Any Lift Truck/Materials Handling Equipment (MHE) Instructor will agree that they want their training to be credible and have impact. Effective training not only helps candidates develop real skills and confidence but also delivers measurable results. Like safety improvements and increased productivity. Today, forklift operator training increasingly relies on engaging visual elements. But why is this so important?
To mark the launch of three new operator training PowerPoint presentations (slide decks) for Rough Terrain Telescopic Handler, Vehicle Mounted Lift Truck, and Multidirectional Lift Truck, we explain what Instructors need to know.
Seeing is Believing
Imagine you’re explaining stability principles. You describe how load positioning affects the centre of gravity. And you get blank stares from your candidates. Then, you bring up a simple diagram. It shows how a load in the wrong place can cause a truck to tip over. The message clicks. This is the power of visual aids.
Showing, alongside telling, can help improve understanding and the ability to remember information. And there is science to back this up.
The Science of Visual Learning
Humans naturally focus on visual information. There’s a fascinating evolutionary reason behind it. Think of our ancestors needing to quickly spot a lurking predator—being able to identify threats at a glance was crucial for survival. This is why a large part of our brain is used for processing visual information.
Our brains are very efficient at handling visual data because they can examine and understand multiple elements at the same time. When you look at a video or photograph, for example, you take in the colour, the motion, the shape, and the depth all at the same time, and in no particular order. Yet you understand what you are seeing. This ability is known as ‘parallel processing.’
Compare that to a textbook, where you need to read and process each word in the right order or it won’t make sense. And you can see that how we process visual information is quite different.
Moreover, there’s a strong connection between our brain, our emotions, and visual signals. This relationship makes visual information more easy to remember and recall later on. For instance, you might clearly remember a beautiful sunset or what a friend was wearing years after the fact. And from that fond visual memory can bring back facts – where you were, why you were there, etc.
‘Dual Coding’ Theory in Operator Training
Dual coding is a very scientific term, for something fairly easy that you have probably done lots of times in training. And it is something that really works!
The idea behind dual coding is easy: combining visual and verbal information is the best way to learn and remember things.
Our brains process visual and verbal stimuli in different areas. So, when we engage both at the same time, we create lots of connections in our brain. This can boost our understanding and memory. So, to help operator training to really stick, instead of just talking about how a machine works, show a visual alongside your explanations.
Instructors should have different types of visual aids for operator training. From videos and diagrams, right through to PowerPoint presentations.
PowerPoint can be Powerful
It is easy to overlook the impact of a great PowerPoint presentation. Appealing design, diagrams, images, and video. All help enhance the learning experience and make training more engaging and interactive. For many candidates, the right presentation can help make large amounts of information clearer and more easy to understand.
A PowerPoint presentation also provides Instructors with a simple way to bring the same visually engaging training to different classroom sessions. This helps support standardised, and consistent levels of training quality.
That is one reason why we have launched three new training PowerPoint presentations to accompany our hard copy Trainers’ Guides on Rough Terrain Telescopic Handler, Vehicle Mounted Lift Truck, and Multidirectional Lift Truck.
Each is available on a handy USB stick for maximum ease. All are also available now in the RTITB eLibrary.
New RTITB Operator Training Presentations
The new slide decks feature eye catching graphics that make detailed concepts easier to understand and remember. They are perfect for delivering professional, consistent training. And for providing a visual aid to bring training to life in the classroom. All without having to spend time developing your presentation slides.
Each of the new Operator Training PowerPoints covers key topics, such as:
- Legislation
- Introduction to the Truck
- Controls and Instruments
- Safe Operation
- The Hydraulic System
- Stability
- Load Handling
- Pre-Use Inspection
- Ramps and Inclines
There are exclusive discounts for RTITB Accredited Partners, Driver CPC Consortium Members and Registered Instructors on all three training presentations:
Available now! Visit the RTITB Online Shop to invest in credible presentations that improve operator confidence and save hours of wasted time building slide decks. Or get started using the new PowerPoint deck – already included as part of your RTITB eLibrary materials.
Author: Laura Nelson, Managing Director, RTITB
Laura Nelson has worked with RTITB, the leading workplace transport training accreditation body, for more than 20 years. She has been Managing Director for 8 years.
Laura champions the development of innovative training programs, training quality standards, and software. She aims to empower the transport, warehousing, and logistics industries to achieve safety excellence.
Her approach to leadership reflects her belief in the importance of the RTITB mission to save lives.
Laura is a qualified Transport Manager and ISO9001 Lead Auditor. She has also completed Cranfield University’s Business Growth Program.
Connect with Laura on LinkedIn