Give Them Tools They Can Apply

The objective is to not just supply information but to help participants build skills and tools for their lives outside of / after the training

• Have them role-play or work in small groups to practice how to communicate this information to others
• Simulate actual experiences in the classroom so they can place themselves mentally in that situation and practice responding or problem solving
• Do not tell them information when you can show them - or better yet, have them show you
• If you are teaching something that they won't really use again, consider dropping that part
• A support group is one in which members share common experience or philosophy. A conference or workshop is, ideally, more than that: it is an experience that participants walk away from with new and better tools to use

How Do You Give Them Information -- How Do They Receive It?

Everybody learns in her or his own way. Some take in more information when they hear it, some when they write it down, some understand things more when they are visual, and everyone remembers more if you can provide them with several different modes of learning. See if you can make the experience work for all different kinds of people.

Use Visuals and Visual Thinking

• Explain things by illustrating them with examples people can see in their minds' eyes
• Encourage participants to draw a concept
• Use different colors or symbols to separate and emphasize different things or different values
• Keep everything you use large enough to be read and seen
• Encourage participants to sit closer to you