Why is any content being constructed in the first place?

KaliKo,
Very thoughtful post. Before I share some additional thoughts, let me add that the two SMEs do work together from the beginning. I tried to summarize a complex process.

Now, you made me consider something I believe is pretty important: why do we do training? Given the web 2.0 world in which we live, I think we do and participate in training precicely because it is an option. We also want access to the SMEs who deliver the training. When I teach courses where I am the SME, it seems that a large percentage of the participants come to learn from an SME.

So maybe a reason why we have training is the (temporary -- four to five days in my case) community of the class and the access to the SME.

LoveLearning,
At least in my case, I construct content because customers want me to. Even, as a WLP professional, if I don't consider training optimal or even the appropriate "intervention" in some cases, I develop it because it is what my customers want. I can then try to show them other ways.
I have learned from experience that if a customer wants a course on XYZ (and wants it taught by an SME as they tend to do in my industry) if I do not write and/or deliver it, someone else will and I will lose out on the money, experience, and so forth.

quote:

Originally posted by LoveLearning:
Why is any content being constructed in the first place?

I am assuming that proper analysis has been done and training has been determined to be needed for that specific problem area, performance gap, or whatever. And I'm talking about technical training, which is made up of facts, procedures, processes, etc. How would you teach a technical course without content? What would you present - and vice versa, what would you ask your participants to discuss, "do," or observe - if not "content." Participants will of course add to, alter, etc., the content, but you have to have something to add to and alter and think about, etc.

Isn't there content in the courses you facilitate? How else would you know what the subject even is if there is no content? And what would constitute the "meat" of the course?

The meat is in what the participants do, say, discuss, write, create, etc.

Have a great weekend!

quote:

Originally posted by LoveLearning:
The meat is in what the participants do, say, discuss, write, create, etc.

Have a great weekend!

So are you saying that the meat of the course is nothing more than activities?