Guiding Principles of Effective Training Program Design Facilitated

Guiding Principles of Effective Training Program Design Facilitated By: Daniel Lopez Regional English Language Officer Office of English Language Programs ECA/A/L

Activity #1: Best vs. Worst l. Think of the BEST training you have ever attended? What made it so great? l. Now think of the WORST. What made it so bad?

Activity #2: “The Perfect Trainer” INSTRUCTIONS - With a partner, put the following qualities in order, from 1 (the most essential) to 9 (the least essential). ______ Is incredibly organized and always conscious of the time. ______ Is always in control. ______ Knows his/her subject thoroughly, and keeps up to date. ______ Really likes his/her trainees and socializes with them. ______ Tries to give his/her trainees moral guidance. ______ Tries to make presentations interesting and fun. ______ Shares his/her own ideals and experiences with the audience. ______ Treats all trainees fairly and does not have favorites. ______ Encourages critical thinking.

What purpose do these kinds of opening activities serve?

Daniel’s Top 7 Guiding Principles: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Trainers must know their audience’s context & needs. Experiential learning works wonders. Activities should be collaborative and learnercentered. Variety is the spice of life! Good facilitators know how to manage group dynamics. Preparation is the key. Teacher trainers need support from each other.

1. Trainers must know their audience’s context & needs. Questions English teachers might ask… • Who are the learners? • Why is the English language needed? • How and where will it be used? • With whom and when? • Why are the learners taking this course? • What resources are available? • Where / when will the course take place? • What is the broader context? • What different learning styles are there?

2. Experiential learning works wonders.

CONE OF EXPERIENCE People generally remember… l 10% of what they read. l 20% of what they hear. l 30% of what they see. l 50% of what they hear and see. l 70% of what they say or write. l 90% of what they say as they do something. What would help them remember 100%?

Chinese Proverb: Tell me, I forget. Show me, I remember. Involve me, I learn.

People Learn Best When… …they are involved in the design of learning and given the chance to make choices. …their needs are addressed. …a conducive learning environment is established. …the course material builds upon what they already know. …the topic is of direct relevance and utility to their lives. …the learning process is an active and engaging one.

8 Qualities of Effective Training: l l l l A moderate level of content. A balance between affective, behavioral & cognitive learning. A variety of learning approaches are used. Opportunities for group participation. Real-life problem solving. Allowance for “re-entry planning”. Utilization of participants’ experience. Recycling & scaffolding of earlier learned concepts and skills.

3. Activities should be collaborative and learner-centered. Learner-Centered: Teacher-Centered: The main objective is to convey information. l Philosophical View: Language is a system of repeated habits. l Learner role is passive. l Methodology: lectures, demonstrations, drills, reading aloud, largely deductive (show & tell). l The main objective is to change behavior. l Philosophical View: Language has to be practiced authentically. l Learner role is active. l Methodology: question & answer, problemsolving, small-group tasks, largely inductive. l

Which are these activities? l l l Trainees take turns reading aloud. Trainees read silently. Discussion in pairs. Whole class discussion. Trainees brainstorm in small groups. Trainees present their lists. l Teacher – Centered Learner – Centered l Teacher – Centered l l Learner – Centered l Teacher – Centered

What is the Trainer’s Role in a Learner-Center Context? l Introduce topics/discussion questions l Moderate/Facilitate l “Nudge”/ “Suggest” l Focus discussion l Play “devil’s advocate”

A Grab Bag of Training Techniques: l l l l Icebreakers Lectures / Lecturettes Field Trips Case Studies Role Plays / Skits Discussions / Q & A Model Lessons / Demonstrations Assignments How many are you already familiar with? l l l l Videos / Film Hands-On Exercises Brainstorming Team Problem. Solving / Games Surveys / Questionnaires Critical Incidents Fishbowls

4. Variety is the spice of life! l Not all trainees are the same (learning styles – visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile, emotional); It’s all about BALANCE! l Trainer = Facilitator l The importance of small group work

5. Good facilitators know how to manage group dynamics.

An Effective Trainer Is… l An active listener l Empathetic l Clear and concise l Flexible l Prepared l Energetic l Funny l A positive role model l Organized l Curious l Intuitive l. A keen observer l Confident l Open to feedback l Relaxed l Able to manage difficult behavior

Critical Incidents: INSTRUCTIONS: With a partner, discuss what you would do in the following situations. 1. Someone is talking too much and monopolizing the conversation. 2. The group is quiet and unresponsive. 3. Everyone is talking at once. 4. Side conversations are taking place. 5. There is tension within the group about a controversial subject.

6. Preparation is the key. l Bloom’s Taxonomy l Learning Objectives l Environment: time, materials, space, etc.

Bloom’s Taxonomy Affective Realm Psychomotor Realm Remembering Knowledge Cognitive Realm Comprehension Understanding Application Applying Evaluation Synthesis Creating Analyzing Analysis

Which level are these activities? l l l Making a poster Multiple choice quiz Role play Fill in the blank Creating an commercial Repeating after the teacher l l l 3 – Application 2 – Comprehension 5 – Synthesis 0 - Does not require ANY level of thinking

Action Words Related to BT: Remembering • • Count Define Draw Read Understanding • • Analyzing • • Break down Combine Detect Infer Associate Compute Give examples Paraphrase Applying • • Evaluating • • Appraise Compare Justify Rank Calculate Classify Graph Use Creating • • Categorize Design Plan Summarize

Good Learning Objectives Should… …Describe a result that requires higher level thinking. …Ask learners to use information/skills they’ve learned. …Be seeable, hearable, and holdable. …Tell specifically what learners will do. …Be achievable in one lesson.

11 Key Steps for Teacher Trainers. . . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Identify the training topic. Assess participants. Set general learning goals. Specify learning points. Plan ice-breakers/warm-ups. Design the activities. Develop materials. Specify how to conduct each activity (instructions). Revise details. Conduct the workshop. Evaluate the results.

Principles of Empowerment: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Tell people what their responsibilities are. Give them authority equal to the responsibilities assigned to them. Set standards of excellence. Provide them with training that will enable them to meet those standards. Provide them with feedback on their performance. Recognize their achievements. Trust them. Give them permission to fail. Treat them with dignity and respect.

7. Trainers need support from each other. l Sharing (collaboration, best practices) l Solidarity

Thank You and Good Luck! Contact Information: Lopez. DS@state. gov