How many times have you been to a training where the instructor or facilitator dives right into the material, and you are so confused about what will be covered and why you are even trying to learn this in the first place? I know I have been to many of those and have, unfortunately, probably led a few of them too. That was before I started using objective-based training.
Objective-based trainings are trainings designed around desired outcomes or objectives. These trainings clearly state the goals, identifying what trainees should be able to do after completing the training. Here are the three reasons I love this style of training so much.
First…
Objectives force an instructor to get real with the constraints they are dealing with for a specific training. Many outcomes that you might want are entirely unreasonable if you do a one-hour virtual training. The outcomes shape what you will teach, but the constraints shape your results.
Things to consider when looking at your constraints:
What are your training tools? How much time do you have for the training? Who will be attending the training? What are the various background knowledge and experience levels that participants will bring to the training? These questions and others can help you be realistic about your desired outcomes.
Second…
Transparency constantly improves learning outcomes. When you are clear with yourself and your participants about what you will teach and the point you hope participants reach by the end of the training, you will see increased learning attainment—learning increases because your teaching will be more focused. Then learners will be more likely to attend to the essential parts and not be as distracted by divergent pieces of information.
Finally…
Stating your objective increases accountability for you as the instructor and for participants as learners. When I do objective-based training, I always refer to the objectives, either formally or informally, to ensure that participants reach the desired learning goals. One can do this through formalized evaluation or by informal check-ins. For an informal check-in, I might simply bring up the slide with the stated objectives, review it, and ask the participants if we are on track to meet these objectives and, if not, what additional support they might need to reach them.
Now that I have you convinced that objective-based trainings are well worth your time and energy, you might be asking yourself, “but how do I write good objectives?” Check out our next blog post to learn more on this subject, or schedule a free consultation with me, and I would be happy to help you write quality objectives that will help you reach your training goals.
Want to know more about Empowered Development Consulting? Reach out to me, Meghan Schiedel, and find out how Empowered Development Consulting can help you.