5 Essential Skills Trainers Should Have Today

Today, trainers can harness the recent changes in the education ecosystem, and transform their ways of instruction to optimise learning.

Why have education needs changed today?

Education is the very pillar of our society, and hence it is a must for education practices to keep up with the changing times. This could not be truer during these unprecedented times brought to us by the ongoing global pandemic. In fact, as reported by the United Nations, the COVID-19 pandemic has created the largest disruptions of education systems in history, affecting nearly 1.6 billion learners in 190 countries and all continents. Furthermore, the ripples have also been seen in the form of shaky economies and uncertain job markets.

With a shift in all educational practices from physical spaces to virtual and remote conditions, it is absolutely imperative that the way things are taught also adapt with it. Fortunately, the world has realized this need and has started transitioning to e-learning, supported by the increased availability of affordable smartphones and data packs. This also gives rise to Blended Learning and its practices like the ‘Flipped Classroom’. Today, trainers have the opportunity to harness these changes and transform their ways of instruction, not only to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, but also to “build back better”.

This can be achieved by trainers through the acquisition of 5 essential skills:

Essential skills that trainers should have today.

1. Domain and Platform Skills.

With the large-scale transition to online learning practices, it is important that trainers are able to understand learner needs well, and to fulfil them with the help of technology. This ensures that training occurs smoothly and effectively, with minimal logistical friction despite the inability to be in the same physical space these days. Being comfortable with technology also enables trainers to enhance their ways of instruction with the help of digital means.

As concluded by a recent study, digital learning presents better positive effects on learning motivation and learning outcome than traditional teaching does.

2. Digital Literacy.

For enabling the effective use of these aforementioned means, to understand learner needs better and to tailor lessons accordingly, it is important that trainers acquire digital literacy. This also means being able to curate information well and to present it according to learner needs. Doing so opens up endless possibilities for effective learning.

Digital means facilitate more engagement-based learning through interactive content. Furthermore, digital content complements trainers’ lessons while also providing learners with the flexibility to pursue self-paced — and hence, more effective — learning.

Another possibility of beneficial digital literacy practices is the ability of trainers to revisit the taught content and recorded lectures; while this allows flexibility in terms of learning for students, it also enables trainers to add to and improve the existing content with ease.

3. Adaptability.

In order to be effective, trainers today must be adaptable. They should be able identify when lessons do not ‘click’ with learners, or when lessons do not deliver the intended outcome; and they should be able to adapt accordingly.

Effective trainers constantly strive to make their lessons optimally suited to the needs of learners, which often requires adapting to blended learning practices by acquiring digital literacy. Effective trainers do not teach different things; they teach things differently.

4. Interpersonal and Communication Skills.

Effective trainers have good interpersonal and communication skills — something that comes in handy while interacting with students and colleagues. They ensure that their content is delivered in a manner that is both engaging and beneficial for the learners. They realise that each learner has their own different needs while acquiring information; effective trainers strategise and are not afraid to approach the same lesson delivery through multiple ways. Through the key skill of communication, trainers convey complex concepts in ways that are easy to grasp.

5. Organisational Skills.

Being great at organisation is paramount for trainers. Effective trainers are able to organise their course material and lecture content in ways that are both engaging and practical, while also keeping track of time. This ensures not only efficient progression of learning and, but also the optimal retention of what is taught. Additionally, trainers with good organisational skills are able to devise activities and assignments in ways that are most beneficial and effective.

4 Benefits of Blended Learning for Your Learners

Blended learning improves the learning experience for both learners and trainers.

Key Takeaways:

• Blended Learning improves learner engagement by giving them greater control on their learning.

• The use of multimedia content makes learning more exciting for learners.

• Blended Learning moves the focus from delivering lectures to the specific needs of each learner.

• Every stakeholder can access quick and objective feedback on their performance.

• Cost-effective and time-efficient, Blended Learning is very suitable for businesses recovering from the impact of COVID19.

What is Blended Learning?

Blended Learning is a form of digital learning. It ‘blends together’ advanced technology and the traditional trainer-led classroom. Charles R Graham, co-author of the first important handbook on Blended Learning, defines it as a system which “combines face-to-face instruction with computer-mediated instruction.”

One example of Blended Learning in practice is the ‘Flipped Classroom’ method. Learners are given self-paced learning material, accessible digitally, to go through at home. The classroom, with trained educators is, in turn, used for learning through application. This ‘flips’ the traditional logic of classwork and homework.

Several studies have verified the effectiveness of such systems. In one such study, researchers from University of British Columbia in Canada found that learners in flipped classrooms scored 33% higher, on average, than those who learned conventionally.

Why is Blended Learning important?

The global shutdowns in response to the COVID19 pandemic has made it impossible for trainers and learners to come together. This has pushed organisations to prioritise their transition to e-learning. They are also supported by the increased availability of affordable smartphones and data packs.

The hybrid approach of Blended Learning combines the best of both worlds. It makes it easier for learners to adapt to this new mode of education without facing too much friction.

Benefits of Blended Learning.

1. Increases Learner Engagement.

Blended Learning excites the learners by giving them access to interactive digital content. Trainers can use videos, images, and audio to deliver their lessons. This keeps the learners more engaged than the traditional text-book.

The learner can access this content at their own pace, which gives them greater control on their learning journeys. The blended nature of these programs ensures that they can also reach out to the trainers for support. These factors, multimedia content and ownership, work wonders together for learner motivation.

A two-year study, conducted by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and Sattva Consulting, found that blended models saw far less drop-outs than purely online models. As on-ground mobilisation and training partner in this study, Leap had the opportunity to train over 8000 learners. We learned that combining trainer instruction and digital learning content is very effective. The learner does not have to sit through boring lectures and they can seek the support of trainers, if need arises — the best of both worlds.

The hybrid approach of Blended Learning combines the best of both worlds. It makes it easier for learners to adapt to this new mode of education without facing too much friction.

2. Allows Quick and Detailed Feedback.

Digital technology makes it possible for the trainers and learner to access immediate feedback. These feedback mechanisms allow the learner to gauge the success of their learning. They can timely revisit portions that are unclear. Feedback from trainers often takes time and is hard to turn into actionable insights. Moreover, self-evaluation builds important critical thinking skills in learners.

Trainers can use this feedback to adapt their lessons for individual learner competencies. This helps them support the learner to achieve their learning objectives, more effectively.

3. Customised and Personal.

Different people learn differently. Content can be customised for specific learner needs, if delivered digitally. The quick and immediate feedback facilitates customisation of learning by pointing toward each learner’s personal interaction with the course.

This helps trainers build custom modules for learners on different stages of the learning journey. Use of various communication channels, such as messages and phone calls, also helps trainers pay more attention to individual learners while communicating with them.

4. Cost Effective and Time Efficient.

Digital delivery of learning content makes Blended Learning more cost effective for organisations. Moreover, focusing on specific learner needs cuts out any duplication of work and costs associated with mass lectures.

Trainers can also become more time efficient because learners can access content anywhere and anytime. This allows them to focus more effectively on learner competencies and fill any particular gaps. Quick and detailed feedback also saves the trainers time from marking traditional assessments.