Training - Training small groups - Providing opportunities for practice

Whether you are demonstrating a skill or presenting new information it is essential that you allow time for participants to practice the skills and knowledge.

Practicing a skill

Participants will learn a new skill more effectively if they are provided with the opportunity to practice. Getting participants to practice a new skill should be a two step process.

1. Get participants to carry out the task slowly while you supervise closely.

2. This step should be for participants to practice on their own. You should keep an eye on their performance but not interfere too much. Allow participants to learn from their mistakes. Encourage participants and provide feedback about their performance.

How much practice they will need is a judgement that you the trainer will have to make. Before training begins you should have a clear idea whether you expect participants to achieve competence during the session or if you will need to allow further opportunities for practice.

Practicing new information

As with learning a new skill, participants need to practice and apply new information. The best way to get participants to practice new information is to design appropriate learning activities.

Learning activities refer to the different ways that participants can actively do something to apply the new information that has been presented. A successful activity will:

* motivate participants

* get participants involved

* give you feedback on how well participants understand the new information

* help participants remember the main points

* give participants the opportunity to apply the new information

To help participants feel motivated to join in the activities they will need to understand there is a link between:

* the training objectives

* the information that has been presented

* the chosen learning activity.

Tomorrow we will take a look at some learning activities you may want to use.

Mike Hitchen
Mike Hitchen Consulting