Effective use of Training Aids

Presented by:

Garima Dabas

Sakshi Anand

 

Training Aids

Training aids are used to help the trainer to makethe audience understand the concept, to support thelearning activities, which make the trainingprogramming successful.

 

Why use Training Aids?

Training aids are useful to:

• facilitate different learning styles.

• reinforce what you are saying and summarize keyconcepts,

• ensure that your point is understood,

• signal what is important/essential,

• enable trainees to experience something that isimpractical to do in real life,

• engage or stimulate trainees’ other senses in the

learning process.

 

Instructional/Training Aids must be:

Well prepared

Well presented

Readable

• Legible

• Visible to all

• Appropriate format for room and audience size

Relevant

• Pertinent to topic

• Up-to-date

 

Advantages vs. Disadvantages

Advantages:

• Causes more than one senseto be involved in thelearning process

• Allows for more rapidpresentation of material

• Often results in more rapidinitial understanding

• Promotes increasedretention

• Facilitates learning processfor a variety of traineeslearning stylessimultaneously

Disadvantages:

• No permanent record ofwhat was written

• Instructor’s back to

audience

• Limitations on portability &audience size

• Must write legibly

• Cannot talk while facingboard

• Involve the trainees

• Have plenty ofchalk/markers & recapmarkers

 

Training Aid Examples

In this presentation:

• Chalkboard/Whiteboard

• Flipcharts

• Overhead Projector/Transparencies

• Power Point

• Data Projectors/Smart Board

• Audiotapes/CDs

• Videotapes/DVDs

• Podcasts

 

Chalkboard/Whiteboard 

CONSTRUCTION: 

• Colored chalk and markers can enhance the presentation

• Using trainees as “recorders” can increase involvementand free instructor’s hands 

PROPER USE: 

Reliable:

• Dependable format

• Should evoke consistent responses

Repetitious:

• Should support presentation

• Stress the important points

• Summarize and reinforce key points

 

Chalkboard/Whiteboard

Advantages:

• No advanced preparationrequired,

• used when displaying acomplex table/chart/diagram.

• Technology is notdependent on electricity orother possible glitches.

• Can be used by trainers forproblem-solving, etc.

Disadvantages:

• Time-consuming if youhave a lot to write.

• Handwriting may bedifficult to read (legibility,size, glare, etc.).

• Turn your back onaudience.

• Can’t go back to something

 you’ve erased. 

 

Flipcharts

When to USE: 

• if electricity is unavailable,

• to enable trainees to illustrate group reports,

• to provide a written record of points made by trainees.

Tips for using Flipcharts: 

• Check the room and equipment beforehand.

• Get your own pad of newsprint.

• Write out important pages in advance.

• Don’t put too much on a page. 

• Carry a collection of felt-tip pens and check that they haven’t

dried out.

 

Flip charts 

CONSTRUCTION: 

• Commercially available

• Needs a stand

• Can make your own

PROPER USE: 

• Complicated or time consuming illustrations should be doneahead of time

• Do not walk with back to audience

• Writing should be legible

• Involve trainees

• Write notes to self in pencil at edge –  audience cannot see

 

Flipcharts

Advantages:

• Inexpensive –  can be madefrom butcher paper

• Reasonably portable

• Can be saved

• Dependable

• Encourage spontaneity

• Room lights left on

Disadvantages:

• Limited writing space

• Changes are messy

• Instructor’s back toaudience

• Limitations on size of roomand audience 

 

Overhead Projector/Transparencies 

PROPER USE: • Prepare complicated transparencies ahead of time, by hand,

computer, printing, printer or photocopier

• Arrange in order –  use something to keep in order –  numberthem

• Cover unwanted portions until ready for audience to see

• Leave on long enough for audience to read, take notes, etc.

• Highlight/point-out key concepts

• Involve trainees 

 

Overhead Projector/Transparencies 

CONSTRUCTION: 

• Focus Projector!

• Make sure font size is large enough to be readable

• Use non-permanent pens for spontaneous additions

• Highlight permanent parts with different colors

• Create on computer, etc.

• Use clip art or other graphics

• Run through copy machine to put on transparency –  makesure using right machine and blank transparencies

• Set machine at right length away from screen

• Do not use a full typewritten page –  only bullets or outlinetype

• Draw as you go for best effect

• Turn off if not using –  fan, light, etc. distracting

 

Overhead Projector/Transparencies

Advantages: • Attention getting

• Relatively inexpensive

• Easy to prepare

• Instructor can faceaudience

• Reasonably portable

• Can sometimes leave roomlights on

• Fairly reliable machinery

• Can write on while talking 

Disadvantages: • Requires equipment

• Must know how to useequipment andtroubleshoot (change bulbs,etc.)

• Limitations on room andaudience size

• Can be blinding toinstructor

• Can be noisy

• Can drop group oftransparencies –  out oforder 

 

Overhead Projector/Transparencies

Advantages 

• Allows you to prepare all your slides in advance.

• Particularly suited forcomplex diagrams, chartsand illustrations.

• Can build up informationpoint-by-point through theuse of overlays.

• Don’t have to turn your

back on the audience.

Disadvantages 

• A blown bulb or powerfailure can spoil all yourhard work.

• Image quality can also be aproblem.

• Can be disorienting tomanipulate transparencieson projector plate.

 

Power Point Presentations

PROPER USE: 

• Make certain that projector is focused

• Leave word slides on longer than action slides

• Use to reinforce and highlight

• Know how to troubleshoot. 

 

Power Point Presentations

CONSTRUCTION: 

• Use colored background –  darker for computer –  generated slides –  lights can be brighter in room

• Keep slides simple –  should only take a moment tofigure out what slide is about

• Use graphics and images when appropriate

• No more than seven to ten words to a line and sevenlines to a slide

• Use short sentences and bullet lists –  not completesentences

• Use full screen

 

Power Point Presentations

 

CONSTRUCTION continued): 

• Make sure the screen and the image are largeenough for all to see

• Sit in the worst seat in the room and make sure you can see the slides

• Have back up notes in case the slide projector orcomputer quit

• One idea per slide

• Charts and graphs are great

• No more than 3 colors per slide

 

Power Point Presentations 

ADVANTAGES: 

• Good for large rooms andaudiences

• Can be action oriented orwords oriented

• Allows for reference backto previous slide

DISADVANTAGES: 

• Expensive

• Can be difficult to produce –  easier with computer graphics

• Room must be darkenedsomewhat

• Requires equipment andknowledge of thatequipment

• Relatively portable

• Order easily arranged

• Can be very creative 

 

Data Projectors/Smart Board

• Smart Boards are rapidly being integrated intotraining rooms around the world and areessentially enhanced whiteboards that are used inconjunction with projectors and laptops.

• This allows access to a wide variety of computer-based multi-media content on the board in front ofthe class.

• The trainer or trainee is able to touch the surface ofthe board to control applications, write notes andmanipulate objects.

 

Data Projectors/Smart Board 

ADVANTAGES: 

• Good for large rooms andaudiences

• Can be trainees oriented

• Allows for referenceback/info. can be saved forlater

• Lights can be on

• Lots of websites with freeresources

• Can be very creative 

DISADVANTAGES: 

• Very expensive –  manytrainers/trainees don’t haveaccess to this type oftechnology

• Requires equipment andknowledge of thatequipment

• Not portable!

 

Audiotapes/CDs

TIPS

• Check the room and equipment beforehand.

• Can it be heard from the back of the room?

• Find the right spot on the tape/CD and queue it up in advance.

• Don’t play more than a few minutes of audio at one time. 

• Break up longer clips into segments, interspersed with discussionor other activities.

 

Videotapes/DVDs

TIPS 

Same as for CDs/audio tapes

• Check equipmentbeforehand.

• Can images be seen fromthe back of the room?

• Queue up the tape inadvance.

• Break viewing into shortsegments, interspersed withdiscussion or activities.

When to USE: 

• Adds a dimension notavailable through audioalone - helps trainees tovisualise.

• Essential when illustratingthings that are impracticalto do in real life.

• Particularly suited fortechnical learning, mediastudies, engineering, etc.

• Valuable when referring torecorded practicalapplications.

 

Podcasts

A series of digital media files, usually digital, audio, orvideo, that is made available for download via web.

Possibilities: Lessons could be downloaded on iPod, iPhone,mP3 player, etc.

Advantages: For those employees who are very tech savvy.

Disadvantages: Podcast software will be needed which isexpensive, also special trainers might be needed to use theprogram.

 

Thank you for your time!