The Four P's of Good Training Development
You want your training sessions to grab your learner's attention and help them learn, remember and, better yet, use the information you are teaching. Yet often in the busyness of your job, you have little time to do the presentation planning you would like to do. But what do you sacrifice when you lack good preparation for training? I contend that you sacrifice learning, remembrance and application of information taught.
In order to routinely accomplish your training goals, practice the four P's of good training preparation – Plan, Prepare, Practice and Pilot.
Plan
Planning is essential to a quality training program. During this phase of training there are two things that must be accomplished.
- Determine what you want the learners to know when they finish the training. You may determine this independently, or you may need to ask other people for help. Ask the person who requested the training and also the potential participants what they want or need from this training.
- Based on what you defined as your training goal in (1.), identify the best way to accomplish that goal. Remember, training does not always have to be instructor led.
Prepare
Now you are ready for step two, preparation. This is the time to pull it all together. Some things to do during this step:
- Develop written materials. This includes your outline, evaluations, competency instruments and handouts.
- Determine the materials needed for teaching. Make a list of any materials you need to teach, such as pencils, paper or projection equipment. This will help insure that everything you need is available and ready for the session.
- Check the location. Don't forget to check out where you will be teaching, as the needed equipment may not be available at the site. Even if you have taught in this location before, checking again can save you a lot of headaches in the long run.
Practice
The next step is to practice your presentation. This will help you work out any kinks in your plan and preparation. Have someone sit in on your practice and give you feedback. It is also helpful to practice in the location where you will be doing the training if at all possible. This will allow you to get a feel for the location and identify any problems with the location or equipment.
Pilot
Lastly, test pilot your training. Gather some of the potential participants and do the training. Get their feedback and make the necessary changes based on their suggestions. I realize that this step may be difficult if not impossible to do at times, but the insight you receive from a pilot group can be very helpful.
The time you spend preparing your training sessions will have its rewards in the quality of training you deliver. This in turn can lead to learners who accomplish the goals you set forth as your training objectives.
Ellen Hierl, B.S.
Education and Resources Instructor
Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, Inc.
About Ellen
Check our next issue of SIDELINES for David Morstad's article: Training an Attitude?
Free Download - Four P's Training Checklist
Are you interested in using Ellen's four P's approach to your own training preparation? Download this
free checklist to guide you.
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Share your training tips, tales, techniques and opinions with other SIDELINES readers.
In this issue we pose the question: How do you prepare for a training session?
- Plan, prepare, practice and pilot.
- Plan and prepare.
- Delegate it to someone else.
- "Wing it."
Visit the SIDELINES Mail Bag to submit your answer and view other readers' votes instantly! Check back next issue for the final results.
In the previous issue, we asked whether your staff training efforts most often address (a.) new hires, (b.) new policies, procedures and internal systems, (c.) forgetful employees, or (d.) responding to the changing needs of the people your organization supports.
View reader responses.
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The Quest for Quality: A Practical Guide for Improving Programs in Developmental Disabilities
November 9, 2004
Naperville, Ill.
This workshop is ideal for administrators, program directors, managers and supervisors in developmental disability services.
Through active participation in a comfortable, informal setting, you will learn about
- the forces influencing program quality,
- goals of high quality programs,
- setting observable quality indicators,
- organizational factors that help or hinder quality,
- and planning models for ongoing quality enhancement.
You'll discover real-world applications of the quality concept to everyday situations and challenges through sharing and discussion with your workshop leaders, Sheri Berg and Kate Dunbar, and with other workshop participants.
Visit
Bethesda's 2004 Workshop Schedule to register, or to learn more about this and other upcoming workshops. Register online and save $10!
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Save on Staff Development Videos from Bethesda's NCRC.
Now, for a limited time, when you purchase five video titles at full price from Bethesda's
Staff Development Catalog, you'll receive a sixth title of equal or lesser value FREE by entering code B5G1 at checkout.
This includes our new releases,
Overcoming Barriers to Learning,
Understanding Behavior: Building Positive Supports and
Safe Driving.
This offer is only available through July 30, 2004. To redeem this offer, visit Bethesda's online
Staff Development Catalog and enter B5G1 at checkout. Or, you may call 1.800.369.4636, ext. 3541, fax 920.262.6513 or e-mail ncrc@blhs.org and mention code B5G1. If you have questions, please contact customer service at 1.800.369.4636, ext. 3541.
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Bethesda's newly released staff development video,
Overcoming Barriers to Learning, is here!
Overcoming Barriers to Learning
Have you ever tried to learn a skill, but just couldn't seem to master it? If so, you may have experienced a barrier to learning. For people with developmental disabilities such as mental retardation, barriers to learning can affect how well and how much people learn. By identifying these barriers, you can help develop ways for people to overcome these barriers and learn more efficiently.
After completing this program, staff will:
- Describe common barriers to learning that people with developmental disabilities may encounter.
- Identify methods for overcoming these barriers.
Learn more and view a preview of
Overcoming Barriers to Learning.
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Subscribers to SIDELINES are automatically entered in a monthly drawing for a FREE single videotape of their choice. If you receive an e-mail from SIDELINES with subject, "SIDELINES Videotape Drawing," all you have to do is reply within one week and the video of your choice from
Bethesda's Staff Development Catalog is free!
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Celebrating a century of service for people with developmental disabilities
About us
Your comments are encouraged.
Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, Inc.
Attn: National Christian Resource Center (NCRC)
600 Hoffmann Dr.
Watertown, WI 53094
ncrc@blhs.org
1.800.369.4636, ext. 4449
920.262.6513 (fax)
www.blhs.org
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