by Allan Kaufman

President, The Compliance Resource Center

 

Training SessionHow often have you been in a training session where you are yawning, falling asleep, or just bored?  It happens more often than we think.  That’s why we really appreciate a speaker or trainer who really makes us sit up and listen.  So what makes these trainers different?  They know their audience, and they understand the principles of learning and how to motivate their audience.  They also understand the principles of learning.

There are four (4) basic principles of adult learning:

  • Motivation
  • Reinforcement
  • Retention
  • Transference

Adult Educators should understand that adults learn information differently.  Some people are VISUAL learners.  They learn by seeing or reading material.  Others learn by ORAL information they hear.  Still others respond better to KINESTHETIC or TACTILE training, where they benefit better from doing and touching.

Training should encompass all these types of learning realizing that is more interactive the training is, the greater the results.  If your training includes problems or case studies that are relevant to the students they will be more engaged.  Anytime the training directly relates to what we do we take a greater interest.  Whenever we do Hazmat training, we always find out what materials are being shipped, how they are shipped and what in what quantities.  We then incorporate this information to make the training function specific and relate that to what these employees use and do.  This always produces greater response and interest. 

One other area to consider is your PowerPoint presentation.   What is more boring than someone reading bullet point sentence after bullet point sentence?  A PowerPoint presentation should use bullet points that are short and concise.  They are a reminder or outline to help you make your points.  The old adage a picture is worth a thousand words is so true.  Use pictures or other graphics to make your presentation more interesting.  Whenever possible, a little humor keeps your audience engaged, but only if the situation is appropriate.

Trainers and/or adult educators need to be aware of their audience.  There are different types of learners and they need to feel that they are engaged into the learning process.  Anytime the learning is specific to the student they will have a greater interest.  Make sure your speak from your outline and do not read it.  I know you will find your audiences more appreciate of your presentation.