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Category Archives: Trainer Tips
Take Time To Smell The Markers
After facilitating workshops for more than two decades, I’m still amazed how no two groups of participants are ever the same. The workshop invariably takes on a life of it’s own depending on the needs, abilities and energy of the group. I love to start participants of Train the Trainer with a learning circle. The learning circle is an ideal tool to build trust, and a great way to get an idea of partcipant’s expectations and goals for the training session. Learners come to the workshop carrying a full life-load with them. They will come for their own reasons, and they will all bring with them the opportunity to create a relevant, safe and fun learning event. Each learner also brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and skills to add to the learning mix. As a Trainer, flexibility is key. I go into each training session armed with the goals … Continue reading
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Tagged facilitating, leading workshops, Mr. Sketch, trainer tricks
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Hot Tricks for Trainers
‘Hot Tricks’ are all those things a trainer does to bring his or her training sessions to life. We are using the term to include everything from: * a warm smile to an unexpected change of pace * soft background music to brilliantly designed slides * the pervasive odour of fresh cut lemons to the well-timed quote * quiet reflective moments to wild unbridled laughter. From the first risky step into a circle to the fulfilling richness of sharing with other learners, ‘Hot Tricks’ are all techniques and skills used to create learning environments that build human capacity. Here is the first in a series we affectionately label ‘Hot Tricks for Trainers’. 1. Carry a treasure chest of ‘extra’ icebreakers, energizers and relevant lessons. Groups of trainees tend to operate at different speeds. I can think of nothing more daunting than heading into an afternoon knowing your group has devoured … Continue reading
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Stairway to Confidence
What is the secret to confidence for trainers? How do trainers position themselves to be the ones standing in front of groups and leading… with confidence? Here are a few points we consider important to the confidence building process. 1. Be passionate about your topic. When you speak about or facilitate sessions on a topic you are passionate about, you are paddling with the current. If you are not passionate about your topic, you are paddling harder to make the same progress. Your enthusiasm about your topic draws your audience to you and gains their support. 2. Prepare. Any presentation worth it’s salt is 90% preparation and 10% perspiration. Invest ounces in preparation to add pounds to your confidence. 3. Practice, practice, practice. The sweat you invest in practicing will reduce the sweat when presenting. 4. Take on small bites. Take on speaking and facilitating projects that you feel you … Continue reading
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Creating The Ideal Learning Environment: Physical
Have you ever wondered what it is that creates an ideal learning environment? We have brainstormed and discussed this topic with a number of different groups of participants in the Capacity Train the Trainer workshops. From those discussions we’ve identified some of the things you as the trainer might do to set the tone. We have arranged the key points into five categories: Physical Environment, Communication, Training Aids, Encouragement and Classroom Management. In this article we’re focusing on the Physical Environment. What can you do as a facilitator so that participants have the best physical environment? 1. Ensure the air quality is healthy. This means having adequate ventilation and designating an area outside the classroom for smoking. It also means adhering to WHMIS guidelines and requirements when working with equipment such as chainsaws. 2. Schedule an appropriate number of breaks and be willing to adapt to the learners’ needs. Determine … Continue reading
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Tagged learning, setting up training, training
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Creating The Ideal Learning Environment: Intellectual
Ideal learning environments don’t just happen, they’re facilitated by skilled trainers! We think great training begins with the trainer’s approach. As trainers, we see every training event as an adventure to be carried out with a great sense of humour and an attitude of humility and wonder. We are simply learners who happen to have the additional responsibility of leading other learners. Paramount to our style is the acceptance of each learner as an individual and the recognition of their importance to the workshop process. We have brainstormed and discussed ideal learning experiences with the many participants of the Capacity Train the Trainer workshops. We have been awed by the stories of personal learning experiences of participants throughout western Canada. From those shared anecdotes and discussions we’ve identified some of the things you as the trainer might do to create an atmosphere for ideal learning experiences to occur. Keeping in … Continue reading
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Tagged hot tricks for trainers, ideal learning envronement, train the trainer
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Creating The Ideal Learning Environment: Emotional
Ideal learning environments don’t just happen, they’re facilitated by skilled trainers! We think great training begins with the trainer’s approach. As trainers, we see every training event as an adventure to be carried out with a great sense of humour and an attitude of humility and wonder. We are simply learners who happen to have the additional responsibility of leading other learners. Paramount to our style is the acceptance of each learner as an individual and the recognition of their importance to the workshop process. We have brainstormed and discussed ideal learning experiences with the many participants of the Capacity Train the Trainer workshops. We have been awed by the stories of personal learning experiences of participants throughout western Canada. From those shared anecdotes and discussions we’ve identified some of the things you as the trainer might do to create an atmosphere for ideal learning experiences to occur. Keeping in … Continue reading
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Tagged hot tricks for trainers, ideal learning environment, train the trainer
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How Do I Use Buzz Groups In Training?
Description A buzz group is a small group, consisting of three to six people who are given an assignment to complete in a short time period. Generally, each buzz group records their output then reports to the larger group. This Activity Can Be Used To: Build an agenda. Evaluate an activity, workshop or process. Serve as an icebreaker. Warm up a group to a new topic. Solve problems. Address a topic from a new perspective. Share ideas. Gather questions. Generate ideas. Generate lists. Gather feedback. Allow all participants to give input. Create a safer learning environment than in a larger group. Reflect and review. Facilitator’s Process 1. Pre-assess the group to determine what participants already know about the subject. 2. Share the purpose and objectives of the activity with the group. 3. Explain the procedure: Form small groups. Choose recorders. Complete the activity. Select one or more presenters. Report back … Continue reading
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Tagged skills for coaches, train the trainer, tricks for trainers
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Riding the Tail of the Tiger
Have you considered the various roles of a trainer? We have, and it is surely as exciting and adventurous as riding the tail of a tiger! In the past few Capacity Train the Trainer workshops we have brainstormed and discussed the roles of a trainer. And the list has grown! We are amazed at the number of roles and scope of skills required to be effective as a trainer. Here, in alphabetical order, are many of the different faces of a trainer: Actor Assessor Cheerleader Clarifier Coach Comic Conflict manager Counsellor Decision-maker Delegator Demonstrator Designer Disseminator of information Distributor of materials Evaluator Facilitator Guide Implementor Interpreter Leader Learner Liaison Listener Master of ceremonies (MC) Mentor Motivator Note taker Organizer Presenter Questioner Question answerer Record keeper Referee Role model Summarizer Synthesizer Teacher Thinker (on your feet) Time Manager Unbiased supporter to participants Writer Wow! We do all of that? It is … Continue reading
How Do I Use Arts And Crafts In Training?
Have you considered using arts and crafts as a technique to liven up your training sessions? Here as a training resource for you, under the headings of Description, This Activity Can Be Used To, Facilitator’s Process, Guidelines for Facilitators, Guidelines for Participants, Pitfalls, Hot Tricks and Variations. Description Arts and crafts are works produced by participants using imagination and skill. This Activity Can Be Used To: Make a spiritual or emotional connection. Address a topic from a new perspective. Stimulate the right brain. Demonstrate a skill. Produce solutions to problems. Relax or reflect. Communicate feelings. Visualize an idea or concept. Explore a subject in a creative or interpretative way. Produce various outputs: sculpture, music, models, camp crafts, food, dance, etc. Facilitator’s Process 1. Organize the materials the group will need to complete the project. 2. Pre-assess the group to determine what participants already know about the subject. 3. Share the … Continue reading
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