Interestingly enough this week, I was a participant in a training that was structured to, "help me be a better prepared trainer for the AWANA program". Now the AWANA program is a christian based program for children that helps them learn of their faith and develop a relationship with God. The content of the material is so awesome and so exciting that I was expecting the same enthusiasm from the training presenter, but OOOO WEEE was I sadly mistaken.
As a trainer, it is really easy to take your expertise and make it the plum line for all training approaches and tools that should be used. However, I learned years ago from my training mentor that a good facilitator is one who not only knows the material but takes the time to learn from those for whom they are giving instruction. This information for me, has become a training principle for any class that I teach and to whatever audience I instruct. It is my golden rule.
This instructor was quite interesting to say the least. She was extremely prepared, knowledgeable and well versed on the subject matter, but never took into consideration her audience or the framework that those participating in this training already had under their belts. She was condescending, never answered the questions that were asked and took more pride in the information she had rather that if the instructional directives were applicable for those who were in the training. She cut people off and made individuals feel stupid and unimportant. She ended up spending almost 4 hours (yes, I said 4 complete hours of ongoing talking no one was permitted to ask a question, UNLESS she asked if there was a question). Many people left the training not having anymore information on the foundation of the program or how they should facilitate their classes for their age groups.
It took all I could to sit still and watch this travesty of phenomenal information loose its impact and effectiveness because the trainer was more concerned with the information that she had on her training agenda than the needs of those in her training session and the effect that it would have on those who would thus receive that instruction.
Training and facilitation is a multi-facet discipline that requires listening, sensitivity to the needs of those who are receiving instruction and flexibility. You have to risk not being right to make sure that those in your direct sphere of influence are encouraged and not discouraged. IT is not an opportunity to showcase all your expertise, education and fabulousness (hee hee); but a chance to open yourself up to a new learning and teaching experience that will broaden your horizons and help you to be a better more effective training professional.
It is the trainer or facilitator that sets the tone for the success of failure of a training session. So, what is your motivation?
Monica,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I laughed out loud at "OOOO WEEEE." So thanks for starting my morning off with a smile! Gosh, what a bummer about this training session. And you're right: it sounds like such an interesting and important topic!
You know, I really appreciate the question with which you end your post because I was just thinking that, for me, this goes back to motivation, but not the learner's motivation -- rather, the instructor's. What is your motivation as an instructor? If your true motivation is to have your learners actually learn, then your responsibility is to focus on how to motivate them to do so, yes? Sometimes, as you point to (not so subtly! lol) in this case, the trainer's motivation is to BE the expert, and that's it. That is unfortunate because few people benefit from that type of situation.
So let me turn the tables and ask: what would you have done differently in this situation? You had 4 hours and an audience of (how many people?): what would you do? Learn from this situation to inform your own teaching/training. What strategies could she have employed that would help you in your teaching/training? Etc.
Will this be your first paper topic? It's certainly fodder for analysis! Thanks for a fun post this week.
Allison