Leading a Training
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We want to hear from you! What are your pro-tips for leading a training? Also think and respond to the following.
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What are things you loved about trainings you've attended before?
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What are things you've disliked about trainings you've attended before?
Find someone else and respond to them! Remember we're not here to bash anyone so keep names out of it
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@dan-sharpe-gedu-demo-viewsonic-com
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list itemThe trainings that I have had the most fun and found to be the most valuable involved hands-on activities. Presenters who are upbeat and smile also have a positive effect on my training experience
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list item Definitely dislike when slides are read - I'm an avid reader and don't need a paid "professional" to read for me. I also don't like when the presenter isn't excited by what they're covering. Usually when an administrator presents info, they present in a way that they would tell us teachers to NOT use.
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@shidalgo I totally agree with both of your statements!
For me, I, too, like hands-on activities during a training. If I'm forced to attend a "sit and get" training, I'll usually shut down and try to find something else to occupy the time. (We are just like our students, huh?)
And as a tech trainer, I really strive to make sure I'm prepared with all of my materials AND making sure that I have the correct technology accessories needed for the infrastructure I'll be working with. Outside trainers that come to train and either the trainer hasn't checked with the location to find out exactly what tech accessories are needed for a successful session OR the location folks haven't briefed the trainer on the environment for the session can lead to long, wait times for attendees while technology problems are addressed. Bad first impressions... That's a BIG dislike for me.
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In the trainings that I've led, it's been really important for me to remember to meet my attendees where they are at. When it comes to technology and its integration into education and curriculum, the experience levels vary greatly. It's been important for me to learn to praise the little achievements of my participants, even if those things seem mundane and simple to me.
In trainings that I've attended before, I love the opportunities to get up and move around. In longer trainings, this is a blessing due to being able to get the blood flowing. I've also enjoyed when the trainer incorporates activities throughout the training that uses the technology we're being trained on. The entire session isn't just about learning how to use the tool but also what it's like to use the tool as a student/participant.
If I've ever disliked a training, it's often been because the presenter feels disconnected from me. There didn't seem to be anything authentic about his or her speech, and he or she didn't convince me that they enjoyed what they were doing.
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@shidalgo
Absolutely! Hands-on training helps solidify the ideas in my head.I 100% agree with the slide reading as well. Bullet points are more effective! If the slide contains a ton of text that is just read, I feel like the presenter isn't really knowledgeable or prepared.
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@dan-sharpe-gedu-demo-viewsonic-com
As a teacher, I value trainings where it feels we are having "adult" time and conversations with friends/coworkers. If the training is a good balance of professionalism along with some opportunities to laugh and reflect, it creates an environment that people want to spend time.Trainings that don't address my needs are always the least effective. Teachers have a lot on their plates and if a training is not helpful, they will always be thinking about what they could be doing with that time instead.
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When working with educators, we are always modeling best practices aren't we? I think sometimes presenters who are not in the classroom "forget" to use best practices for an engaging lesson when presenting!
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@jtolbert2-mcpss-com
Justin - meeting teachers where they are at is sooo important! I try to get a feel for where teachers are at as I greet them when they first arrive at a training. How do you assess where your group is before/during a training session? -
@dan-sharpe-gedu-demo-viewsonic-com
My favorite trainings were the ones where the trainers were passionate about what they were training and provided hands on opportunities for me. They also did not read off slides but asked us questions to engage us and get to know us.
The trainings I did not like were the ones that trainers stood in the front and lectured the whole time and gave us no opportunity to participate.
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I too find it so funny how much we are like our students. If I am in a training where they just lecture and I have no way to get involved, I work on other things on my computer or zone out. I need to be engaged and be given the opportunity to participate or they lose me
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@dan-sharpe-gedu-demo-viewsonic-com said in Leading a Training:
What are things you loved about trainings you've attended before?
What are things you've disliked about trainings you've attended before?
I love it when trainers give us the opportunity to try things on our own and make it applicable to actual classroom experiences
I dislike it when trainings consist of spewing information without modeling, for instance a static screen with screenshots instead of showing the actual program.
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@clewis YES! to all of this. I often feel as though teacher leaders/trainers often forget what it is like to be in the classroom and forget best practices.
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@clewis This is so true!!!
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@dan-sharpe-gedu-demo-viewsonic-com
What I loved about the trainings I have been to is the excitement that the trainers had for their product. It is an amazing tool that can change the lives of teachers who will take the time to learn how to use it to enhance the classroom experience for their students.What I dislike is not really a negative. The ViewSonic Board is such an incredible ed tech tool but it takes time to learn everything. Training in large groups has it limitations and also time to train has its limits. Most teachers only get to scratch the surface of what they have been given to use. Many teachers have a fear that they will mess it up if they experiment so they do not get to experience the full potential.
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@christine-carlson-k12-sd-us
Christine this is so true. Teachers are overwhelmed with PD and much of it has become a waste of their time. Finding the balance between getting the training accomplished and allowing for some "adult time" because teachers do not get that often is a key to a successful professional development session. If a trainer allows for that to happen many teachers begin to share what they know and begin to network so that the training will continue with that cohort after the formal training sessions have ended. -
Trainings I have loved involved a lot of back-and-forth rather than sit-and-get. I appreciate the same types of strategies I'd use to teach students -- discussion, music, graphic organizers, getting up and moving, reciprocal teaching... all of those great brain-engaging tools that I'd use in the classroom. A training I remember very well was given by Marcia L. Tate (her book is "Sit & Get" Won't Grow Dendrites). She modeled active learning strategies to teach the structure of the brain, and I still remember the motions today. Another thing I've loved about trainings in the past is being able to walk away with something (a lesson plan, a game, whatever) that I can use right away. I leave feeling like my time has been well spent.
Things I dislike about trainings include being "read at," sitting for long periods of time, not having a chance to verbally process the information with peers, and for learning to be "one size fits all." -
@clewis "teachers make the worse students," right?
I love that you use the word "engaged," because it's all about engagement! The engagement process starts with MOTIVATION before moving on to PARTICIPATION and then PROGRESSION. If teachers aren't bought-in to the training (motivated), then they won't take part (participation). I huge way to impact that is to INVOLVE teachers in the training! I think some general reservations presenters have are that "my material doesn't lend itself to active participation," or "I don't have time to incorporate activities in my session." Even if that involvement is just a simple call-and-response, the audience must be involved!! -
@dan-sharpe-gedu-demo-viewsonic-com
Prior to the PD I need to have a conversation with the organizer and set the objectives for the PD. Then build the agenda and also, do not forget to know about the type of computers, connections, wifi, district or school-specific logins.
Finally, during the PD, have fun and be relatable with giving lots of opportunities for hands-on time. Use the tools to the model while you are presenting instead of just reading from the presentation. -
I completely agree! In addition, I try to share resources so that the people that are receiving the information and the skills are able to figure things out (for the most part) on their own.
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@shidalgo I agree about hands-on activities!! I always try to give the teachers something to take with them. Or I give them practice time so they can ask questions while I am there with them. I believe having the practice time makes them more confident in completing the required activities.
