Evaluate your current course facilitation skills within your work context and experiences. Based on the outcome, develop a set of personalised course objectives.

It is vital that all training be outcomes-based as required by the Skills Development Act framework - organisations can only claim back their skills levies on outcomes-based training. As a trainer, you are therefore required to impart skills that your learners will be able to implement practically in their work environment. One of the ways you will achieve this is through experiential learning where learners actually experience the skills they are being trained in. Master how to ensure optimal skills development for your learners by:

• Understanding the impact of outcomes-based training on your learners – improved productivity through increased practical skills levels
• Establishing that your critical outcomes are the actual objectives you want to achieve with your training course
• Facilitating outcomes-based training to achieve your business objective of improving the skills level of your staff
• Evaluate the cycle of outcomes-based training:
• conducting a needs analysis
• planning and preparing for your training
• designing, researching and compiling content for your course
• running a pilot session to ensure smooth delivery
• delivering the actual course
• carrying out a workplace assessment of the skills gained

The purpose of a training course is to increase the skills levels of your learners. By linking your outcomes to their skills gaps you will ensure that they are gaining skills that they really need in order to advance in their careers. As the facilitator, you therefore need to conduct a needs assessment to pinpoint the actual skills needs of your learners - enabling you to align your course to your learners’ skills gaps and ensuring that you close them through your training. Master needs analysis techniques by learning how to identify the skills needs of your learners accurately through:

• Circulating pre-course questionnaires for your course
• Interviewing the various role players – the potential learners and their managers
• Using performance appraisal feedback
• Carrying out competency testing prior to the course through evaluations and assessments
• Customising the course to ensure it addresses your learners’ specific skills needs

It is crucial to structure and plan the content and format of your training course because this will act as a guideline for your workbooks, material and actual course. When designing your course, you need to have a clear idea of what your required outcomes are so that you can ensure that they are aligned. This will enable you to consolidate the learning process by ensuring skills transfer takes place and vital skills are imparted to your learners. Develop the essential skills to design your training course by learning how to:

• Establish the key areas of focus that are applicable to your learners’ needs and align them to the required outcomes - course objectives
• Identify the profile of your learners to know how to pitch your course
• Determine the format of your course and translate your theoretical knowledge into practical learning by incorporating:
  • exercises
  • examples
  • case studies
  • applications
  • role plays
  • discussions
  • interactive sessions
• Conduct research to ascertain the material to include and collate it into training notes/manual:
• relevant up-to-date case studies
• statistical data to support your training
• Align your material to the best suited unit standard to ensure your course covers the relevant outcomes and assessment criteria as stipulated by the unit standard

Different people learn in different ways, so as a trainer you need to employ various training methods within your training course to accommodate all your learners. Aligning your training method to the correctly identified learning styles of your learners will ensure that skills transfer takes place during your course. This will enhance your trainees’ individual performance at work, guaranteeing return on investment of your training. Master the competencies to select the most appropriate training style for your learners:

• Evaluate the different methods of training that you can use to ensure you accommodate the learning styles of your learners:
• one-on-one training
• group training
• seminars
• discussion
• adult learning methods
• Analyse your audience to identify your learners’ learning styles and align your training methods to them
• Observe your learners and have the flexibility to adapt to the relevant method if/when necessary
• Use energisers to capture the audience’ interest and keep your learners involved and attentive
• Utilise games and ice breakers to break tension, attract and retain attention as well as encourage participation:
• puzzle/name games
• introductory sessions
• Incorporate various training styles in your course to ensure that you reach all your learners:
• oral presentation or group discussion
• written – diagrams or notes
• demonstrative

As the trainer, planning and preparing for your course will ensure it is successful as well as highly professional. In addition, by being a well prepared, knowledgeable expert you will be able to impart the necessary skills to your learners with confidence. Your learners will then be assured of a well organised, quality learning experience. Learn how to skilfully prepare for your course by:

• Developing administrative skills to enable you to get the logistics of the course right:
• venue
• catering
• equipment
• workbooks
• stationery
• Ensuring the practicality of your training course by having trial/pilot runs for your:
• timing
• material
• Identifying the optimal training method to use to ensure your learners participate fully and gain actual skills

The most crucial element of a training course is its actual delivery because it is then that you will impart vital skills to your learners. Even flawless material can be diluted by poor presentation or facilitation. Building a rapport with your learners by gaining the skills to handle group dynamics will enable you to instill motivation in the group and encourage them to get involved. Different personalities need to be managed individually, and you are guaranteed to get a cross-section of diverse personalities in your courses. Equip yourself with vital facilitation expertise to proficiently deliver your training courses and master the key skills to enhance your course by identifying the characteristics of a good trainer:

• Presentation skills to capture the attention of your learners by:
• exploiting technology – using audio-visual training aids such as TV and video
• abiding to the appropriate dress code
• Communication skills – verbal/non-verbal communication to get the information across to your learners through:
• voice control to give you more presence
• eye contact to get attention
• positive body language
• effective listening
• People management skills to promote learner participation by means of:
• handling group dynamics
• conflict management – dealing with various difficult individuals and situations such as:
• aggressive
• quiet
• disruptive
• argumentative
• problem solving
• diversity management
• motivation to build rapport and motivate your audience
• Sensitisation – sensitise your learners to different points of view

The success of your training is measured by the level of actual skills development in your learners. You can measure this by conducting pre, during and post assessments to evaluate the skills level of your trainees and ensure learning transfer has taken place. This will enable you to determine if your learners have achieved optimal skills development from your training course. Evaluate the attainment of your training objectives and outcomes by learning how to:

• Monitor your learners’ absorption levels during the course
• Assess your learners’ growth and development during and after the training through reports and self assessment forms
• Evaluate the improved skills levels after your training through practical assessments, assignments and questionnaires:
• formative assessments – skills knowledge testing during course
• summative assessments – evaluation through workplace assignments after the completion of the course
• Analyse the learning process to determine if your training outcomes were achieved
• Take remedial action if/when necessary by using learner feedback to conclude future courses on a positive note

This session will include role plays and discussions to equip you with the key facilitation skills that you require to excel in training outcomes-based courses. This will enable you to fill the skills gaps of your learners and ensure increased productivity in the workplace. You will participate in mini-presentations on which you will receive immediate feedback on your performance, enabling you to improve your facilitation skills.

• Fine tune your facilitation skills through practical experience and immediate feedback
• Participate in role plays to enable you to experience various incidences that could take place during a training course and to learn how to handle them
• Share ideas with your peers on how to improve your facilitation skills through practical discussions