Teaching others what you know

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Teaching others what you know

• Training theory and tips for new trainers

Minnesota Newspaper Foundation 12 South Sixth
Street, Suite 1116 Minneapolis, MN 55402 (612)
672-0948
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training program.
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Definition of training
Training is defined as learning that is
provided in order to improve performance
on the present job. Don Clark
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the end of the program when youll jump to see
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Begin with experience

• Consider a training program that helped you
  improve on the job. What words describe the
  program? Stop and think.

• Your good seminar experiences, and the
  following training theory and practices, are keys
  to success.

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Adult learning theory
Educational programs for adults must be

• Active not passive

• Relevant to their work or lives

• Based on prior knowledge and experience

• Immediately applicable

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Adult learning theory
Adults retain more if you involve their five
senses during the seminar.
I see, and I forget.
I hear, and I remember.
I do, and I understand.
Confucius
Knowledge
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Planning is essential
Seminars with impact dont happen by accident.
They require careful planning. For every seminar
hour, spend two to three hours planning the

• Goals and objectives

• Lessons and activities

• Measurement tools or activities

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Defining the need
Begin your planning by identifying the most
essential need for training. The need is a gap
in knowledge or skills.

• Ask your learners and their managers what the
  gaps are.

• Ask yourself what the gaps are based on your
  own experience and observation.

What you dont want to hear at the end of a
seminar
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The seminar goal
Address the need by writing a goal that answers
the question, What is the purpose of this
seminar? Have no more than

• One goal for every two-three hour seminar

• Two goals for every three-four hour seminar

• No more than three goals for every five hour to
  full-day seminar

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The seminar goal
Sample goal for a two-hour seminar
The purpose of this program is to describe
training theory and tips so the learner can plan
a seminar with confidence.
The goal is based on a need
New trainers have no experience designing a
seminar and so are nervous about teaching others
what they know.
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Writing objectives
Objectives focus segments of your seminar they
are measurable. Sample objectives are

• Identify two adult learning principles.

• Write one goal and three objectives.

• Describe one activity that encourages
  participants to learn from each other.

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Active training
Bring your objectives to life.
The key to effective training is how the
learning activities are designed so that
participants acquire knowledge and skill rather
than merely receive them.
Mel Silberman
Read the quote slowly three times. Its
important!
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Active training
In active training, the participants do most of
the work while you facilitate their learning
through activities. This approach works because

• Adults have prior experience they want to draw
  on to make training meaningful.

• Adults like to take charge of training.

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Active training
Plan an activity for each objective. For
example, if the objective is identify adult
learning principles, an activity might be
Break learners into groups to discuss words that
describe a great seminar theyve attended. Have
each group report back to class. The facilitator
will write words on the flip chart and tie them
to adult learning principles.
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Measuring learning
How will you know if your seminar was effective?
Evaluate your learners by

• Giving a written test

• Observing them using a skill

• Using a game show or other fun method

Tie your evaluation activities to your seminar
objectives.
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Final exam
See how well you do! For help, click on the
answer box it will take you to the screen
with the correct answer. Then click the gray
arrow to return to this test.
A

• True or False Training should improve
  performance. _____

A

• Fill in the blanks I _____, and I forget. I
  _____, and I remember. I _____, and I
  understand.

A

• True or False Adults like seminars that are
  relevant and immediately useful. _____

A

• How many goals should there be for a two-hour
  program? _____

A

• True or False In active training, the
  instructor does most of the work. _____

A
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Learning more
Click on the resources to open the link in your
web browser.

• Adult learning principles

Trainers guide

• Writing goals and objectives

Objective writing template
www.mapnp.org

• Competencies for trainers

33 Competencies

• Evaluating training

Fastrak Consulting
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Thanks for your time
You are now better prepared to conduct a seminar
for adult learners. Please contact MNF with any
questions.
Minnesota Newspaper Foundation 12 South Sixth
St., Suite 1116 Minneapolis, MN 55402 Phone
[phone] Email mnf_at_mna.org