The Practical Trainer

Learning objectives will include:

• Recognize the importance of considering the participants and their training needs, including the different learning styles and adult learning principles.
• Know how to write objectives and evaluate whether these objectives have been met at the end of a training session.
• Develop an effective training style, using appropriate training aids and techniques.
• Conduct a short group training session that incorporates these training concepts.

Course Overview

• You will spend the first part of the day getting to know participants and discussing what will take place during the workshop. Students will also have an opportunity to identify their personal learning objectives.

Defining a Successful Training Program

• To start the day, participants will be asked to think about what successful training looks like. This will segue into a discussion of different audiences and their expectations. Participants will also look at some situations that could identify a need for training, and some of the benefits that training can bring.

What Makes a Successful Trainer?

• Next, participants will discuss the characteristics of a successful trainer, including how to stimulate a readiness to learn. Participants will also look at common mistakes made by trainers, and they will brainstorm some ways to avoid or resolve those issues.

A Word about Adult Learning

• During this session, participants will explore the differences between adult and child learners in small groups.

The Learning Process

• The adult learning process has four distinct steps. Participants will look at each step and discuss how they can use this model to help trainees learn.

Principles of Adult Learning

• This session will explore the key principles of adult learning through an exercise and small group work.

The Learning Process

• In this session, participants will explore the four basic steps in learning. Participants will also explore some ways to cover all points of the cycle in a training program.

What’s Your Type? How About Mine?

• During this session, we will look at four main types of trainers. Participants will explore their type and discuss how this knowledge can help them become better trainers. The session will wrap up with a discussion of the experiential learning process.

Applying the Learning Cycle

• For every learning point we make, trainers must consider the learning cycle to ensure that the learners get it. This session will explore the cycle through two different exercises.

Introverts and Extroverts

• Another powerful aspect to understanding yourself and others is to recognize whether you are an introvert or an extrovert. This session will ask participants to consider which side they fall on, and how to use that knowledge in training.

The Training Process

• This session will introduce the six basic steps in the training process and discuss the first step: performing a needs analysis.

Planning Training

• The next two steps in the training process are to develop the training and prepare employees. We will examine these steps through a lecture and group work.

Choosing Training Methods

• The fourth step of the training process is to conduct the training. During this session, we will begin looking at some key parts of this step, including training methods and environmental concerns.

Designing a Learning Sequence

• This session will introduce participants to the four parts of an effective learning sequence. Then, participants will practice creating a few sequences of their own.

Adding Games

• Continuing with the fourth step, participants will learn how to choose games to add to their training.

Setting the Climate

• This session will discuss some of the key factors that set the training climate.

Presentation Skills

• During this session, participants will explore some different ways to communicate with the audience, including telling, showing, non-verbal communication, and using notes. Participants will also examine some different types of visual aids that they can use and how best to use them.

Dealing with Difficult Trainees

• Participants will complete a brainstorming exercise to identify types of difficult trainees and ways to deal with them.

On-the-Job Training

• Job instruction training (or on-the-job training) is becoming more and more prevalent. This session will discuss a four-step plan to make job training a success.

Training Presentations

• We have set aside this time for participants to present their short training program.

Evaluations

• It’s now time to go back to the fifth step of the training process: evaluations. We will examine several methods that participants can use to evaluate the success of their program.

Workshop Wrap-Up

• At the end of the course, students will have an opportunity to ask questions and fill out an action plan.