| If you are charged with training members of your | | | | among participants is maximized. |
| organization - whether you hold a one-time training | | | | Psychosocial Considerations |
| session on a new program or you hold a full-time job | | | | In addition to the setup of the room, there are |
| as a corporate trainer - there are several critical | | | | psychosocial considerations to think about. In other |
| elements that can impact the effectiveness of your | | | | words, as the trainer, you should consider social |
| training session. One of these elements is so simple it | | | | aspects of the training process that will have an |
| is often overlooked: the setting. Considering the | | | | impact on the participants' experience. There are a |
| setting of a training session is critical to ensuring that | | | | number of things you can do to enhance your |
| you meet your learning objectives. | | | | participants' comfort level with you and the overall |
| In truth, there are myriad things a trainer must | | | | training session: |
| consider to maximize the value of the training | | | | Arrive early to setup, and take this opportunity |
| experience-the organizational culture and policies, e.g. | | | | to chat with participants before the training session |
| But it is imperative to consider the physical | | | | begins. This will allow them to feel more comfortable |
| environment in which the training will be conducted | | | | with you. |
| because the set-up of the training environment sets | | | | Mistakes happen. When they do, remain calm; |
| the tone for the rest of the training experience. | | | | you can even use humor to diffuse a technological |
| Giving thoughtful consideration to the setting of your | | | | glitch or slip of the tongue. Ensuring that participants |
| training is called conducting an environmental analysis. | | | | do not see you flustered will enhance your credibility |
| Room Setup | | | | in their eyes. |
| The physical setup of the room plays a major role in | | | | Establish ground rules. It is important to clue |
| the productivity of your training session. When | | | | participants in to what you expect from them, as |
| considering how to set up your room, consider your | | | | well as what they can expect from you and the |
| learning goals and methods. If it is important that | | | | session. Facilitator Steve Davis suggests that |
| your participants interact with one another, you | | | | "following good ground rules [is a] huge positive step |
| should set up the room so that it is easy for them to | | | | toward healthy relating," which in turn helps create a |
| interact and they feel more comfortable doing so. In | | | | positive learning experience for your participants. |
| this case, a traditional classroom setup, with the | | | | Have participants introduce themselves, no |
| instructor at the front of the room and the | | | | matter how large a group. This way, everyone is on |
| participants all facing front, is likely not ideal. You may | | | | a first-name basis and is likely to feel more |
| want to consider putting participants at round or | | | | comfortable interacting with and sharing in front of |
| u-shaped tables to encourage social interaction. This | | | | one another. |
| helps form a sense of belonging among participants | | | | Call participants by their first names. If you are |
| and is less intimidating to them, which could be | | | | conducting training with a room full of doctors, they |
| beneficial if the material you are covering is new or | | | | may prefer to be referred to by their title and last |
| complex. | | | | name. However, for the most part, being on a |
| There are many other factors to consider when | | | | first-name basis with your participants puts everyone |
| thinking about room setup: lighting, temperature, | | | | at ease and contributes to a comfortable learning |
| availability of/proximity to restrooms and beverages, | | | | environment. |
| comfort of chairs and tables, distractions, sound | | | | Determine who participants are and why they |
| noise. Technology is another important item to | | | | are there. Don't assume you know the motivation |
| consider; for example, techsoup.org cautions that | | | | behind your participants' attendance in the training |
| technology in a training facility can differ from what | | | | session. For example, if you know the training is |
| you may be used to. As a trainer, consider it your | | | | mandatory, it would be easy to assume participants |
| responsibility to arrive early to your training | | | | have a captive-audience mindset, and you may |
| destination to become familiar with all these items | | | | neglect the opportunity to find out what they hope |
| and take the initiative to change what you can if you | | | | to learn from the day's session. Talking to your |
| feel it is not conducive to the best learning | | | | participants to find out their level of experience and |
| environment. You may be surprised by how easily | | | | goals for the session will help you direct the training |
| participants are distracted by a room that is too cold, | | | | session so that it truly benefits the participants. |
| or by people walking in front of you every time they | | | | Keeping these tips in mind when you conduct training |
| get water, and these things can have a negative | | | | will allow you to create more effective, productive |
| impact on their learning experience. Bottom line: do | | | | training sessions and ensure that your participants |
| what you can to ensure the room is comfortable, | | | | leave the session with knowledge beneficial to them. |
| everything works the way it should, and the energy | | | | |