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
Think
of the BEST training
you have ever attended?
What made it so great?
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…
 10% of what they read.
 20% of what they hear.
 30% of what they see.
 50% of what they hear and see.
 70% of what they say or write.
 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:
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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.
 Philosophical View:
Language is a system of
repeated habits.
 Learner role is passive.
 Methodology: lectures,
demonstrations, drills,
reading aloud, largely
deductive (show & tell).

The main objective is to
change behavior.
 Philosophical View:
Language has to be
practiced authentically.
 Learner role is active.
 Methodology: question
& answer, problemsolving, small-group
tasks, largely inductive.
Which are these activities?
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Trainees take turns
reading aloud.
Trainees read silently.
Discussion in pairs.
Whole class
discussion.
Trainees brainstorm in
small groups.
Trainees present their
lists.

Teacher – Centered
Learner – Centered
 Learner – Centered
 Teacher – Centered
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
Learner – Centered

Teacher – Centered
What is the Trainer’s Role in a
Learner-Center Context?
 Introduce
topics/discussion questions
 Moderate/Facilitate
 “Nudge”/ “Suggest”
 Focus discussion
 Play “devil’s advocate”
A Grab Bag of Training Techniques:
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Icebreakers
Lectures / Lecturettes
Field Trips
Case Studies
Role Plays / Skits
Discussions / Q & A
Model Lessons /
Demonstrations
Assignments
How many are you already
familiar with?
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Videos / Film
Hands-On Exercises
Brainstorming
Team ProblemSolving / Games
Surveys /
Questionnaires
Critical Incidents
Fishbowls
4. Variety is the spice of life!

Not all trainees are the same (learning styles –
visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile, emotional);
It’s all about BALANCE!

Trainer = Facilitator

The importance of small group work
5. Good facilitators know how to manage group dynamics.
An Effective Trainer Is…

An active listener
 Empathetic
 Clear and concise
 Flexible
 Prepared
 Energetic
 Funny
 A positive role
model

Organized
 Curious
 Intuitive
 A keen observer
 Confident
 Open to feedback
 Relaxed
 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.

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Learning Objectives

Environment: time, materials, space, etc.
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Affective
Realm
Psychomotor
Realm
Remembering
Knowledge
Cognitive
Realm
Comprehension
Understanding
Application
Applying
Evaluating
Evaluation
Synthesis
Creating
Analyzing
Analysis
Which level are these activities?
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Making a poster
Multiple choice quiz
Role play
Fill in the blank
Creating an
commercial
Repeating after the
teacher
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3 – Application
2 – Comprehension
3 – Application
2 – Comprehension
5 – Synthesis
0 - Does not require
ANY level of thinking
Action Words Related to BT:
Remembering
•
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•
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Count
Define
Draw
Read
Understanding
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Analyzing
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Break down
Combine
Detect
Infer
Associate
Compute
Give examples
Paraphrase
Applying
•
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Evaluating
•
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Appraise
Compare
Justify
Rank
Calculate
Classify
Graph
Use
Creating
•
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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.
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3.
4.
5.
6.
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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.
 Sharing
(collaboration, best practices)
 Solidarity
Thank You and Good Luck!
Contact Information:
LopezDS@state.gov