Providing Effective Training: Tips for Trainers

1. Providing Effective Training:Tips for Trainers

2. Discussion: What are qualities/ practices of the best trainers/ facilitators?

3. Some Attributes of a Good Trainer • Knowledgeable • Flexible • Neutral facilitator • Inclusive • Organized • Responsible • In control, but not controlling • Pays attention • Good storyteller

4. Overview: Designing a Training Program • Develop instructional activities • Prepare the training design, including setup • Prepare participant evaluation form • Determine follow-up activities • Define purpose of training and target audience • Determine participants’ needs • Define training goals and objectives • Outline training content

5. Planning • Talk to leadership/ convener for guidance and goals/ objectives for the training • Collect information early and use it to design your training • Ask questions to better understand your audience • Start to consider format, scheduling, and agenda

6. Define Purpose and Target Audience • Be clear who your target audience will be • Be clear about what your training needs to accomplish; prioritize • Define training objectives

7. Outline Training Content • Introduction: Establish a positive learning environment; stimulate interest; reduce anxiety and build bonds. Include some content into introductory activities. • Learning component: Concepts and ideas taught and explored; skills demonstrated, practiced and discussed. Activities should actively involve participants in acquiring knowledge or practicing skills. • Wrap-up and evaluation component: Pull it all together. Highlight essential learnings; summarize central concepts and themes; describe next steps. Open up for questions, concerns, and feedback.

8. Develop Instructional Activities • Design with identified outcomes in mind • Provide opportunities to apply learning • Remember strategies that promote active learning, such as brainstorming, games, mini-lectures, small work groups, simulations, role-playing, case studies, etc. • Don’t forget to develop resource materials (e.g., handouts, worksheets, case studies)

9. Prepare Trainer Outline • Write a detailed plan of the training session, including the sequence of specific learning activities and time allotted to each, directions and key points to cover for each activity, and which trainer will be responsible for each segment/ activity • Use the detailed plan to stay on track, make mid-course adjustments, and document training details

10. Prepare Participant Evaluation Form

11. Four phases • Phase 1: Planning • Phase 2: Setup • Phase 3: Providing the training • Phase 4: Follow-up

12. Logistics • Dates • Venue • Food and drink • Materials & A/V • Roles • Disseminate readings • Prepare/ rehearse

13. Phase 2: Setting up the training • Set a positive context • Room set-up should encourage participation • Places to hang newsprint, microphones/audio visual

14. Phase 3: Providing the training • Put people at ease • Break the ice • Review agenda • Develop norms/ ground rules • Keep discussion on track • Encourage participation • Help members feel good about their contributions • Watch the time • Summarize

15. Common ground rules • Take breaks as needed • Listen to others • Be on time • Respect each other • Allow all ideas to be heard • Be supportive

16. During the Training • Facilitator or trusted person to take detailed notes • Keep your eye on the clock • Leave plenty of time to discuss points • Leave time for final perspectives • Round robin for additional comments

17. Record Notes • Let people know they've been heard • Provide a record • Provide information to people who were not there • Help keep everyone on track

18. Tips for Trainers/ Facilitators • Review workshop aims • Get a sense of participants’ knowledge and expectations • Use a variety of communication methods and visual aids • End each day with a “Plus/ Delta” exercise • Start each day with a recap

19. Attitude/ Behavior as a Trainer/ Facilitator • Model the behavior and attitudes you want group members to employ • Use encouraging body language and tone of voice, as well as words • Give positive feedback for joining the discussion • Be open and honest; stay relaxed and calm • Be a good listener; observe, record, etc. • Be aware of people’s reactions and feelings, and try to respond appropriately

20. Attitude/ Behavior as a Trainer/ Facilitator: Continued • Be aware of language barriers, cultural sensitivities • Re-focus wandering commentary back to key topic • Make eye contact, speak slowly and clearly, move around • Involve all participants • Use humor, stories, and examples • Address questions and concerns

21. After the Training: Follow-up • Gather feedback from the group • Send follow-up materials • Summarize evaluation feedback • Review feedback for future improvements