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Train the Trainer Activities to Engage

train the trainer activities

When you deliver your train the trainer activities, your trainers should know that training activities can be fun, that training activities should be engaging, and that training activities must be effective.

Aren’t Fun Training Activities Engaging?

When a team asks you to make your training fun, work hard to make sure you are not adding fun elements to appease the fun factor. In other words, don’t throw in a bunch of garbage activities. What is a garbage activity? I am glad you asked, check out my post on the ATD blog on Throwing Away Your Garbage Activities.

Activities can be meaningful, engaging, and fun if done correctly. There are several factors in building a garbage-free training, the first of which is to use activities that are appropriate for the phase of instruction. One simplified model with four phases of instructions is the Anchor, Content, Application, Future Use model.

Using that model, I’ve put together 20 engaging activities that can be introduced to trainers by phase of instruction.

Train-the-Trainer Anchor Activities: Connect Learners to the Topic

Haiku training activity - train the trainer
  • Would You Rather: Boost the energy level in the room and get people laughing together.
  • Name Tag Switch: A challenging icebreaker focused on listening skills.
  • 6-Word Memoir: A concise way for participants to share.
  • The Messy Start:  Get learners thinking about the topic at hand as soon as they enter the room (or the Webinar).
  • Haikus: Tap into learners’ creativity and learn about them at the same time.

Train-the-Trainer: Creative Ways to Share Content

storytelling as a train the trainer activity

Train-the-Trainer Application Activities: Practice and Demonstrate New Skills

How I See It Training Activity Instructions
  • Polling: Get large groups involved. It can be low or high tech.
  • Kahoot: Games are great for most groups. Let them play and compete. Speed matters so it isn’t just knowing the answer.
  • Role Play: I saw you roll your eyes. Call it something else, but practicing in scenarios is essential for many objectives.
  • How I see It: Lay perceptions on the table and discover the grey areas in our perceptions.
  • Build a Puzzle: This never fails. Just make it intentional.

Train-the-Trainer Future Use Activities

quizlet train the trainer activity
  • Action Plans: Use this approach to action plans to “Double the likelihood that learners will apply what they’ve learned”
  • Magic Paper: A low-tech way that creates shared accountability.
  • Group Debrief: A whole list of ideas to improve debriefs.
  • FlashCards: Put a job aid in your learner’s pocket.

Want to create train the trainer activities that are both FUN and MEANINGFUL? Sure you do! Check out Soapbox, the all-in-one presentation creator. Soapbox will help you to write your objectives and pick the best activities for your content. PLUS Soapbox will provide you with ready-to-print handouts, a facilitator guide and a slide deck in as little as 5 minutes! Ready to make your life easier? Fill out the form below.

Instructor-Led Training Resources

These are some of our favorite resources to support everyone involved with instructor-led training.

Training Delivery and Facilitation Competency Rubric

A rubric is a way to assess performance with a standard set of evaluation criteria. The next time you need to assess the performance of someone delivering training (even if that someone is you), you may find this rubric helpful.

The Role of Co-facilitators

Co-facilitators play an important role in a training workshop. The most obvious benefit is that when you co-facilitate, you get a break from leading the

18 Instructor-led Training Activities

Engaging, intentional, face-to-face and virtual instructor-led training activities can make the difference between a session that helps learners to apply new skills or knowledge and one that falls flat.

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