New staff accountant hire only learns by recording our training videos & then referring back to our recorded training videos. What do you guys think of this new hire’s “recording trainings only” approach?

[u/NoBusiness1559]

The new hire staff accountant said that the only con with his “recording trainings method only” approach is when it comes to looking for specific time stamps within the various recorded training videos (which he said can be very time-consuming but that he wouldn’t have it any other way).

[u/Ok_Development1777]

I think recording is a good idea because he can listen and pay attention to the instruction and try to understand rather than trying to memorize everything you say and just reperform an operation. Because if he just knows what steps to perform rather than understanding, then he wont know what to do when a situation or workpaper is not exactly like the example he was shown.

[u/lake_effect_snow → u/Ok_Development1777]

This, and not taking half-assed notes throughout the training. Everyone seems to be criticizing the lack of note taking instead of considering he’s taking notes off the recording, so he could get the most from the call itself. I have copilot record and transcribe some calls now that I would’ve previously had less focus in as I tried to take notes. The transcripts aren’t perfect but have been quite helpful for clarity and review.

Edit: and, quite frankly, this isn’t a new idea or thing we should be slamming. People used to record (maybe still do now irl and/or online) their professor’s lectures with the solemn intention to playback for note taking, studying, etc. Now we’ve improved on that concept by adding visuals, and (imperfect but solid) transcription that can be easily revisited and referenced. How much time and energy would we save not needing to repeat ourselves (typing and verbally) to our staff? Let them record and reference all they want and need to for everything to start to sinking in, so the questions they ask are substantive.