fact, they may not be able to read what we are presenting, let alone know what we expected they would. Finding out what they do know so that we know where to start is a difficult enough task. But knowing how to write materials in such a manner that we can help them to learn is a completely different (and increasingly challenging) task. Can we do it so that we do not embarrass ourselves or the personnel that we are training? We sure can and we can also do it in a way that promotes interest in the subject and does not detract, as so often happens!