3 Responses

1. Guidelines for Delivering Training with a Projector
   There are no hard and fast rules but like everything within the training environment it should be used as an aid to teaching and not a crutch to rely on. I recall a study which came up with a chart called Concentration Curves which, suggests that without a change in activity a learners concentration falls after approximately 15 minutes. So, in the ideal world your lesson would be split into segments, 15 minutes projector, followed by 15 minutes practical work etc. Not always possible I know but from experience it does work. It can also depend on what you are using the projector for, my employer has splashed out recently on SMART boards which allow you to carryout all operations on a touch sensitive projected screen which means more time is spent using the projector. That said however you can still split the work into chunks 15 minutes chalk and talk using the board for notes, 15 minutes, monkey see monkey do demonstrated on the board followed up with a 10 minutes PowerPoint presentation and so on.

   With regards sitting or standing again no concrete rules but personally I will always stand, not only does it allow you to project your voice better but it portrays a more professional image and allows you to see what is going on around you. The image you portray to your delegates can have a dramatic effect on their attitude towards the lesson being given.

2. SMARTboards are for learners too!
   Touch sensitive whiteboards can be great fun for learners to use too. If you get the opportunity to use one, don’t keep it to yourself, they’re great for encouraging learner participation in a session.

   A tip for using a projector – put it on standby or turn it off when you’re not using it, the sound they make is very distracting to the learner.

   With regard to how much you should use the projector, check out the Institute of IT Training’s website for info on their “Trainer Activity Profile” methodology (commonly referred to as ‘TAP’). This is a method for assessing a trainer’s delivery skills and is considered ‘best practice’.

3. Using visual aids
   If you’re planning to produce PowerPoint (or Freelance Graphics) slides to use during your training, you may be interested in some tipsheets we’ve developed on using PowerPoint effectively and developing effective visual aids.

   You can download the tipsheets from our website (they’re free!) at http://www.a2ztraining.co.uk – follow the Tips & Tricks link, then follow the TipSheets link.

   The tipsheets are in Acrobat 4.0 format.

   nici@a2ztraining.co.uk