Presenter Coach
Ideas to improve your communication, presentations and speeches.20 November, 2006
Double loop learning
I was sitting at home one wintry night trying to get my mind around double loop learning.
The TV was on, but I was ignoring it. The radiant heaters were both working in synergy. But every time I got up to make a cup of coffee the fuse blew.
This went on for a few nights and I became a very good fuse changer.
My preoccupation with continuous improvement set in. I bought a spare fuse block and wired it in advance, so I didn't have to fumble around in the dark.
Then I made a capital investment and replaced all of the fuses with circuit breakers.
But still, every wintry night when I tried to make a cup of coffee the fuse blew.
With two heaters, a fridge, a freezer and the TV plugged into the same power circuit the fuse could be expected to blow every time I made a cup of coffee on a wintry night.
Then it occurred to me. the fridge, freezer, two heaters, TV and jug were on the same circuit. Another circuit hosted a bedside lamp and a clock radio.
I was solving the wrong problem.
With a couple of extension cords, I was able to plug the heaters into power points into the other circuit.
Of course most problems are the result of previous solutions.
Extension cords introduce a new hazard - tripping. So put a mat over the cord.
Mats are slip hazards of course. So tape them down with double sided tape underneath the mats.
The tape discoloured the polished wooden floor, so ….
Double loop learning means asking more questions every time a solution is found.
Single loop learning was about finding faster ways to change the fuse. Double loop learning is about finding the cause rather than the symptom.
The TV was on, but I was ignoring it. The radiant heaters were both working in synergy. But every time I got up to make a cup of coffee the fuse blew.
This went on for a few nights and I became a very good fuse changer.
My preoccupation with continuous improvement set in. I bought a spare fuse block and wired it in advance, so I didn't have to fumble around in the dark.
Then I made a capital investment and replaced all of the fuses with circuit breakers.
But still, every wintry night when I tried to make a cup of coffee the fuse blew.
With two heaters, a fridge, a freezer and the TV plugged into the same power circuit the fuse could be expected to blow every time I made a cup of coffee on a wintry night.
Then it occurred to me. the fridge, freezer, two heaters, TV and jug were on the same circuit. Another circuit hosted a bedside lamp and a clock radio.
I was solving the wrong problem.
With a couple of extension cords, I was able to plug the heaters into power points into the other circuit.
Of course most problems are the result of previous solutions.
Extension cords introduce a new hazard - tripping. So put a mat over the cord.
Mats are slip hazards of course. So tape them down with double sided tape underneath the mats.
The tape discoloured the polished wooden floor, so ….
Double loop learning means asking more questions every time a solution is found.
Single loop learning was about finding faster ways to change the fuse. Double loop learning is about finding the cause rather than the symptom.
Tips for using an overhead projector
Overhead projectors are not so common these days, but recently I was asked a question about tips and tricks by someone who needed to use one.
1. The closer the projector, the smaller the image. But remember the further back the projector the less dense the image - too far back and it will appear washed out.
2. Focus is important. The easy way to focus is to place a key in the center of the glass plate and adjust the focus until the serrations are at their clearest. Usually the focus is a knob on the arm that supports the lens. Move the lens up or down using this knob.
3. Too much clear light around the edges detracts from the image. Run 3M Post it correction tape around the edges of the glass so that you can position your slides in a consistent location. This will also black out the extraneous light.
4. The most common error is putting the slide up side down and back to front. Place the slide on the glass so that as you are facing the audience you can read the slide (or see the picture the right way up).
5. The most likely time that a globe will fail is while it is hot, when it is switched on or off, or when it is moved. If you must move the machine while the globe is hot, be gentle. On most modern machines there is a spare globe, which can be activated by sliding a lever. The lever is often marked with a globe with a cross on it. Check that both globes are working before your presentation. (The last presenter may have slid the lever after the globe blew.)
6. If possible project onto a screen, rather than a sheet or a light painted wall. Any flaws in the painting will be highlighted by the intense light.
7. If you are not referring to the image, turn the projector off. The easiest way to do this is slip a folded sheet of letter size paper over the lens (the projector stays on - the projected image is blocked by the paper) This avoids the risk of the globe blowing while you are turning it on or off.
8. Move mountains if you have to, just to get 10 minutes with the projector beforehand With this rehearsal time beforehand these tips will become clear and simple.
These instructions relate to the most common type of projector, consisting of a light inside a box, with a glass plate on which the slide is placed and an arm on which a lens is positioned.
There are some other types which involve mirrors for which the instructions are slightly different, particularly the right way up rules.
1. The closer the projector, the smaller the image. But remember the further back the projector the less dense the image - too far back and it will appear washed out.
2. Focus is important. The easy way to focus is to place a key in the center of the glass plate and adjust the focus until the serrations are at their clearest. Usually the focus is a knob on the arm that supports the lens. Move the lens up or down using this knob.
3. Too much clear light around the edges detracts from the image. Run 3M Post it correction tape around the edges of the glass so that you can position your slides in a consistent location. This will also black out the extraneous light.
4. The most common error is putting the slide up side down and back to front. Place the slide on the glass so that as you are facing the audience you can read the slide (or see the picture the right way up).
5. The most likely time that a globe will fail is while it is hot, when it is switched on or off, or when it is moved. If you must move the machine while the globe is hot, be gentle. On most modern machines there is a spare globe, which can be activated by sliding a lever. The lever is often marked with a globe with a cross on it. Check that both globes are working before your presentation. (The last presenter may have slid the lever after the globe blew.)
6. If possible project onto a screen, rather than a sheet or a light painted wall. Any flaws in the painting will be highlighted by the intense light.
7. If you are not referring to the image, turn the projector off. The easiest way to do this is slip a folded sheet of letter size paper over the lens (the projector stays on - the projected image is blocked by the paper) This avoids the risk of the globe blowing while you are turning it on or off.
8. Move mountains if you have to, just to get 10 minutes with the projector beforehand With this rehearsal time beforehand these tips will become clear and simple.
These instructions relate to the most common type of projector, consisting of a light inside a box, with a glass plate on which the slide is placed and an arm on which a lens is positioned.
There are some other types which involve mirrors for which the instructions are slightly different, particularly the right way up rules.
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