Courses
Become a great trainer
Knowing your subject is a start. Help others make it their own.
Knowing a subject and helping others learn it are different skills. Over three days, you will work through the whole training process: understanding learner needs, designing a purposeful session, involving the group and checking what they have learned.
We won’t spend three days lecturing about why you shouldn’t lecture for three days. You will design, try out, observe and improve your own session, with theory introduced where it helps the practice.
Who it is for
For new trainers, internal instructors and subject-matter experts who share their knowledge. Also suitable for practising trainers who want stronger foundations. No previous training experience is required.
What you will practise
- Design a session from learner needs through to checking what they can do.
- Practise active learning methods, group facilitation and debriefing.
- Deliver a short session, receive feedback and try an improved version.
How we will work
Brief inputs alternate with exercises, pair and small-group work, reflection and short practice sessions. Feedback follows agreed criteria and leads to another attempt. The length of individual practice sessions is adapted to the group size.
The programme
Day 1 · Learning first. Slides second.
- Adult learners’ needs, experience and motivation: what to find out before a course and at its opening.
- Observable objectives: what participants should be able to do and how to check it.
- Session design: connecting explanation, demonstration, practice and reflection; managing time and attention.
- Design your own short session and try out its opening.
Day 2 · A group is more than an audience.
- Clear instructions, useful questions and attentive listening: making room for participants to work.
- Choose and practise methods: case studies, discussion, pair work and role play matched to the learning goal.
- Respond to silence, dominant voices, disagreement and different learning paces; establish boundaries and safety.
- Debrief experiences and give specific feedback so activities lead to learning.
Day 3 · Your turn to lead.
- Deliver your own short session and observe peers using shared criteria.
- Receive feedback from peers and the trainer, refine your approach and repeat a selected section.
- Check learning and support transfer to work: look beyond participant satisfaction.
- Complete your session plan and identify your next development steps.
What to bring
Bring a topic you know and would like to teach. Existing materials are welcome, but a finished slide deck is not required.
What you will take away
Leave with a session plan you have developed and tried out, criteria for evaluating it, specific feedback and a plan for further practice.