Saw this document and wanted to share it. Complete this one-pager to review the past and more importantly, plan the future pretty easily!
Author: Seniye Groff
Bread!
I realize it is currently popular to cut carbs and even gluten, but I love baking bread. I love the process of trying various recipes and have been exploring more recipes that require proofing the bread for longer and longer. I find the longer a bread is proofed, the more it tastes like what I find in my local bakery. I also love the aroma that fills the house once my bread is baked. Instantly, when the kids walk into the house from their long school day, they smell it and smile.
The most recent recipe I made was Smitten Kitchen’s oat and wheat sandwich bread. The recipes says that the longer the bread proofs, the better it gets. I let mine proof for two days and it was delicious! This is truly a nice dense bread and the kids did not mind that it was made from whole wheat flour and oats!
Have You Ever Tried a Float?
Last night a friend picked me up and did not tell me where we were going. She had planned an outing for us to celebrate my birthday. I truly had no idea what she was doing. We landed not too far from home, but a world away from anything I had done before. Actually she had never done it either! We were going to float. I had never heard of it and was intrigued. My friend disclosed that she was a little nervous.
I entered a private room, notably called, “The Princess Room”. I undressed, showered in the dark (with a shower head that displayed multiple colors of lights, and got into a salt water tank. I kept the lights on at first, but then decided to try the “total darkness” option. Because of all the salt, you float in about four inches of water. It is dark and completely silent, so you lose track of time and frankly don’t even feel your body. I did this for one and a half hours and at first, I really wondered how I was going to last that long doing “nothing”.
The weightlessness is amazing. You really do not feel your body. I closed my eyes and just drifted. I will say that it would have been PERFECT if the room was ten degrees warmer. The water was 93.7 degrees and that was fine, but any body part not in the water felt just a little too cool for me.
Interestingly enough, my friend did not enjoy it and actually ended her session early. It was probably one of the most thoughtful birthday gifts I have received. It really forced me to try something new (which I do believe I am pretty good at, but this definitely took it up a notch). I have decided that for the next 365 days I am going to try or to do or to learn something new. It could be something tiny or something really “out there”. This experience was the perfect way to kick it off. Today, I ran a totally new route. Day one, check that “new” thing done!
Bread Making for the Home Cook
I like to bake bread and have made sandwich loaves for years. You know the drill…warm the milk, get the temperature precise, knead, rise for two hours, knead, rise again and then finally, BAKE! I have wanted to up my “bread game” and try to create the more sophisticated loaves that I can buy at the corner bread shop. I have poured through recipes and learned that this type of bread is the result of longer fermenting times. So instead of two hour rise times, use less yeast but let the dough rise (or ferment) for 18-24 hours. I found a recipe that is so UN-labor intensive I figured there was no way the bread would turn out, but to my surprise, not only did it turn out but it is delicious (aka my 13 year old daughter ate almost the entire loaf in one sitting!). It’s that good.
On my second loaf I added a sprinkling of kosher salt on the outside before cooking it (my husband’s idea!) and it resulted in a really yummy, crispy crust. I played with the recipe and found that the water needed ranges from 1 1/2 cup to almost two cups. The dough might seem dry, but you will see after fermentation that it is quite wet. Have no fear…it will taste delicious in the end!
Writing Effective Assessments
There are many types of assessments used to check learning. Generally, formative assessments are learning activities that appear throughout a course, whereas summative assessments usually appear at the end. The table below summarizes the differences.
| Formative
(learning activities, challenges, learning aids, knowledge checks, guided practices, learning modules) |
Summative
(activities, tests, quizzes, challenges, exams, assessments) |
|
|
Match assessment types and questions with the outcome you want
The best place to start in your assessment is with your learning objectives. In fact, you can map out your assessment questions before even writing the course as a way to keep the questions focused on the objectives. What behavior or outcome do you want to affect? This is where it’s useful to pull out the Bloom’s Taxonomy and decide which level of learning you want for each assessment question or section.
Try to focus on the behavior you’re trying to affect. For example, say a learning objective calls for sales reps to know enough about product specs to make the right recommendations to customers. You may find yourself writing assessment questions that test learners’ knowledge of product specs, but is memorization the behavior you’re looking for? Probably not. What you probably want the sales rep to do is know how and where to find those specs. In that case, your assessment would instruct learners to use the sales tools at hand to find the right specs instead of requiring them to memorize the specs.
Tips
The following tips are guidelines for knowing what to do and what to avoid when writing summative assessments:
- Map your questions to the course’s learning objectives.
- Feel free to use prescriptive feedback (especially if the course is light on activities).
- Keep feedback short.
- Make sure correct answers are similar in length to incorrect responses (i.e., avoid the tendency to make the correct answer the longest one).
- Make all possible responses reasonable (second-guess some incorrect responses that learners might come up with).
- Use humor sparingly.
- Avoid constructions like “Which of the following is NOT…” and, in your feedback, “none of the above” or “A and C only.”
- If you use “all of the above,” make sure it isn’t always the correct answer.
- Make sure the answers to assessment questions can be found in the course; if you want learners to use data sheets or other sales tools, indicate that in the instructional text.
What has worked for you when you write assessments?
Training Success
I recently finished a project rolling out a new software coupled with new processes. As always, there were some great insights and learning at the end of the project.
Background:
- Learners were dispersed globally and, of course, time and money were important.
- The new platform consisted of four new modules that worked with the customer’s business.
- Most learners would use one or two of the modules but not all four.
- Additionally the new process needed to be shared and include why, what, when, how and where needed to be presented to everyone. Many people were involved with the due diligence so were familiar with the content.
- Face-to-face sessions were offered worldwide after a slew of trainers when through train-the-trainer (TTT) sessions.
- Documentation was thorough and consisted of process decks, work instructions and quick reference guides for both process and the tools.
- Attendance to training was required (yay!).
Reality:
Attendance was surprisingly low, partially I believe because roll out was in August when vacations are at an all-time high. Also the required training was two days long, which was another obstacle because work schedules were already so full. Some attendees felt the class went too fast, while most felt the class was too long. Other feedback stated that the class was too process heavy and not enough tool training. Finally, given that the 700 learners came from many facets of the business, the trainers knew and delivered content on the overall process and tool, but were unable to provide specific business detail to the various departments rolling out the tool. Oh, and the tool was in user acceptance testing (UAT) so it behaved wonky at best during the training sessions.
Future Plan:
As this project matures and future modules evolve and roll out I recommend the following:
- A modular approach so that learners only need to attend the sessions that apply to their work. So if they only use one of the four modules in real-life, then they only attend the session on that specific content.
- E-learning component so that the learners can learn foundational knowledge in a self-directed format and attend classroom time to work in the tool.
- Leader from the respective business group attend the session with their team so that the process-specific questions get answered immediately and demonstrated in the tool.
Performance improvement is an ever-evolving activity. I love the variety and challenge that each project brings; there is no one solution for any project which ensures that creativity and best practices are always required for each and every project!
Spain
I was lucky enough to travel to Spain for two weeks! Spain has always been on my travel list, so it was great to finally see it. A nice bonus was that I got to use my Spanish skills, which although were a little rusty, worked just fine for our trip.
We flew into Madrid and figured out the metro system very quickly. We stayed in the Bibao area of Madrid in an Airbnb apartment. This was my first time using Airbnb, so I did not really know what to expect. Overall we used three different Airbnb apartments on our trip and for the most part it worked out great. I figured traveling with the family would be easier in a full apartment rather than a hotel room, especially since Spain’s hotels do not have two double beds in their rooms (but rather only two twin beds). A word of warning when using Airbnb…the pictures make the rooms look much larger than what they are. Also, read the comments carefully so that you can piece together the “true” details of the accommodation.
In Madrid, the metro system was easy to navigate to all the “must-see” sights. The weather was a heatwave at about 20 degrees hotter than usual, so we used the subway a lot more than usual. On our first full day, we meandered over to Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace. The Royal Palace gave insight to the opulent lifestyle of this national palace.
There really is something magical about the meandering cobblestone streets that were built hundreds of years ago. We also visited (and ate) at the Mercado de San Miguel. There are many art museums to choose from so we went to the Thyssen because of its smaller but impressive collection. On day two we went to Retiro Park, which is a beautiful respite of green space from the very busy city. We also walked the Gran Via and were amazed by all the hustle and bustle; Madrid is a lively (and very clean) city!
We rented a car from Madrid to Barcelona, which was a five hour drive, but much more economical than taking the train or airplane for four people. Barcelona’s metro was not as easy to navigate and so we took a taxi (a definite splurge) to our apartment in the El Born neighborhood. During our time there, we went to Ramblas, La Boqueria Market, Cathedral of Barcelona, Santa Caterina Market, Church of Santa Maria del Mar, Casa Batilo, Palau Guell, the Barceloneta and Block of Discord. It is so interesting to see how Gaudi has influenced the architecture of the city. Barcelona’s must-see attractions are much more close together, so it was easier to walk everywhere instead of navigating the metro.
We then flew to Mallorca. (I definitely would not recommend Ryanair!) I was expecting a quaint, undeveloped island but Mallorca is definitely not that. There were lots of tourists and tourist-related activities. We stayed in C’an Picafort which was primarily a family area. We visited three different beaches in some wonderful hidden coves. We also visited Soller, which is situated high in the mountainous side of the island.
Spain is a beautiful place. The people were very friendly and we had a great time discovering these three areas. The vibrant Spanish lifestyle was very apparent as people seemed to hang out, eat late and then walk the streets late into the night. We managed to find some traditional Spanish fare (versus the touristic menus) and definitely recommend the Menu del Dia to sample the wonderful food. Olives, olive oil, jamon and wine reign in this region! I am sure my kids will remember their Spanish experience for years to come. And ultimately the lesson I always walk away with when I travel is that the world really is a pretty small place where we are more alike than different and location certainly does influence building materials, food and lifestyle.
Some Recent Great Reads
I have had a flurry of good reads lately and only one of them was an actual book review!
I just finished “The Accidental Empress” by Allison Pataki. This book centered around the Habsburgs in 1853. This is historical fiction at its finest. The reader meets Sisi when she is 15 and suddenly finds herself betrothed to Emperor Franz Joseph. The book has all the usual suspects in a royal court and I could not help but feel sorry for Sisi as she learns to navigate the endless treachery while being so young.
I could not put down “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah. The Holocaust always makes for an emotional-filled backdrop. Two sisters trying to survive while being rebellious against the Germans made for an incredible, engrossing read!
I reviewed “Paris Red” for Portland Book Review and loved it! This was another book with an instant character connection and engrossing period details.
“Unbecoming” by Rebecca Sherm guides the reader on a journey of how a few bad decisions can have one looking over their shoulders for a long time.
Finally, “The Paying Guests” by Sarah Waters made me definitely want to read more by this author. I could not put this book down after I was introduced to Frances and her mother in 1922. When their circumstances change and they are forced to take in guests (aka boarders) to make ends meet, the outcome changes their lives forever!
Blueberry Bran Muffins
Yesterday I went through a flurry of cooking. I made pizza dough, ricotta cheese, yogurt and blueberry bran muffins. I consider it a success when my 13 year old will eat bran so when she ate two of these muffins, I knew the recipe was post-worthy. The recipe is from Barefoot Contessa. The only change I made was to use frozen blueberries instead of fresh. The result was stunning!
1/2 cup Vegetable oil
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
7 ounces Greek-style yogurt (about 1 cup)
½ cup sugar
½ cup honey
2 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 ½ cups wheat bran
1½ cups fresh blueberries (8 ounces)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pan with 12 paper liners.
Stir together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon in a medium bowl.
In large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, sugar, vegetable oil, honey, eggs, and vanilla until combined. Add the dry ingredients, stirring with a wooden spoon, just until incorporated. Gently stir in the wheat bran until incorporated. Add the blueberries and stir until evenly distributed.
Scoop the batter into the muffin cups with a rounded 2¼-inch ice cream scoop. Bake for 22 to 30 minutes, until the tops are a golden brown and a cake tester comes out clean. Allow to cool for 5 minutes and serve warm or at room temperature.
The Beginning and the End
Similar to the joy of seeing the first spring flower or the first snowy, winter day, the beginning and end of a consulting assignment is most exciting for me. I can set the stage for success or failure by specific actions I take at both critical points in any engagement. The bookends of a project are your client’s impression bank, long after you are onto another assignment. Throughout a consulting assignment, ethics and strong communication skills are keys to a successful engagement. Unless you do what you say you are going to do and communicate along the way, the outcome will not be seen as success in your client’s eyes.
So what can you do to ensure a strong beginning and end to any of your projects?
In the beginning, the client wants to confirm to himself (or even the entire organization) that hiring you was money well-spent and that the time SMEs will spend with you (instead of doing their own job) will be a sound investment. Ultimately, will you solve the problem that you were hired to solve? By rolling up your sleeves, asking good, thought-provoking questions and listening, you can confirm to your audience that you “get it”. Don’t jump to conclusions and presume you have all the answers. Listen to the real problem to determine the root cause of the issue you are asked to solve. On the other hand, you must move fast. Unlike an employee, there is no “on-boarding” time for you; you need to put in the hours to understand the environment, culture, players and issue as quickly as possible. You were hired because you are the expert and you must demonstrate that expertise quickly in the relationship.
Assuming you met your deliverables and solved the problem (and perhaps a few additional issues) how do you end the assignment successfully? I firmly believe that you thank your stakeholder personally–either in person or with a hand-written card. I realize that in this day of email, it is easier to hurriedly spew of a few lines, but I believe it is much more meaningful to do it in person. Secondly, write up a transition plan prior to your departure, highlighting what you have accomplished, where documentation is located and any follow-up activities to ensure what you suggested or created remains active in the organization. Finally, make sure you connect on LinkedIn and even ask for a recommendation, while your success is present in the client’s mind.
What have you done to ensure a strong beginning or end to projects you have worked on?
seniyegroff 