| No matter the brevity or subject of a training | | | | break for a few minutes by totally switching |
| session, attendees will enjoy the learning process | | | | gears. |
| more if the atmosphere is excited and upbeat. | | | | - Include small group activities or discussions. One |
| And chances are good that the more particpants | | | | of the most interesting yet common phenomena |
| enjoy the experience, the more engaged they will | | | | of training is the participant who won't speak at all |
| be in their own education. | | | | in front of the large group but who will blabber |
| You don't have to invest an exorbitant amount of | | | | away when put in a discussion group of two or |
| energy and time to make your sessions lively. | | | | three people. Using small groups for activities and |
| Following are some high-impact practices you can | | | | discussions can greatly help in livening up a training |
| employ. | | | | session. |
| - Begin with an icebreaker to loosen up attendees. | | | | - Build fun and novelty into the session where |
| Even if they know each other well, an activity to | | | | possible. For example, roll a pair of dice to |
| help participants get to know each other better | | | | determine the length of a break (one minute for |
| will help participants to relax and to establish | | | | every eye showing on the dice). Here's another |
| rapport. If participants do not know each other, | | | | one: Prior to the training session begins, write the |
| an icebreaker is essential for getting them to | | | | names of some prizes on small strips of paper |
| interact with one another. | | | | and then attach them to the bottoms of the |
| - Include time for getting the blood flowing. At | | | | chairs. At some point in the training, ask |
| various points in the training, find an excuse to | | | | participants to look under their chairs to see what |
| get the crowd moving. Even if they're just getting | | | | they've won just for attending. |
| up to walk around the table for an activity, the | | | | - Play upbeat music during breaks. You can use a |
| energy level will go up. | | | | tape, cd, or radio to spice up the session with |
| - If the training session is longer than two hours, | | | | music. As soon as you announce a break, turn |
| include some playful energizer activities. These | | | | the music on and keep it on until the participants |
| activities can be extremely simple and they don't | | | | are all back in their seats and prepared to |
| have to have any relevance at all to the training | | | | continue the training session. This simple tactic is |
| material—even jokes, trivia, or word games will | | | | sure to give attendees a boost of attention. |
| work. The objective is to give attendees' brains a | | | | |