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Host internal training events

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Equipping your team with the right skills is essential to harness the full potential of Power Platform. Once you have established your training strategy, decide which internal training events to host to upskill your makers. This article explores the benefits of various training opportunities, such as "In a Day" workshops, and shares best practices for organizing such events.

Run internal "in a Day" events

Microsoft's "Power Platform in a Day" workshops are hands-on sessions designed to provide participants with practical skills in a short time. These workshops cover the essentials of Power Apps, Power Automate, and Copilot Studio. You can register for these workshops, which are delivered by Microsoft partners worldwide. The content is also available for download, so organizations can host these sessions internally and tailor the content to their needs.

Here are a few tips for running "in a Day" events internally:

  • Schedule the event well in advance and make sure all necessary resources, such as environments and licenses, are ready. Use the training in day components of the CoE Starter Kit to schedule events and get attendees to register.
  • Promote the event in your internal community.
  • Create a dedicated environment or use a developer environment for training purposes and make sure this environment is covered by a data loss prevention policy that allows required connectors. Ensure attendees have the right license and access to the environment before the event. Ask attendees to sign up for a premium trial or assign them a premium license in the Microsoft 365 admin portal.
  • Familiarize yourself with the course material, and have a few facilitators available on the day to help attendees one-on-one if they need assistance. Customize the workshop content to align with your organization's specific needs and goals.
  • Prepare a short introduction presentation that explains the purpose of Power Platform and its goals in your organization. If your organization has successful solutions, show them during the introduction to help attendees understand how the platform is used.
  • Run a trial event for 10 to 12 people who are able to provide feedback and test the logistics with you. This group could be your inner circle of champions. They can also be your trial group for other events and activities you're planning.
  • Set clear expectations with attendees. Make sure they know what they're registering for, why they're attending, and what they should know or do before the event.
  • Offer resources and support after the event to reinforce learning and address any remaining questions.

Lunch and Learn

Sometimes people don't want to or can't dedicate a full day to learning something new. Often, igniting a spark inspires leaders within the organization to motivate others. Hosting Lunch and Learn sessions is a great way to form and nurture a Power Platform community.

This environment lets teams share resources, guidelines, and procedures. Lunch and Learns are meant to be fun and regular. As more people across the organization become interested, the sessions give them a place to explore their interest and a path to start skilling up on Power Platform.

Offer sessions as a webinar, a Teams call, or by uploading the video to stream beforehand and creating a Teams channel for attendees to ask questions. Participants can watch the webinar on their own or together as a team. Making a recording available creates a more geo-inclusive environment.

Lunch and Learn sessions provide bite-sized learning, and are a great way to reach attendees with a busy schedule. They also foster a culture of innovation and learning.

Solution building bootcamps

Solution building bootcamps are hands-on learning sessions designed to help participants build Power Platform solutions from scratch. These bootcamps are suited for intermediate makers, who already have a basic understanding of the platform and are ready to tackle more complex projects. These bootcamps focus on practical, real-world application development.

Participants engage in a structured learning environment where they can:

  • Learn advanced techniques: Gain insights into advanced features and functionalities of Power Apps, Power Automate, and Copilot Studio.
  • Hands-on experience: Work on building complete solutions from the ground up, applying best practices and methodologies.
  • Collaborate and network: Interact with peers, share knowledge, and collaborate on projects, fostering a community of practice.
  • Receive expert guidance: Benefit from the expertise of instructors and mentors who provide personalized support and feedback.

To ensure a successful bootcamp, consider the following steps:

  1. Define objectives and target audience: Clearly outline the goals of the bootcamp. Determine what skills participants should already have, which ones they'll acquire, and the projects they'll complete by the end of the session. Specify the target audience for the bootcamp. Decide if the event is aimed at a specific department, such as IT, HR, or Marketing, or focuses on a particular use case, like automating workflows or building autonomous agents.
  2. Select instructors: Choose experienced instructors who are well-versed in Power Platform. They should be capable of delivering advanced content and providing hands-on support.
  3. Develop curriculum: Create a detailed curriculum that covers the necessary topics and skills. Include a mix of lectures, hands-on exercises, and project work. Ensure the content is challenging yet achievable for intermediate users.
  4. Prepare materials: Gather all necessary materials, like prebuilt templates and examples. Ensure participants have access to the tools they need to succeed.
  5. Schedule and logistics: Plan the schedule to allow for intensive learning while also providing breaks and opportunities for networking. Consider the logistics of the venue, whether it's in-person or virtual, and ensure all technical requirements are met.
  6. Promote the event: Advertise the bootcamp within your organization and through relevant channels. Highlight the benefits and learning outcomes to attract the right participants.
  7. Engage participants: Foster an interactive and collaborative environment. Encourage participants to ask questions, share their experiences, and work together on projects.
  8. Provide support: Ensure that instructors and mentors are available to assist participants throughout the bootcamp. Offer extra resources and follow-up sessions to reinforce learning.

Solution-building bootcamps let participants deepen their understanding of Power Platform and develop more sophisticated solutions. Hands-on experience and expert guidance build confidence and competence. Hosting bootcamps accelerates internal talent development, leading to more innovative and efficient solutions. It also fosters a culture of continuous learning and collaboration.

Ask an expert events

"Ask an expert" events are designed to address specific questions and challenges that participants encounter while building apps, flows, and agents. These sessions offer makers an opportunity to overcome obstacles and improve their skills by receiving personalized guidance from an experienced maker. Record sessions to build a content library that new makers can use, encouraging continuous learning.

Start organizing "Ask an expert" events by:

  1. Identify experts: Select experienced makers and champions in your organization or invite external experts who have in-depth knowledge of Power Platform. Make sure they're approachable and capable of providing clear, actionable advice.
  2. Schedule regular sessions: Plan regular Q&A sessions to provide ongoing support. Consistent scheduling helps participants know when they can seek help and encourages continuous engagement.
  3. Promote the events: Advertise the sessions in your organization to ensure that all potential participants are aware of the opportunity. Use internal communication channels such as emails, intranet posts, and team meetings.
  4. Collect questions in advance: Encourage participants to submit their questions ahead of time, to help the experts prepare detailed responses and to keep the sessions runnning smoothly.
  5. Facilitate live interaction: During the session, allow participants to ask follow-up questions and engage in discussions. An interactive format clarifies doubts and provides a richer learning experience.
  6. Record and archive sessions: Record each session and make the videos available in a centralized repository. This library of recorded sessions can be a valuable resource for new makers and those who encounter similar challenges in the future. Explore using the Video hub of the CoE Starter Kit for sharing videos.