Ten Tools for Trainers

1. 6 Favorite Icebreakers

Icebreakers are short activities built into the course design. Their main purpose is to build rapport between learners and to promote fun and collaboration. They work best at the beginning of a course or each time a new group is formed during a course. Keep them short and simple or they will be viewed as a waste of time.

2. 12 Mind-Bending Brainteasers

Brainteasers are used to engage learners in training. They create opportunities for learners to work with each other and provide mental breaks that help to re-energize learners. If possible, make brainteasers content-related to help reinforce the content in a fun, yet subtle, way.

3. 20 Practical Tips for Instructors

One of the most important facets of becoming an effective instructor is mastering both speaking skills (e.g. vocal inflection, pitch, style, etc.) and non-verbal skills (e.g. eye contact, gestures, posture, etc.).

4. 12 Tips for Instructional Designers

One of the most important facets of becoming an effective instructional designer is adopting a performance-based focus and approach to the design of training.

5. 50 Instructional Methods

Instructional methods are used to present content and allow learners to apply what they haved learned. When selecting a method, consider how suitable it is to the task (content) being taught, target audience, training time available, design time available, and budget available.

6. Minimize Nervousness and Anxiety Checklist

This checklist includes a set of 20 tips and techniques for minimizing the nervousness and anxiety that all instructors feel to some degree before teaching a course.

7. Maximize Your Learning Checklist

This checklist is used to establish an employee’s responsibility for learning before, during, and after a course. It helps to ensure the transfer of training to the job.

8. Course Evaluation Checklist

This checklist is used to assess the instructional soundness of a course and its impact on job performance.

9. Dictionary of over 500 Training Terms

From Accelerated Learning to Workshop, the training industry has a vast array of terms, acronyms, and jargon. Consult this interactive glossary to find the training term you are looking for.

10. Glossary of e-Learning Terms

From Asynchronous to XML, the world of e-learning has a vast array of terms, acronyms, and jargon. Consult this interactive glossary to find the e-learning term you are looking for.