Essential Elements of Effective Classroom Training

Technology is advancing at a breakneck pace in today's society, and learning to use technology effectively is becoming more and more important. Couple this with new training methods, such as online training, and one is sure to feel confused about the best way to go about training.

There is something to be said for the comfort of what we know, and for many of us, this means receiving training in a traditional classroom environment. Classroom training provides the learner with an environment that includes a lab, an instructor, and a structured approach to teaching.

But before you make a decision about the best technology training method for your organization, you must decide that the training is necessary in the first place. While there is no hard and fast rule to decide when one is sufficiently fluent with a particular technology, it is often possible to identify significant gaps in ability that can be addressed through training. Such gaps may become evident as staff members discover, in the course of their daily work, that some additional skills could help them do their work more efficiently or more confidently. By checking out the classes offered by various training organizations, you can identify what skills might be helpful, and what classes could fulfill your organizations training needs.

Classroom training can be an affordable easy way to train several staff members at the same time. But consider carefully how the benefits of classroom training will mesh with the needs and learning styles of your staff. To do this, ask your trainees these questions:

• Do you prefer to interact with others while learning?
• Do you learn best by doing?
• Do you require a distraction-free learning environment?
• Do you need to be held accountable for your learning?
• Do you work best in a structured environment?
• Do you prefer to have immediate answers to questions and an opportunity to talk about training content?

If your trainees answered yes to most or all of these questions, classroom training may be the best method for your organization. All that remains is to find the most effective training classes.

Effective Classroom Training

Effective classroom training should be viewed as a three-legged stool. If any one leg of the stool is weak or missing, it can make for unsuccessful training. The three important components of trainer are: the trainer, classroom, and content.

Trainer

A student should expect a training experience that includes quality instruction from an effective trainer, documentation, hands-on activities, and additional resources as needed. Trainers do not have to be experts, but they should be capable of fielding questions and following up with further research. Documentation should be clear and provide the information necessary for students to use what they have learned when they return to work. Additional resources about any given topic are inevitably needed, too. Resources that provide more information for further research and training are an important part of the learning process. As technology continues to change, students need to know how to keep up with new trends and distill what is important. A seasoned trainer will clearly outline learning objectives for the class at the outset. This can help demystify the learning process for the student.

There are a number of potential drawbacks to classroom training. Personality differences between the trainer and the student, for example, can impact the success of any training class. This problem can rarely be anticipated or avoided. Additionally, fellow trainees can dictate the pace of the training, leaving some students behind, and others bored with a pace that is too slow for them.

The old advice to do your homework holds true once again. Learn as much as you can about the training class you are considering. Ask these questions:

• What is the student to trainer ratio? (12:1 is ideal, less is preferable when the class is hands-on)
• What will be covered in class; is it possible to get an outline beforehand?
• What is the trainer's background and experience?
• Will there be a student workbook, additional resources, or quick guides of some kind that I can take with me?
• Is there any kind of placement process for classes offered at a certain skill level?

Classroom

The organization of a classroom, as well as the tools available for learning, all play a role in the effectiveness of training. The layout of a training lab should allow the trainer to interact with the students easily. Students should be able to see any kind of visual aids that are provided. Ideally, the classroom will have a projector for the trainer to use when giving instructions. There should also be adequate workspace, and extra room for taking notes is preferable. An advantage to attending training off-site is the lack of distractions. Phones are not ringing and the students can focus solely on the training.

Keep in mind that the equipment used in an off-site training course might be different from what you use at work. Be prepared to transfer what you learn in the classroom to the technology you use. For example, a training lab might use Microsoft Office XP, while you use Microsoft Office 2000 in your office.

The condition of the training facility is important. Certainly, you do not want to be training on out-of-date or malfunctioning equipment.

Be sure to ask questions before and during the training class to make the experience as effective as possible:

• How up to date is your training facility? (Specifications of the workstations should be available.)
• Ask whether particular software features discussed during class are available in the version you have at work?
• Ask the training provider to describe the training classroom. Better yet, if you are making a big investment, take a tour.

Content

A solid technology curriculum has key components that should go unnoticed if they are used well. At the bare minimum, expect the following:

• Different skill levels will be addressed.
• The examples used will be relevant to the work that you do.
• The layout of any training materials will be consistent and easy to read.
• There will be an equal balance between lecture time and hands-on time. (This is especially important in technology training.)
• There should be a glossary, quick guides, and additional resources.
• As stated earlier, the student should receive a workbook or other material for continued study after the class ends.

Unfortunately, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to curriculum. The trainers play an important role here. They must bring the curriculum alive and make it relevant to the students. But as long as the curriculum is solid, half the battle is won. At the very least, this way students leave with enough information to learn more without the trainer.

Some pointed questions will help you get to the heart of the matter:

• What kind of curriculum do you use? (Don’t be afraid to ask; this is a service you are paying for. You should be able to find out why it is being used as well.)
• What will the learner take home? Are there any handouts?
• What will be covered in class -- could I get an outline? (Yes, this question appears in an earlier question, but it's very important)

In Conclusion

Classroom technology training is a great investment an organization can make in its staff, as long as it's made wisely. By asking potential training providers a few simple questions, you can help your organization pick the most appropriate training program. It is unlikely that you will find an absolutely perfect training environment, but by understanding what goes into making an effective training class, you will be a smart consumer and be equipped to make the best decision possible.