Training the Active Training Way: 8 Strategies to Spark Learning and Change

Introduction.

STRATEGY 1: ENGAGE YOUR PARTICIPANTS FROM THE START.

Tip 1: Give Participants Something to Do Before the Session Formally Begins.

Tip 2: Structure the Initial Social Interactions Among Participants.

Tip 3: Create Icebreakers That Focus Solely on Immediate Learning Involvement.

Tip 4: Enlarge the Pool of Participation at the Very Beginning.

STRATEGY 2: BE A BRAIN-FRIENDLY PRESENTER.

Tip 5: Build Brain Interest in What Is Being Presented.

Tip 6: Help Your Participants’ Brains to “Get It”.

Tip 7: Involve Participants Throughout Your Presentation.

Tip 8: Help Participants “Save” the Presentation in Their Brains.

STRATEGY 3: ENCOURAGE LIVELY AND FOCUSED DISCUSSION.

Tip 9: Engage Participants Before Plunging into the Discussion.

Tip 10: State Effective Questions for Discussion.

Tip 11: Improve the Quality of Discussion Through Participant Preparation.

Tip 12: Alter the Discussion Format.

Tip 13: Facilitate the Flow of Conversation.

STRATEGY 4: URGE PARTICIPANTS TO ASK QUESTIONS.

Tip 14: Help Participants Get Started.

Tip 15: Create the Need for Questions.

Tip 16: Let Participants Know You Expect Questions.

STRATEGY 5: LET YOUR PARTICIPANTS LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

Tip 17: Choose How You Compose Learning Teams.

Tip 18: Build Learning Teams Before Giving Them Work.

Tip 19: Gradually Immerse Participants in Team Learning.

Tip 20: Use a Variety of Team Learning Activities.

Tip 21: Invite Participants to Teach Each Other.

STRATEGY 6: ENHANCE LEARNING BY EXPERIENCING AND DOING.

Tip 22: Create Experiences That Simulate or Match Reality.

Tip 23: Ask Participants to Reflect on the Experience.

Tip 24: Avoid “Monkey See, Monkey Do”.

Tip 25: Use Role Play to Develop Verbal Skills.

STRATEGY 7: BLEND IN TECHNOLOGY WISELY.

Tip 26: Transform Active Classroom Strategies into e-Learning.

Tip 27: Use e-Learning to Supplement Classroom Learning.

Tip 28: Use Classroom Sessions to Supplement e-Learning Activities.

STRATEGY 8: MAKE THE END UNFORGETTABLE.

Tip 29: Get Participants to Review What’s Been Learned.

Tip 30: Ask Participants to Evaluate Their Accomplishments.

Tip 31: Have Participants Plan for the Future.

Tip 32: Let Participants Celebrate the End.

FINAL ADVICE.

About the Author.

Pfeiffer Publications Guide.