Active Training: A Handbook of Techniques, Designs, Case Examples, and Tips, 4th Edition

What you do as a trainer is not all that counts. Equally important is when you do it.

No matter how well you design a particular activity or presentation, its impact and value for the participants may diminish greatly if it is misplaced in the overall sequence of events. For example, participants may be tired just when you need them to be alert. Or the group may not be able to grasp abstract ideas before experiencing concrete examples.

Further, an active training module is not a string of exercises. Nothing could be a greater waste than having participants go through one activity after another without a thoughtful plan. How well you weave activities together is of paramount importance to your overall effectiveness.

Every concept in this chapter is something you will consider whether you are sequencing activities for a physical or a virtual classroom.

Sequencing is partly an art; some trainers just know where to place different pieces in their overall design and how to obtain a good mix and flow. Most trainers, however, learn to master sequencing through experience and trial and error. Nonetheless, some basic guidelines remove the mystery from effective sequencing.

BASIC SEQUENCING GUIDELINES

The following guidelines apply to most sequencing of training activities and should be considered fundamental to effective designing.

1. Build interest and introduce new content before you delve ...