We Learn Something New Everyday…

2. We Learn Something New Everyday… Some Keys to Successful Training

3. Today we will discuss… • The Trainer • What Makes a Successful Trainer • The Presentation • Presenting Your Subject • The Training Environment • The Classroom – where ever it may be… • The Student • Having the Subject Take Hold

4. What’s makes a successful trainer? Personally speaking… • Be approachable and willing to talk • Get to the point; be concise • Be open to critiques • Class surveys or critiques about your presentation?? • Sense of humor • Pay attention to your body language • Be at ease and smile

5. What’s makes a successful trainer? You as the Presenter… • Practice speaking clearly and at speed that may seem a bit slow to you. • Important if teaching internationally or to those where English is not their primary language; avoid slang terms • Practice your presentation and consider having someone watch you present a portion of your subject

6. What’s makes a successful trainer? You as the Presenter… • If you don’t know, don’t be afraid to say so AND find out the proper answer • Share your experiences BUT keep it short • If your are writing, make sure people can read it. Spelling!!

7. What’s makes a successful trainer? • Always dress appropriately (nice) but don’t over (or under) do it • Your students may be ultra-casual but you should not • Environment may drive what you wear, i.e. operating room or police bomb squad • Keep up your own knowledge as someone in your class could call you on it later • Be on-time and ask the same of your students

8. Presenting Your Subject • Know the subject well so you can present the training in a logical order that makes sense • Try to stick to an agenda to keep the learning on-track • Create a Course Guide • Documentation should be clear and presented in the same order as the class • Include related images that reinforce subject retention

9. Presenting Your Subject • Try not to overstress a point but take time to ask someone to demonstrate for the class when appropriate • Keep a steady pace to the class and don’t let it bog down • Take questions but make the answers direct • Take breaks at logical points during the class

10. Presenting Your Subject • Find ways to have substantial hands-on to reinforce the subject • If you find your presentation “dry”, it probably is… get a second opinion • Tangents are okay provided you can steer them back to the subject in a timely fashion • It’s okay to come back to a point when more appropriate

11. Presenting Your Subject • Take advantage of technology but don’t rely on it • Video, audio, Powerpoint, web-based (Flash presentations), video conferencing, online meeting services (WebEx, GoToMeeting…) • Be sure to stress points students REALLY need to remember (especially those that affect safety) • Be flexible and allow the students time for questions and participation

12. Presenting Your Subject • Step back and reevaluate your subject occasionally. • Has technology changed? Are you presenting too much information (or not enough)? • Utilize other people who may be knowledgeable on individual subjects (guest demonstrators or speakers).

13. Presenting Your Subject • Simple subjects only require simple presentation… your students have brains • Sometimes you have to teach to the lowest common denominator • This will be refresh information for students who are familiar with the subject

14. Presenting Your Subject • Train the Trainer… • Provide good source materials and extra time for hands-on and questions • Possibly treat separately as it’s own class (advanced training or an extension of the regular training) • Expect a more professional learning situation as the student realizes they will expected to successfully pass on the subject

15. The Classroom – wherever it may be • Try to have students as close to you as comfortably possible • Make students comfortable (room temperature, good lighting, elbow space, etc…) • Consider safety when necessary • Have procedures in place where hazards of any kind exist

16. The Classroom – wherever it may be • Have the right tools and up-to-date equipment available for sufficient hands-on practice • Keep tools in good condition and software updated • Keep training equipment clean (i.e. keyboards and mice) and in good operating condition.

17. Having the Subject Take Hold • Students are responsible paying attention and making an effort to participate • Set some student expectations and goals at the beginning • If convenient, have students pair up where they can bounce ideas and important points off each other

18. Having the Subject Take Hold Problem students - Know-it-alls students… • Offer “know-it-alls” the chance to help out • Verbal battles are counter-productive and need to be avoided • Speak to them separately if needed

19. Having the Subject Take Hold Problem students - “Don’t want to be there” students… • Some people just don’t want to participate so don’t let them bog down the class. • Give it your best shot to have them to participate but don’t neglect the ones who want to be there

20. Having the Subject Take Hold Problem students - “Sleepers”… • Quietly ask them to move the front of class during a break • While talking nonchalantly give them a gentle tap on the shoulder as you walk by • Hands-on work rather than lecture after lunch is always a good idea

21. Conclusions Putting the Pieces together… • You are responsible for getting people from point A to point B

22. Conclusions Putting the Pieces together… • You are responsible for getting people from point A to point B • Work together and you will achieve successful learning

23. ... And seeing your students succeed is the reward!!

24. Conclusions • This full presentation (including my secret notes) will be available for free download at www.seesystems.com • Q and A ?? Thank you!!