Publication Date: April 2009
Training Volunteers
General Guidelines for Trainers
Start and end on time.
Be prepared.
Arrive early to check the setup of seating and audiovisual equipment and the locations of restrooms and the refreshment center.
Dress appropriately for the audience. "Business casual" is almost always appropriate. Older learners tend to give more credibility to a nicely dressed trainer. Avoid jeans.
Plan time for breaks.
Many adult learners prefer to get information in small bits. (Refer to the next section on Teaching Adult Learners.)
Add variety to your presentation by using different training techniques such as learning activities, lectures, videos, or small group exercises.
If you use audiovisual aids, make sure you know how to operate the equipment effectively.
Prior to training, get a sense of the type of people who will be participating. In your preparations, it will be helpful to know the following:
- Whether the group has been prescreened for commitment and availability.
- The age and education level of the group in general.
- If members of the training group are strangers to each other.
- If the group includes people who already have established relationships.
- Whether there are any participants to be particularly concerned about.
- Relate theories and information to real experiences. Well-chosen, real-life examples enhance learning.
