For those whose training sessions end in 'sleepy time': What the 'Trainer/Instructor Handbook' teaches about 'participant-centered' training design

I am Kumataro Yokoyama, a training instructor and sign language interpreter.

While utilizing AI, I provide information for seniors and introduce books and gadgets.

'I am explaining as hard as I can, but the participants' reactions are lukewarm.'

'The post-training survey results aren't bad. But behavior in the field doesn't change.'

'The training ends up being just me talking.'

When you are an instructor or in charge of training, you may encounter these kinds of worries.

In fact, I myself have struggled many times with the difference between 'intending to convey' and 'being understood' while working as a sign language interpreter and training instructor.

It was in the midst of this that I encountered,

'The Trainer/Instructor Handbook: Participant-Centered Training Design for Effective Learning'

a book by that title.

This book is not just a 'book on how to speak'.

'How can people truly learn?'

It is a book that has thoroughly thought through this at a practical level.

In particular,

・Training instructors
・Corporate training personnel
・School teachers
・Sign language instructors
・Instructors
・Facilitators
・Online course operators

I think the content will really resonate with you.

In this article, I will delve into the appeal of this book while incorporating the perspective of someone with field experience.

By reading this article,

・Why training becomes 'boring'
・What participant-centered training is
・Improvement points you can implement immediately
・Perspectives for growing as an instructor

should become clear.

Why do many training sessions end with participants just listening?

There is a strange phenomenon in training sessions.

The instructor is speaking with all their might.

The content is not wrong either.

The slides are beautiful, too.

Yet, it doesn't remain in the participants' memories.

This is not solely due to a lack of instructor ability.

In fact, there is a reason rooted in the very structure of human learning.

'Passive' learning is difficult to retain.

In the field of education, it has long been said that:

'People forget what they only hear.'

It is said.

According to the 'Learning Pyramid' presented by the National Training Laboratories (NTL) in the United States:

Lecture only: 5% retention rate
Reading: 10%
Audiovisual: 20%
Discussion: 50%
Practice: 75%
Teaching others: 90%

This is the concept.

While there are various theories regarding the specific numbers,

'Learning becomes deeper when you participate'

is an essence that is felt in many workplaces.

What is amazing about this book is that

it incorporates that 'participatory learning' not just as theory, but as concrete training design.

The greatest value of this book is the departure from being 'instructor-centered'

Many instructors think,

'I must speak well'

but this book presents the exact opposite perspective.

The main characters are not the 'instructors' but the 'participants'.

The protagonist is not the 'instructor' but the 'participant'

What is repeatedly discussed in this book is

the importance of

'having participants take action'.

For example,

- Talking with neighbors - Exchanging opinions in a short time - Thinking for oneself - Experiencing - Outputting

By incorporating these elements, training suddenly becomes 'personal'.

This is also very similar to learning sign language.

Sign language cannot be mastered just by watching.

It is only retained by actually moving your hands,

making mistakes,

correcting them,

and interacting with others.

In other words,

'participating'.

That itself is learning.

The 'over-explaining problem' that trainers easily fall into

While reading this book, what personally struck a chord with me was

'Trainers talk too much'

the theme of.

The more anxious a trainer is, the more they increase the amount of information

The less experienced one is,

'I must explain more'

is what they tend to think.

However, from the participant's perspective,

if there is too much information, concentration is lost instead.

This is the same for sign language interpretation.

If you pack everything in, it actually doesn't get across.

That is precisely why what is needed is

the 'power to trim'

it is.

In this book,

・Break it up into short segments ・Incorporate participation ・Use questions ・Make them think ・Do not fear silence

and other concrete measures that can be used in the field are very abundant.

As you read it,

'I can use this starting tomorrow'

is a thought that comes to mind often, which is its appeal.

Highly valuable precisely because it is the era of online training

Recently, online training using tools like Zoom has increased.

However, online training is more prone to becoming 'passive' than face-to-face sessions.

In other words,

if you just talk,
concentration drops instantly.

Online training, in particular, requires a 'participatory' approach

The concepts in this book are very compatible with online formats.

For example,

・Using chat
・Encouraging reactions
・Including short breakout sessions
・Having participants write things down
・Breaking sessions into short segments

and so on.

In short,

it is not 'lecturing' but 'participation design'

that is important.

I believe this will become even more important as we enter the AI era.

This is because,
AI can teach knowledge alone.

In that context, what is required of a human instructor is

'the ability to create a space'

becomes.

This book delves quite close to that essence.

Reasons why it can also be applied to sign language instruction and welfare training

While reading this book, I thought,

'This is extremely useful for sign language courses as well.'

I felt that.

'Let them experience,' not 'make them memorize'

For example, in a sign language course,

if you explain only vocabulary endlessly, the participants will get tired.

However,

・Pair work
・Role-playing
・Reading practice
・Differences in facial expressions
・Spatial expression

when you incorporate these, their concentration changes instantly.

In other words, people learn when they 'participate.'

This is the same for welfare training.

Understanding dementia.

Understanding disabilities.

Communication training.

All of these have limits if they are one-way.

That is precisely why the concepts in this book are highly compatible with the fields of sign language, welfare, and education.

People to whom I would recommend this book

This book is especially recommended for the following people.

Conversely,

for those who only

want to talk themselves,

it might not be a good fit.

This is because this book does not teach

“how to make the instructor the star,”

but rather

“how to make the participants the stars.”

Summary | What instructors need from now on is not just 'speaking skills'

Training in the past

focused on

“conveying knowledge.”

But things are different now.

Information is easily accessible via AI.

There are videos, too.

You can also search for it.

That is precisely why what instructors need from now on is
“the ability to design learning.”

“the ability to design learning.”

I think that is the case.

The 'Trainer/Instructor Handbook: Participant-Centered Training Design for Effective Learning' is

a book that teaches that essence in a very practical way.

In particular,

・Training sessions that don't get lively
・Participants who are unresponsive
・Wanting to deepen the learning
・Struggling with online training

I think this will be a great hint for people who feel this way.

When you are struggling to grow as an instructor, you tend to think,
'I need to speak better.'
you tend to think.

But what is really necessary

'How can I get the participants to take action?'

might be what you need to think about.

If you are currently struggling with creating training sessions,
this book should provide you with a very powerful 'shift in perspective'.

#TrainingInstructor #Instructor #TrainingDesign #ParticipantCentered #Facilitation #OnlineTraining #HumanResourceDevelopment #LearningDesign #InstructorSkills
#TrainingImprovement #Education #SeminarInstructor #SignLanguageInstructor #WelfareTraining #Communication #KeepLearning #Output #InstructorStruggles #KindleBook #RecommendedBook