Training Adult Learners
Training Techniques
1
Contents
• Training is a System
• Strive to Improve
• Characteristics of Adult Learners
• The Trainer’s Role
• Teaching Adults
• Learning Styles
• Instructional Strategies
• Instructional Media
2
Contents
• Do’s
• Planning and Preparation
• Preparation Skills
• Delivery Skills
• Facilitator Responsibilities
• Fatal Mistakes
• Dont’s
• Answering Questions
• Difficult Questions and Learners
3
Training is a System
Instructors
Learning
Environment
Adult Learners
Instructional
Materials
4
Why the
Systems Approach?
• Focused
– what the worker needs to know
– what the worker needs to be able to do
• Linked
– instruction and outcomes
• Reusable
5
Systems View
• Preparation
• Implementation
• Evaluation
• Revision
Learners
Materials
Instructors
Environment
6
Strive to Improve
• Use the input from student
evaluations to improve your
future performance
• Update your materials to keep
them current
• Continue to improve your
knowledge of the subject matter
7
Characteristics
of Adult Learners
• Adults are capable of lifelong learning
• Adults want to know why it’s important
(purpose) and how they can use it
• Adults like to participate in decision
making regarding learning/training
– Choices
8
Characteristics
of Adult Learners
• Learn in their own ways
• Are not children
• Need organization
• Preconceptions and abilities
• New vs. Old learning
9
The Trainer’s Role
• Facilitator
• Presenter
• Coach
10
Facilitator Responsibilities
• Optimal lighting for viewing
and changes in lighting as
necessary
• Ensuring the room
temperature is comfortable
for the students
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Facilitator Responsibilities
• Setting the initial mood of the group
• Creating an effective climate for learning
• Motivate students to participate in the
learning process
• Be accepting of comments, avoid getting
defensive
12
Facilitator Responsibilities
• Control disruptive students
• Offer yourself as a resource
• Allow for limited debate and/or
challenges of the ideas presented
• Discuss how the learning can be applied
in real world applications
13
Facilitator Responsibilities
• Make yourself available at the beginning
of breaks and after class to field
individual student questions
• Always treat the learners with respect
• Avoid stereotypes
14
Teaching Adults
• More effective retention given more than one
training method
• Reading
• Hearing
• Seeing
• Seeing & Hearing
• Talking & Writing
• + Doing
10%
20%
30%
50%
70%
90%
15
Teaching Adults
• Explain what you plan to tell or do
• Tell them and/or do
• Tell them what you told them or did
• Learner explains and does
16
Learning Styles
• Active
– Participate
– Field tips
– Hands-on
– Presentations
• Passive
– Read
– Listen
– Observe
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Instructional Strategy
• Characteristics of workers
• Presentation
• Practice
• Feedback
• Testing
18
Instructional Strategy
• Talking Head
• Demonstrations
• Discussions
• One-on-one
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Instructional Media
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Power Point
Slides
Overheads
Videos
DVDs
Flip charts
Etc.
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Do’s
• Positive mental attitude
• Dress appropriately
• Be enthusiastic
• Be energetic
• Avoid excessive slang and vernacular
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Do’s
• Speak up
• Be yourself
• Practice what you preach
• Watch your body language
• Be the best ‘you’ that you can be
22
Do’s
• Be prepared
• Be sensitive
• Acknowledge learners
• Use your sense of humor
• Be respectful
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Do’s
• Be accessible and approachable
• Be responsive
• Allow learners to lead
• Be flexible
• Maintain your schedule
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Planning and Preparation

Facilities
–Location
–Accommodations
–Speakers
–Food and beverage for breaks
Set-up
and test all

equipment before the start
of the session
–Arrange student seating if necessary
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Planning and Preparation

Learning Environment
– Room - suitable classroom space for
training
• Size
• Setup
– tables and chairs for all attendees
– plus two extra tables at the rear
reserved for the trainers)
– Temperature
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Planning and Preparation
Arrive
at the training location early

•Become familiar with the facility:
–Security
–Exits
–Restrooms
–Emergency procedures
–Contact person
–Rules
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Planning and Preparation

Administrative
– Related paper work
• Sign in forms/registration forms
• Schedule
• Evaluations
• Etc.
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Planning and Preparation
Equipment
and Supplies

– Audiovisual equipment
• Hotel
• Rented
• Personal
Extra
 batteries and lamps
Power
strip(s)

Extension
cord(s)

29
Planning and Preparation
Audiovisual and equipment that includes

– Computer
– LCD projector
– VCR/TV
– Microphone (if needed for the size room secured)
– Overhead transparency projector
– Whiteboard & markers
– Flipcharts & markers
– 35mm slide projector
– Projection screen
30
Planning and Preparation

Equipment and supplies
– Transparencies
– Markers
– Flip charts
– Paper
– Pens and pencils
– Handouts
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Preparation Skills
• Know your audience
• Communicate the session objectives at
the outset of your presentation
• Be familiar enough with your materials
so as to avoid reading directly from
slides
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Preparation Skills
• Supplement the information that
will be on the slides with real
world examples, court decisions,
news articles, drawings etc..
• Expect to be nervous
• Do an extensive review of your
material so you are thoroughly
familiar with the topic you are
going to present
33
Preparation Skills
• The better you know your
subject the more confidence
you will have
• The more you practice the
better you will be
• Try your presentation out on
family or co-workers
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Delivery Skills
• Make sure you speak so that
students in the back have no
trouble hearing you
• Enunciate your words clearly
• Avoid saying uhm…..
• Avoid distracting mannerisms
such as jingling change or
playing with your hair
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Delivery Skills
• Involve the participants by
encouraging and asking
questions
• Start on time; make sure
that established breaks,
lunch and ending times
are adhered to
36
Delivery Skills
• Pace your delivery
according to the allotted
time and the material to
be covered
• If working from a
syllabus, make sure you
cover everything that is
on it, or explain changes
37
Delivery Skills
• Keep close tabs on the climate of
the class
• Recognize your strengths and
weaknesses
• Work to maximize your strengths
and minimize your weakness
38
Delivery Skills
• Don’t pretend to know all the
answers
• If you don’t know something:
– Discuss the question with the
class
– Let the student know you will get
the answer, but be sure to
remember to follow up
39
Fatal Mistakes
• Poor first impression
• No objectives
• Dull, dry and boring
• Frozen in one spot
• Weak eye contact
• Poor visual aids
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Fatal Mistakes
• Weak close
• No humor
• Poor preparation
• No audience involvement
• No enthusiasm or conviction
• Poor facial expression
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Don’ts
• Don’t be too formal
• Don’t be a know it all
• Don’t be unprepared
• Do not talk down to learners
• Do not use profanity
• Don’t be distracting
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Don’ts
• Don’t loose control
• Don’t catch people unprepared
• Don’t be afraid to say you do not know
• Don’t avoid eye contact
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Answering Questions
• Repeat the question
– Answer now/later
– Redirect
– Discussion
• Don’t bluff
– You know
– You don’t know
44
Difficult
Questions and Learners
• Argumentative individual
• Loaded questions
• Long-winded
• No good answer
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Summary
• Training is a System
• Strive to Improve
• Characteristics of Adult Learners
• The Trainer’s Role
• Teaching Adults
• Learning Styles
• Instructional Strategies
• Instructional Media
46
Summary
• Do’s
• Planning and Preparation
• Preparation Skills
• Delivery Skills
• Facilitator Responsibilities
• Fatal Mistakes
• Dont’s
• Answering Questions
• Difficult Questions and Learners
47
Summary
• The instructor does not know everything.
• Remember – you are leading a group.
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Questions
49
References
Bassi, L. J. & Van Buren, M. E. (1999). Sharpening
the leading edge: The State of the Industry Report
reveals the steps companies must take to ascend to
the top of the training field. American Society for
Training and Development: Alexandria, VA.
Carey, L. & Dick, W. (1996). The systematic design
of instruction. (4th ed.). New York: HarperCollins
Publishers, Inc.
Chrétien, J. (May/June 1995). Effective Training
Techniques, OH&S Canada (11) 3. 29-33.
50
References
Grimaldi, J. V. & Simonds, R. H. (1989). Safety
management. (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Irwin.
Handley, W. (1977). Industrial Safety handbook.
ed.). London: McGraw-Hill Book Company (UK)
Limited.
(2nd
Johnson, D. (1998). Adult educators need to have
enthusiasm. Adult Learning (9) 4, 11-14.
51
References
McMaster, S. (2000).Training Made Easy for Health,
Safety, and Environmental Trainers. McMaster Training
Associates ©.
Krause, T. R. (1997). The behavior-based safety
process: Managing involvement for an Injury-free
culture. (2nd ed.). New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Saccaro, J. A. (1994). Developing safety training
programs: Preventing accidents and improving worker
performance through quality training. (2nd ed.). New
York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
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Adult Learners
WORKSHOP
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Its Your Turn
You will now have a chance to
apply what you have learned. The
task is to design an ergonomics
training program for your workers.
What topics would you include?
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Group Exercise
• Each group will develop a training
module
– Lesson Plan
– Method
– Workshops/exercises
– Training Aids/Examples
– Evaluation
55
Training Adult Learners
Training Techniques
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