Active Training Techniques

2/12/2015
As a Teaching Assistant, I have facilitated a class on what specifically active training
techniques are, how they should be utilized and when they are appropriate. As a
Graduate Assistant for the HR Department, I have seen firsthand how HR
Department, as well as, Training and Development utilize active training methods in
the workplace. Active training techniques are excellent ways to keep learners, of all
ages, engaged and participating; whether it be a group discussion or formal staff
meeting, techniques to increase participation are warranted.
Engagement hinges upon the ability of the facilitators to properly utilize the correct
training techniques. The demographics of the learners or participants should dictate
which training methods are used and would be the most effective. If the learners
are more elderly or have disabilities that hinder physical movement, role play
activities or physically active ice breakers would not be the most applicable or
useful to use. If the learners happen to be young professionals, it could be assumed
that they would be more accepting of an active training technique that involved
technology. If there is a large age difference or experience gap amongst learners, a
helpful training technique would be to place everyone with partners, so they could
learn from each other.
The atmosphere and spatial restraints also play a large part in the appropriateness
and effectiveness of training techniques. It would be impractical to have a role play
activity amidst a very crowded space. If there is room for participants to adjust their
positioning, in order to make those within in the role play a focal point, that would
make sense to utilize that specific technique. Flip charts work well with groups of
learners sitting together and are conducive for a scribe to transcribe the groups
thoughts.