The traditional roles of trainers and educators are changing and now, not only are we presenters and lecturers, but we may be called upon to be a facilitator, moderators, change agents, counselors, or instructional designers. In addition to these roles, the content we may be asked to facilitate may include mechanical skills, basic math and writing, computer interfacing skills, communication and interpersonal skills, and specialized job skills, among others.
Create an environment for learning
In creating an environment for learning, remember that the classrooms and lecture halls are your stage. Let the attendees get to know a little about you and learn about their experience and skill levels. Some attendees may have more experience than you, so you can learn from that and incorporate that into your presentation. It is up to you to set the group’s initial mood; your first few minutes in front of them will influence their initial impression of you. For example, if you appear calm, confident, knowledgeable, and have a sense of humor, the group will probably be more relaxed and receptive. However, if you appear nervous, tired, stiff, or unprofessional, this will influence their initial impression of you and make the transfer of learning more difficult. This is also a great time to motivate your audience, show your passion and dedication, and lay the groundwork for a fun, informative, and entertaining presentation.
Building rapport
There are several ways to build rapport with the audience. First, do not pretend to know all the answers; if you do not have an answer discuss it with the class or research the question during a break and respond when possible. Involve the audience members and ask questions; often, the answer you need may be in the classroom. Remember that your audience has various levels of knowledge and experience, so do not be afraid to solicit responses. In addition, probably the simplest way to build rapport with an audience that I have found is to not be scared to laugh at yourself. If you make, a mistake or an unexpected issue arises, acknowledge it, laugh about it, and move on. We all make mistakes, get a little ahead of ourselves, and have periodic bouts of silliness. Laugh at yourself along with the audience, find humor in the audience’s responses, and do not be afraid to let everyone share in the silliness for a minute. Finally, supplement your presentation with real-world examples and stories from your own experiences. Frequently a good story or anecdote will capture the audience’s attention, and they will remember the stories and retain the knowledge long after your presentation.
Controlling the chaos
We must treat the classroom or lecture hall as a living, breathing organism. It is important to monitor the climate of the room, being aware of possible attitudes, issues, and environmental conditions that may negatively affect our presentation. While we must take charge and maintain control, we must also maintain the moral high ground. Often, we are the captain of the ship, and it is our responsibility to meet the objectives of the organization, buyer, or institution. This balancing act can be challenging as we strive to create an entertaining, informative, and productive event. Frequently, humor is a great tool for addressing possible situations; a quick joke or timely pause can eliminate the problem. In today’s climate, it is important that we take an active role in maintaining the safety and security of our audiences. It is always advisable to arrive at any new venue early, introduce yourself to on-site security and find out how to get in touch with them and other responsible parties at the event if they are needed. Scheduling issues, facility issues, and other acts of God may interrupt, influence, delay, or postpone your presentation. For these reasons, it is important to arrive early and meet with the event coordinator to verify the schedule and verify that your technology is working correctly and that there are no facility or equipment issues that could hamper your presentation.
Conclusion
This is a unique time in the educational and training fields; our classes and audiences learn in different manners with different technologies and at different paces. Some of the focus has shifted to social learning, just in time or embedded learning. With the implementation of new technologies such as phones, computers, tablets, and wearables, trainers and educators must work harder to match the content and delivery methods to support this new environment. More and more companies and organizations, large and small, are outsourcing training focusing on training for business development. This is part of the third-party provider, and outsourcing revolution focused on just-in-time learning and the essential information required for the learner to be productive and efficient. Institutions, organizations, and training providers must be aware of this and monitor this trend. Just as our economy has turned almost entirely to a customer-driven economy and a pull ideology, so will education and the training industry. We must consider each training opportunity a value-added, functional, effective, and entertaining service.
