For anyone considering a Train the Trainer course for themselves or others in their organisation, there is a wide choice.  With advances in technology which offer a wider range of delivery methods, we get numerous questions and enquiries about whether we provide an online course.  We love questions like this because it’s always a great way of looking at it in a balanced way through such means as a blog:

When it comes to the delivery of training overall, the design phase is one of the most crucially essential parts; you will not only have to come up with learning objectives and key points, but you also have to consider the methods and means of delivery. We know a lot of providers deliver (like us) in a traditional classroom method but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the way it’s delivered is consistently the same as we deliver ours. We also know of providers who have gone much more in the way of online learning with varying degrees of tutorials and support both during and after.  I really like the flexibility of online learning to help reinforce learning when it’s done correctly as it’s “Martini” training, named aptly by the old adverts of the 80’s which had the slogan “Any-time, anywhere” which this type of training is.  Support can be offered at differing times to suit the individual with the use of online learning platforms and such things as Skype and Facetime etc.  However, when it comes to Train the Trainer for methods of delivery, we firmly believe that this online approach should be used as complementary to reinforce learning and firmly advocate classroom type delivery; here’s why:

Practise and Mentoring- Delegates get the opportunity to practise their learning in front of the trainer who has been demonstrating “best practice” and is able to give immediate feedback.  Also, by seeing first-hand the other delegates in their practise sessions, they get to see their learning and feedback.  Trainers create rapport and trust promoting a climate of positive beliefs face to face which turns into a developmental mentoring process.  This mentoring process can then be delivered through either online or further face to face sessions.

Peer Feedback – Delegates get the opportunity to give feedback to the other members of the sessions on strengths and also areas for improvement.  They then get the opportunity to see how this relates to their own development by taking further examples of best-practise this time from the other delegates.

Self-Analysis – Due to the approaches of immediate practise and feedback, delegates can self-recognise and correct actions they know will create a distraction or will disengage; much quicker in a safe environment where this doesn’t affect people in their workplace.  They are then far better equipped when they return to work; ready to hit the ground running.

We firmly believe that there needs to be a blended approach to learning; each method of delivery complementing each other that works in a way that provides the end goal of having someone (in this example) being able to have the confidence and skills to deliver engaging, effective training in the workplace.  We currently support our classroom delivery with free 6-month consultation support to all attendees of our Train the Trainer courses and have a brand-new learner management system (LMS) in the development phase.  Even with this new LMS up and running, we will still always advocate classroom learning as a first preference for Train the Trainer.

Scott Fraser is a Master Trainer at Target Training and delivers our PTT Train the Trainer courses and our Advanced PTT Train the Trainer courses.  You can read more about him here.