Social Security Administration Facilitator Training

Identify ways you can help people learn Explain 3 roles of an effective instructor Facilitate participative lecture/discussions Make effective presentations

practical information active learning to be respected to test information feedback variety

Adults want:

Harmful?

Vital?

Reflectiveof style?

allows rehearsal of new skillspromotes on-the-job applicationshould be realistic

Practice:

facilitation

presentation Organizing&

planning

give a general outline

generate interest in a topic

provide pieces of information

Lecture to:

1. Did you limit your lecture time to 10 minutes or less?

2. Did you conduct a lecture/discussion?

3. Did you encourage participants?

1. Contribute actively2. Think through course content3. Explore thoughts, attitudes & feelings4. Share opinions & experiences5. Give feedback

selecting the right type of question

phrasing it correctly

learning the do’s & don’ts of questioning

This means:

Open-ended? Closed?

Leading? Accusatory?

Plan your questions Ask questions related to learner’s knowledge, skill or experience Pause for 10 seconds after you’ve asked the question

DO’s Ask same question of several participants Ask follow-up questions Handle “wrong” answers appropriately

DON’TsDON’T ask leading or accusatory questionsDON’T ask obvious questionsDON’T answer your own questionsDON’T call on people who do not volunteer

Connect ideas between participants

Encourage participants

Mediate differences between participants

Summarize the key discussion points

1. Use nonverbal cues

2. Clarify the response

3. Confirm the response

4. Provide positivereinforcement

questions you don’t know how to answer

questions that are off target or irrelevant

questions that are of interest to only one participant

Potential Problems:

1. Use active listening skills Confirm & clarify

2. Repeat the questionas needed

3. Be aware of yourbody language

4. Treat each questionwith respect

Reassure participants

Ask “What questions do you have?”

Ask participants to write down questions

Ask participants to work in small groups to generate questions

Offer opportunities to meet

Make time references

Do an agenda check

Conduct a quick review

Conduct short question & answer session

Voice

Eye contact

Gestures & movements

Using the Leader’s Guide

►Guided visualization ►Positive self-talk

►Release tension

► All trainers have had at least one bad experience

► Serious problems are rare► Instructors define challeng-

ing behavior differently► Participants go to training

for different reasons► All participants must be

treated as though theywant to learn

► DON’T take it personally► DON’T get caught in

power struggles► Connect on a

personal level► Use good-natured humor► Allow other participants

to support you

► Asks irrelevant questions► Monopolizes the discussion► Goes off on tangents► Challenges you► Engages in private conversation► Doesn’t want to “waste time” in

discussions or exercises► Arrives late & leaves early► Is interrupted by messages, calls,

beepers

The participant:

► Accept that not everyone hasto participate in discussions

► Offer opportunities to discuss content in pairs or small groups

► Ask safe but relevant questions that may be answered easily

► Use positive, nonverbal cues(e.g., moving closer, establishing eye contact)

► Refer to something he/she has said or done in apositive manner

► Talk with him/her privately► If he/she refuses, explain consequences & again ask

for participation

► Limit your words

► Use COLOR

► Use symbols

► Keep track of pages

► Put pages together

Keep it simple! Enhance with graphics,

color & sound Don’t display more info

than needed Don’t distract from the visual Don’t talk to the visual,

face your audience Power down the projector

when not in use

Has laptop been “charged up”?

Always turn on projector FIRST before connecting to laptop

Once laptop has booted up, SEND THE PRESENTATION TO THE SCREEN! Use “toggle keys” (blue FN key + F3 or F9 key -varies on each laptop)

Is your screen freezing? Did you use the BLANK slide layout for all slides (Home tab + Layout + Blank)?

Avoiding PowerPoint Disasters

► To define & apply key rolesfor effective instruction

► Most effective qualities ofa good instructor

► Methods to enhance & use personal qualities effectively in training

Ethical

Respectful

Goal-oriented

Team player

► Review course goals & objectives

► Find out about your students

► Know your subject thoroughly

► Review timing of instruction& consider possible adjustments

► Conduct a walk-through/talk through

Knowledge/comprehensioncheck Performance check Attitude check

► To define/apply key rolesfor effective instruction

► Most effective qualities ofa good instructor

► Methods to enhance & use personal qualities effectively in training

“More important than the

training curriculum arethe methods of

teaching and thespirit in which the

teaching is given.”

“Attitudes, behaviors and feelings that influence our interactions with others.”

FlexibleGood/active listenerPositive attitudeProfessional

KnowledgeableAccountableMulti-taskerPoised, self-controlled

Attitude

Behavior

Communication

Appearance

POSITIVE, not pretending

GENUINE, not fake

HELPFUL, not hurtful

Ethical

Respectful

Goal-oriented

Team player

Articulate Clear Concise Accurate

Speech/oral or written, be:

Flow naturally from content

Support versus replacelearning objectives

Use alternatives tohumorous activities

Determine right humor for a particular groupof participants