Training Model and New Approaches

In our previous article, we have mentioned the unique training methodology applied within the organization of Cyber Struggle. And in this article, we wanted to address what types of parameters are basically highlighted and, what type of methodology is followed accordingly.

It is better to repeat that although trade is useful to make training quality, the ultimate aim of the training is all about people. It focuses on people. The ultimate aim should be for people. Therefore, the training should be thoroughly designed accordingly.

The quality of a training activity is actually about the parameters identified accordingly and the level of attainment of these parameters. At this point, it is useful to define the word “feedback”. Feedback is the name given to all the events carried out in order to identify if the system works, the aspects thereof that to not work, and the ways and methods to make them work, considering the level of attainment of the target.

When considered from this point of view, the system must feed itself. And this feeding process would be healthier when it is combined with the assessment of people-focused deliverables.

Offering an option to the learner is one of the main components of the right methodology. Aside from the fact that the process of creating of a social environment, which will be mentioned later, has a significant impact on the learning, the learner as an individual must be fed with different options. And it is important for the instructor to deliver the learning process independently of their own traditions as much as possible. For example, a learner should be encouraged to solve a problem with different methods beyond the habits of the instructor based on years of experience.

This gives an option to the learner. Guidance of the learner should not exceed the originality line and, it should be supportive in terms of creating an original attitude.

Having said that, an environment should be created, where the information learned should be associated with the information previously learned, and subjected to correlation and analogy, and the subjects to be taught and, the order of applications thereof should be designed accordingly, which is critically important. These processes would be significantly helpful for the learner to self-learning, identify problems and, create a distinctive style of solution. It would also take the learner to a position, where they could define and be aware of the way of learning and, even create a new way for themselves.

An efficient training program would change the behaviors, habits and thoughts of the trainees.

It is important that an efficient training program changes the behaviors, habits, and thoughts of the trainees.

At this point, another aspect is the feelings themselves. Learning is not an independent process, it is a whole. It has a meaning far beyond the learning of a certain subject in a field. At this stage, it may be important to identify the reasons for learning. This is because the learning process should have the quality to deliver productivity in a subject deeply learned about, beyond the deep understanding of the subject.

And when it comes to productivity, the function of brain that processes and understands the respective data would be a deficient definition.
There must be an infrastructure that would encourage the learner to express their feelings. The feelings themselves such as pain, entertainment, game etc. or the things that would trigger the same should be absorbed at all aspects of the process. Perception takes place only when the data reaches the sense organs. Therefore, this fact should never be ignored while designing the system.

The question “what is in it for me?” is one of the questions that are perceived as a criticism or a question mark in conventional systems. The system must incorporate an integrated approach to learning. Gestalt says that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This is true up to an extent. Gathering the parts may not create a cognitive state that is sufficient to reach the whole. Seeing the whole would deliver a different cognitive understanding and vision.

Therefore, it must give sufficient time to a person to study, develop and reflect what is acquired on their environment. When combined with other parameters such as correlation, original solution tendency, etc., all these parameters would deliver a significant status of comfort to see the whole.

And the whole is the meaning. As soon as one starts to see the whole, the sense-making activities would speed up in all areas from the current process to the future projection.

In addition to an environment, where the learners could discover themselves, the instructors should be aware of the excitement and feelings of the learners and, manage them correctly. At this point, energetic events should be used in the right proportion.

These events would be useful not only for the discoveries of the learners but also for the system in respect of directing and managing them in the right manner.

Rituals, challenges, and innovations could be given in the right dosage only at that time. At this point, in addition to the basic standards of the system, the management parameter pertaining to the status of the learner would be included in the process. It may create a need for instant responses and a different area domination. This would help one to deliver the maximum benefit to the learner without losing the focus on the basic understanding.
Rituals, challenges, and innovations would also feed the feelings, reinforcing the process to make sense of them. The process through which one could overcome obstacles would significantly contribute to the originality and diversity when the learner is provided with an area

We have previously written an article about the ideal performance. One of the most important enemies of these processes mentioned above is fear and stress. The source of fears and stresses is different for everyone. It may be the work itself sometimes, or a higher authority or due to completely psychological reasons.

Providing a democratic environment in the system for and supporting the feelings of the learner would be significantly helpful and encouraging to make their feelings of stress and pressure manageable.

On the other hand, such activities that allow the learner to confront their fears and stresses and, stop their passive aggressive behaviors would make it easy to deliver a high percentage of success. For example, in the training programs designed for Cyber Struggle certificates, we have met some learners who are afraid of heights.

One may think that fear of heights has nothing to do with the Cyber Struggle process, ignoring the fact that the learning is actually a whole. The total experience acquitted by the learner who has achieved to overcome the fear of heights would positively reflect on the main area of activity in different forms and, get the learner to adopt a habit accordingly.

Another important issue is avoiding the reward-based learning. It is not an award that may facilitate the application of these methods and, the management of negative processes such as fear, stress, and pressure. The main subject that one should focus on is the internal motivation that would support the meaning, feelings and other categories. Internal motivation combined with meaning would play an active role in the learning process.

It is important that instructors and learners provide timely feedback. In particular, the establishment of high-level communication in the team of learners also greatly contributes to the learning process. Turning mistakes into a positive way of learning could be achieved by means of teamwork of the learners. Knowing the area and, carrying out events that allow the learners to understand themselves are the milestones that support the assessment process.

Assessment should take place at any moment of the process. Exam-focused assessments after the teaching process could measure the instant success state of the learners but also could create seriously misleading data about the potentials and the possibility of added values they may have. In this context, assessment and feedback processes should be adopted within the system at any moment possible.

Feedbacks are not only useful for the journey of the learners but also reveals the points that require optimization. When considered from this point of view, the teaching process should be as dynamic as the learners. Standardization should not exceed the border of the system dynamism and, it should not bring resistance to the development, adaptation, and change.

In addition to the main categories explained above, it is also important to use mind maps in the learning process. The technique of Mind Maps is based on the studies carried out by Dr. Roger Sperry et al. in 1970s concerning the brain. Paying attention to the inclusion of the process that encourages the technique of mind maps from taking notes to thinking into the training would be supportive in terms of memory and creativity.

Ensuring that the learner could make use of their environment and, supporting the activities that ensure the association of mind and body would create added values for the development of the learners. Enriching the environment with music and posters etc., allowing the learners to move within the environment should also be considered as part of the design in the system that could significantly contribute to the process.

Even it may seem a negative understanding, discussions would actually play an important role in the learners structuring their own knowledge. Therefore, it is important that discussion environments are created sometimes. In order to create such an environment within the organization of Cyber Struggle, we even choose a method, through which a subject is intentionally taught in the wrong manner. It is experienced that this forces the learners to express their opinions and discuss, and thus supports the process through which the learners finally reach the truth and, take it to their permanent memory, and the information is structured in a better manner.

The learning process should not be of a process that covers the classroom only. Field practices would allow the learner to make use of their environment so that the learning would be no more a rhetoric in the classroom, but a fact that continuously affects the life of the learner.

It is important that the learner could establish an association between their social environment and the system taught. The process should be designed in a manner that allows the learners to be within the system. The presence of a system that provides a relationship level between the system and the learners in line with the wishes of the learners would ensure that the learning process is no longer an activity performed within a limited period of time, making it an important part of the life.

Cyber Struggle focuses on individuals and teams. With this mission and mission, it has developed an original training methodology resulting in a high level of success.

In addition to the positive feedbacks in respect of the characteristics, perspective on life and, technical knowledge of the graduates, we are asked this question: “how could you achieve to make this change in such a short period of time?”. Since we have started to be frequently asked these questions, we have decided to share the basic values that our system is based on considering that it would be useful for other educational institutions or individuals.

This article has been prepared accordingly. In the forthcoming days, we will prepare another article addressing how we try to combine these values with Agile processes and the Scrum method.