Effective Training Methods
MABS Technical Resource Specialists
Training and Accreditation Program
Objectives
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At the end of the session, the participants are
expected to have learned the following:
– Different training delivery methods
– Appropriate methods to use for a certain
type of training activity
– Good Posture
– Good gestures
Training Delivery Methods:
Lecture
Advantages:
 Easy to prepare & deliver
Suitable to a large audience
Convey info in a short-time
Time-frame easy to determine
Disadvantages:
Minimal participation
Trainer-centered than traineecentered
Tends to bore audiences
Requires thorough planning
Poor audience learning retention
Tip:
Plan the
opening, main
body and
closing
sections of the
lecture.
Group Discussion
Advantages:
More participative
than lecture
Surface values and
opinions well
Democratic in
approach
Distribution of
learning responsibility
Disadvantages:
Not effective for large
group
Requires good facilitator
Time management may
be a problem
May engender
conflict/dominance
Tips:
Be clear on what needs to be done from the start.
Summarize towards the end.
Lecture-Discussion
 Combine lecture with interactive discussion with
trainees.
 It improves the lecture by asking questions that
make the audience think about ideas or
concepts being presented.
 Allows individual participation even with large
training programs.
Role Play
Advantages:
Provides meaningful firsthand experience.
Develops understanding of
opposing views
Fun, innovative,
entertaining
Highly creative and
imaginative
Elicits broad discussion
during processing
Disadvantages:
Situations limited to
simple ones
Difficult to use
properly
Tip:
Always use observers
On-the-Job Training/Coaching
A one-on-one continuous mentoring approach
Advantages:
Developmental
Individualized
Readily applicable on the
job
Holistic and realistic
Feedback process is
continuous
Disadvantages:
Time-consuming and costly
Needs skilled mentor
Used only in limited
circumstances
Good rapport between
mentor and understudy is
essential
Tips:
Clarify expectations at the start.
Provide structure, feedback and assessment
Demonstration
A show-tell-follow-check approach to learning
Advantages:
Direct, easy,clear to follow
Learning by example
Realistic, readily applicable
Suitable in skill or technical
training
Job-related
Disadvantages:
Not everyone can be
accommodated in
hands-on
Tip :
Follow the telldo-ask-practice
approach
Case Study
Controlled Group Discussion Based on a Written Text
Advantages:
Suitable for right or wrong
situations
Maximum participation
Applicable on the job
Disadvantages:
Needs effective case text
More time needed to
read, discuss, answer and
report.
Tips:
Pre-test the case when
possible
Provide not only text
but guide questions/
tasks
Fit contents to trainees
needs/ organizations
Games and Simulations
Animated activities to generate fun in learning
Disadvantages:
Advantages:
Learning may be
Fun and enjoyable
sidetracked
Allows full
Learning outcomes vary in
participation
consistency
Surfaces values and
Some are unparticipative
attitudes well
Which Training Methods Should
You Use?
To transfer
knowledge:
Group discussion
 Lecture
Group or individual
exercises
Forums
Panel Discussions
Film, video, etc.
To practice problemsolving:
Case studies
Brainstorming
Discussion Groups
Exercises, etc.
Which Training Methods Should
You Use?
To develop skills:
demonstrations for
manual skills
role playing for
interpersonal skills
peer teaching
programmed
instructions, etc.
To change attitudes:
role playing
individual exercises
demonstrations
campaigns, etc.
SOME TIPS FOR
INSTRUCTORS/ TRAINORS
Tips for Instructors
Before the Session:
1.As instructor, dress appropriately (i.e. no
slippers, shorts, revealing outfits) to
command credibility. For clothing, very bright
colors are not recommended as this may
distract participants from the course material.
Tips for Instructors
2. Arrive well in advance of the participants to
check the following room conditions and
equipment:
 Table and chairs sufficient and set up as desired (consider
a U-shape for maximum viewing and interaction).
 Copies of training schedule and materials.
 Ensure appropriate air circulation in the room.
 Refreshments (i.e. drinks, snacks)
 Test equipment. Overhead projector machine in place and
working. (Be sure the cord is out of the way. Tape it down
where people may walk.)
Tips for Instructors
3. Know your subject thoroughly
 Write it out and reduce it to cards
 Write opening and closing sentences
3. Be conscious of time. Your invitation to the
participants should include course duration,
as well as, what time the course will start
and end. During the training, make sure you
are within the time limits of each module.
Tips for Instructors
During discussions:
1. Discussions are an important aspect of
adult learning; they encourage
involvement and reflection and result in
better understanding and retention of
information.
Tips for Instructors
2. Give each participant an opportunity to express
his or her views, but be sure to keep the
discussion on tract.
 Ask for ideas and offer suggestions
If there is a lull in the discussion, or nobody know what
quite to add, you can provide an idea or example of
your own.
Draw people out when they are reluctant to participate
Tips for Instructors
 Maintain or enhance self-esteem. Listen and respond
with empathy

Example: After someone speaks up, you might want to
add confidence by saying something like “that’s a good
point,” or “good idea!”
3. Check
for understanding. Clarify when questions may
be asked (either during or after presentation.)
4. Manage time by presenting the agenda beforehand so
participants know what to expect. Use a timer to
remind or signal you to wind up each session.
Presentation Techniques
Use of Overhead Projector
1. Once you focus the projector before participants
arrive you should not have to adjust it again. When
you think the machine is in focus, walk to the back
of the room and look at the screen to check if the
acetates can be seen clearly.
2. While you are teaching, do not stand directly in front
of the screen, or the image will be projected on you
as well. Stand to one side of it, and do not turn
around to look at it.
Presentation Techniques
Use of Overhead Projector
3. If you wish to point out something on a particular
overhead, do so by using a pen or other object to
point to the appropriate area on the transparency
itself, on the bed of the projector.
Postures
Posture and the way a presenter conducts
himself on the platform is an important part
of a good presentation.
 Stand up straight and face the audience
head-on.
 Keep posture open with arms relaxed and
hanging down at your sides.
 Hold head up high with your chin up.
Trainer Gestures
Gestures, a form of body language, are also
a part of your overall visual picture.
They are visual reinforcements of the
words and ideas the trainer is trying to
communicate to his audience.
They include hand, arm, and head
movements and can enhance your
presentation or detract from it.
Effective Gestures
 Effective gestures are spontaneous but
not distracting
 Movements are broad and flowing, not
fast and jerky
 Nodding of head and smiling are effective
ways to emphasize a point
Gestures to Avoid
• Finger pointing and fist raising can be
interpreted as hostile or threatening
• Crossing hands behind the back
• Crossing arms over chest believing it
appears relaxed and confident.
• Hands inside the pocket
• Clasping hands in folded position
Common Trainer Problems
What’s wrong?
No eye contact
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Participants feel alone and neglected.
You look scared and uncomfortable.
Students lose trust in the trainer.
You lose credibility and appear
dishonest.
• No personal connection is made.
They Can’t Hear You
• Audiences withdraw when they can’t hear the
trainer.
• Listening to a trainer speaking too loudly
conjures up uncomfortable childhood
memories of being yelled at; it’s demeaning.
• When you speak too loudly, you may spit on
trainees.
• Speaking too loudly or too softly is irritating
and interferes with learning.
This is My Life
• You run the risk of entering the Tangent
Zone.
• Participants perceive your ego to be bigger
that Mt. Everest.
• Program focus gets lost.
• It feels like you’re wasting their time.
• Or, maybe you just like to hear yourself to
talk.
Speech Tics
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“Speech tics” are annoying to the audience.
Repetitive sounds get old and boring fast.
Trainees get easily distracted.
They will start counting your “speech tics.”
Some people will make fun of you.
You decrease your believability
Silly Screw-ups
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Your credibility is shot.
You appear absent-minded.
Your organization skills are questioned.
Time is wasted fixing the mistakes.
If the video is wrong, you have to fill that time
with something else.
Getting in their Faces
• This behavior can be
threatening/antagonistic.
• Participants may become embarrassed.
• It violates their comfort zones.
• There is potential for starting fights.
• It distracts from what is being said.
• You might spit on others and swap germs.
• It’s too intimate (and intimidating) for some.
Cutting off Questions
• You don’t listen to questions.
• You begin to answer questions before askers
are finished.
• You disregard questions and keep going.
• You say, “We’ll get to that later.” and hope
you will.
• You act like their questions are beneath the
dignity of an answer.
• You tell them to ask questions at the end,
and then run out time.
Slideswiping
• The overhead projector, as a training
tool, is abused.
• Participants are likely to go sleep.
• Swiping slides is a lazy way to present
information.
• Retention and application are reduced.
How to Overcome Stage Fright
1. Plan as if your life depended on it.
2. Get rid of last-minute butterflies.
3. Transform anxiety to excitement
4. Practice, practice, practice
Other Tips
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Mix your media
Correlate training with reality
Have data at your fingertips
Play-it-by ear
Friendly facial expression
Keep your sense of humor