| Training and Education Philosophy |
The SAE Group differentiates between training and education. Both are necessary in employee
development, but are too often considered nearly synonymous terms. They are not. Because they are
not, learning cannot be optimized in a classroom situation using the same teaching tools for different
levels of knowledge transfer.
Learning involves different levels of complexity. Consider Dr. Benjamin Bloom's Taxonomy of the
Cognitive Domain in the illustration below. Professor Bloom believes that learning falls into six
increasingly complex levels beginning with knowledge and culminating with evaluation.
development, but are too often considered nearly synonymous terms. They are not. Because they are
not, learning cannot be optimized in a classroom situation using the same teaching tools for different
levels of knowledge transfer.
Learning involves different levels of complexity. Consider Dr. Benjamin Bloom's Taxonomy of the
Cognitive Domain in the illustration below. Professor Bloom believes that learning falls into six
increasingly complex levels beginning with knowledge and culminating with evaluation.
We consider the first three levels of learning to be training and the second three to be education. We
also believe there is a clear separation between the first three levels of Bloom's Taxonomy and the
second three. Training is quite adequate for teaching tasks that are, for the most part, repetitive in
nature. Production-oriented skills that involve repeating procedures or motions over and over can be
trained. While this type of learning can be quite complex it involves procedures that must be learned
through repetition and practice. If taught properly a learner should be able to return to a particular
task or skill after weeks or months of other work and, with the aid of a good checklist, be able to
perform the duty successfully. This type of learning deals with certainties and absolutes. Replicated
actions yield expected results.
Many types of work deal with uncertainty, inconsistency and multiple variables that change over time.
Decision-making in a fluid environment involves exercising or using ones problem-solving ability. To
solve problems requires Bloom's education-oriented skills of synthesis, analysis, and evaluation.
One cannot train procedurally to solve problems. Checklists cannot be used to refresh ones memory
of how to organize and integrate multiple variables to make a decision. This requires different teaching
and learning methods.
The SAE Group, Inc. specializes in teaching students to think and problem solve. Using proven and
innovative methods, SAE Group instructors teach synthesis, analysis, and evaluation skills to solve
multidimensional, complex problems.
Both training and education have their place. Each of these teaching philosophies is a tool. The
correct tool must be used to properly do the job. The teaching method for each class is carefully
selected to maximize student learning and subject matter retention. Careful analysis of educational
outcomes, instructional design, classroom environment, student diversity, and the application of
effective teaching methods are employed to ensure a comfortable and successful student experience.
Remember the old saying: "if the student hasn't learned, the teacher hasn't taught." This is a
foundational concept of The SAE Group.
also believe there is a clear separation between the first three levels of Bloom's Taxonomy and the
second three. Training is quite adequate for teaching tasks that are, for the most part, repetitive in
nature. Production-oriented skills that involve repeating procedures or motions over and over can be
trained. While this type of learning can be quite complex it involves procedures that must be learned
through repetition and practice. If taught properly a learner should be able to return to a particular
task or skill after weeks or months of other work and, with the aid of a good checklist, be able to
perform the duty successfully. This type of learning deals with certainties and absolutes. Replicated
actions yield expected results.
Many types of work deal with uncertainty, inconsistency and multiple variables that change over time.
Decision-making in a fluid environment involves exercising or using ones problem-solving ability. To
solve problems requires Bloom's education-oriented skills of synthesis, analysis, and evaluation.
One cannot train procedurally to solve problems. Checklists cannot be used to refresh ones memory
of how to organize and integrate multiple variables to make a decision. This requires different teaching
and learning methods.
The SAE Group, Inc. specializes in teaching students to think and problem solve. Using proven and
innovative methods, SAE Group instructors teach synthesis, analysis, and evaluation skills to solve
multidimensional, complex problems.
Both training and education have their place. Each of these teaching philosophies is a tool. The
correct tool must be used to properly do the job. The teaching method for each class is carefully
selected to maximize student learning and subject matter retention. Careful analysis of educational
outcomes, instructional design, classroom environment, student diversity, and the application of
effective teaching methods are employed to ensure a comfortable and successful student experience.
Remember the old saying: "if the student hasn't learned, the teacher hasn't taught." This is a
foundational concept of The SAE Group.