How I make sure my Train the Trainer course delivers high quality results.

Choosing a Train the Trainer course which will result in high quality trainers and high quality learning is essential. You need a course which provides you with the techniques to produce effective training courses and training sessions.

Always look for a train the trainer course which practises what it preaches. Check the objectives and content against my eight secrets to decide if it is the right train the trainer course.

The most effective Train the Trainer course will provide the learners with a framework for effective design and delivery by following my eight secrets. Each secret will help you build a course or session which will have real impact and will also contribute towards changes in behaviour and attitude.

Train the Trainer Course – Secrets

Secret 1

My first secret is critical as a start point. When designing or delivering your training, you should always be focused on one thing.

You start with effective objectives which are written and stated in behavioural terms. This enables you to measure the progress of your learners against your objectives so that you have evidence of the learning which has taken place.

Secret 2

You then move on to your session framework. The work of Honey and Mumford, and Kolb provides the solution here.

Make sure every session you create has something for the Activist, something for the Reflector, something for the Theorist and something for the Pragmatist. A good train the trainer course will give you techniques and ideas to manage this easily, both when designing and when delivering your sessions.

Secret 3

You then need to use a logical approach for moving from learning style to learning style.

Do what seems to be natural or obvious. Most learners will have no idea that you are working with learning styles as they won’t know the models you are working to. They will just find it interesting, but probably without realising it.

Secret 4

The brain is more receptive to learning when relaxed, unthreatened and stimulated.

People tend to remember more if they feel stimulated in some way and humour can provide the right stimulation. Be natural with your style.

Secret 5

Too much so called “training” in recent years has consisted of a person reading bullet points out loud to an audience from a screen based presentation. This is not training. There is little to stimulate the learners and so to my next secret:

A simple solution, however this is extremely powerful in creating thought processes in your learners.

Secret 6

Sitting still becomes challenging for anyone after a period of time so we need to implement another secret to stop this happening.

When people are doing things they focus away from learning and towards the task in hand. If the task is relevant to the learning and is properly debriefed by the trainer then the learning should be effective.

Secret 7

Think about how you can add depth to your session. Think about engaging more of the senses.

People learn mostly through their eyes. The saying is that ” A picture says a thousand words”. Use pictures, video footage, live examples, anything that will provide appropriate visual stimulation.

Secret 8

So now you have people learning and motivated, you need a good finish.

A good train the trainer course will work with all eight secrets. If it doesn’t, then ask yourself if it is the right course. Remember the words of Confucius:

“He who learns but does not think is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.”

And finally…

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