One of the subjects that regularly comes up when planning training is whether or not to allow participants to use their smartphone devices (for example, iPhone or Android) or computers (a laptop or tablet) during training. I totally understand the question. It's about the learning experience. Training is about knowledge transfer and retention.

However, the answer isn't about the equipment; it's about holding the people who use the equipment accountable. I'm perfectly fine with participants having their phone and/or computer in the room. One of the new trends I'm seeing is participants using the devices to take notes. There are many excellent note-taking apps available. Another trend is participants taking pictures, video, or recordings during a meeting. It's a way to record information.

Instead of holding the equipment hostage, it's time to hold participants accountable for using that piece of equipment properly. And I'm holding them accountable for the material covered...