Creative Training Techniques - The Bob Pike Group

Did you know our minds are naturally wired to wander? Unfortunately wandering minds may miss what you're teaching. Energizers will help your audience be more engaged and learn more. Becky has some fun tips on how and when to reset your audience and energize your learners.

Becky has some epic fails for instructors. Don't do this!

Time management can help you really be on top of your game during classes. Becky says dividing your content into need to know, nice to know, and where to go can help you relax and make the most of those precious classroom minutes. She also has some tips to help you organize such as why you should always plan on five minute segments. Links mentioned in this podcast http://www.lynda.com

Becky says the Masters Golf tournament tees up some very important lessons that you can apply to your training business. But instead of winning a green jacket, you'll end up with more green in your wallet (which you can use for a green jacket if your really want one.)

Becky has talked about how smart phones can be a distraction in the classroom, but they can also be a learning aid. Amazingly using smart phones can also get you powerful referrals. Links mentioned in this podcast i rig - http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/irigmic/ Training Tunes http://www.bobpikegroup.com/product/training-tunes-volumes-1-5-royalty-free-music

Are you making things too complicated for people to learn? Becky says short and sweet beats complicated nearly every time. She has some tips on how to keep your presentation simple and to the point. Links mentioned in this podcast Score Series of Books http://www.bobpikegroup.com/product/score-and-powerful-presentations-books

Images and music can play an important role in making training successful. Becky has some great tips on how to employ images and music to enhance your next session. Links mentioned in the podcast www.bigstockphoto.com www.morguefile.com Training Tunes http://www.bobpikegroup.com/product/training-tunes-volumes-1-5-royalty-free-music

What are you doing that is killing learning? Becky has a list. Are you doing (or not doing) any of these things? Mentioned in the podcast: Becky's Deadly Sins of Trainers White Paper http://www.bobpikegroup.com/Resources/Articles/487

You can teach it, but will they use it on the job? Becky says the person who has the biggest influence on that might not even be in your training session.

It only takes one problem participant to make learning difficult in a training session. Becky says 80% of problem participants can be prevented. She gives you with some great techniques to identify and disarm those problems before they disrupt your session.

To successfully teach to different generations, you need to know how each generation learns. Complicating matters: age doesn't necessarily dictate what generation someone belongs to. Becky has some great advice on how you can reach silents, boomers and millennials even when they're in the same classroom.

Why recreate the wheel every time you create a presentation? Becky says just like having a checklist for packing, having a checklist for your presentation makes sure you don't forget important details that can spell the difference between an OK training session and a great training session.

When your computer is running slow, or acting cranky, often just rebooting it will fix the problem. Why? Rebooting it clears the cache—all those unnecessary bits of information that can clog up a smooth running computer. Becky says your learner's brain is like a computer, and when it's having trouble processing what you're teaching, often "clearing the cache" will make things run smoother. She has some great tips on how to do that. Links mentioned in the podcast: Lincoln on Leadership by Donald T. Phillips http://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Leadership-Executive-Strategies-Tough/dp/0446394599

It's not just what you do during a conference call that makes it a success — it's what you do before, during, and after the call that can make the difference. Becky talks about some not-so-obvious things you should put on your next conference call checklist including picking a memorable start time. Links mentioned in the podcast: www.99designs.com www.fiverr.com

You know that music can impact your mood and energy, but did you know it can impact learning both positively and negatively? Becky has some clear guidelines on when you should and shouldn't use music and what kind of music works best for learning. Link mentioned in the podcast: Training Tunes For Classroom Vol 1-5 http://www.bobpikegroup.com/product/training-tunes-volumes-1-5-royalty-free-music

To Learn Is More Than To Know (And How Games Can Help) What to know something? Read a book. Look it up on Google. What to learn something? Ah, that's more complex. Becky says learning requires people to know, comprehend, and apply knowledge. And good teachers make it happen in the classroom with some help from games. Links mentioned in the podcast Benjamin Bloom's Taxonomy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloom's_taxonomy PowerPoint Game Templates http://tinyurl.com/6nn4dde - Variety of games, including Darts, Blockbusters, Hangman, Millionaire, Concentration, Weakest Link scoreboard, animated Power Point timers, bingo number generator, and Wheel of Fortune spinner. http://tinyurl.com/6ou4nnz - Amazing number of PowerPoint based games: Includes Concentration, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Millionaire, and Hollywood Squares, Balloon Game, Blast It. http://tinyurl.com/7ntjb6y- University of MN Center for Teaching and Learning has some of the same kinds of PowerPoint games but with a higher education/corporate fe

Reflection is an important part of learning. Becky has some phrases and questions that will help you achieve this important step in the classroom. Links mentioned in this podcast: Heart Math Focused Breathing: http://www.heartmath.org/free-services/articles-of-the-heart/heart-focused-breathing.html

Emotions and memories are tied in our brains. Becky has some great ideas on how you can take advantage of that to make your next presentation more memorable. Links mentioned in this podcast: Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath - http://www.amazon.com/Made-Stick-Ideas-Survive-Others/dp/1400064287 Turning Point Technology clickers https://www.turningtechnologies.com/higher-education

How do you tap into social media so your students are learning before, during and after they come to your classroom? Becky has some great ideas on you can use social media in learning.

The answers you give in a debriefing are important, but so are the answers your students give. How can you make sure the answers your students give are just as useful as your own? Becky has five points you should consider.