Design Effective Training: Features of a Positive Learning Environment

Features of a positive learning environment

• Identify learning outcomes and clarify the training objectives, including:
  • Expectations of actions
  • Level of performance
  • Conditions that trainees are expected to perform in
• Ensure learning/training objectives are aligned with business strategy or a specific need (e.g., conduct a training needs analysis or employee engagement survey)
• Use meaningful content that mirrors the work environment
• Provide opportunities to practice the training objectives, including:
  • Repeated practice
  • Appropriate amounts of time and amount of material
  • Relevant to objectives
  • Include combination of examples and practice
  • Set up proper pre-practice conditions
  • Using a spaced practice approach is better (give breaks during practice session)
  • Break up parts of practice then combine them so skills can be practiced all at once
• Ensure training content is committed to memory
  • Example: be creative… try creating a “Jeopardy” contest at the end of the training to make it fun and engaging
• Provide feedback focused on specific behaviors and provided as soon as possible
• Train through observation, experience, and social interaction(a combination of all three)
  • Coordinate and arrange the training program properly

Considerations in designing effective training programs

• Selection & preparation of the training site (comfortable, quiet, space/visibility)
• Selection of trainers (train the trainers, using internal vs. external trainers)
• Making the site and material conducive to learning

We design, conduct, and evaluate our own training with a wide range of clients several times a year (click herefor a list of workshops we have developed). Through our experience, we have learned how important it is to both ensure that the material is relevant to client needs but also provide a positive environment for employees to learn, develop, and practice new skills… and even have a bit of fun in the process. Effective training is crucial to the success of an organization, so try using this checklist as a means to evaluate your existing training workshops, or even as a guideline for thinking about developing new training.

– Scontrino-Powell