Photo by: PickStock via Canva
Have you been in this situation? You’re nearing the end of an excellent workshop but what happens next? What are the learners supposed to do when they get back to work? It’s one of our biggest challenges in the world of training.
Let’s break it down. We’ve done a needs analysis and confirmed that training is the right solution. We’ve designed the course, focusing on tasks the learners perform in their jobs. We’ve delivered the course in an interactive and enjoyable way. But how can we ensure our learners will use their new skills and knowledge back on the job? What can we do, in the training department, to promote a transfer of training mindset?
At Langevin, we incorporate a post-course plan that we discuss at the end of every workshop. What’s a post-course plan? It’s a checklist with bulleted items, timeframes, and priorities for the learner to complete back on the job. The priority column allows learners to focus on items that would be most meaningful for them.
Here’s an example of what our post-course plan looks like for our Instructional Design for New Designers workshop.
Here’s what I love about this plan. We’re giving learners all the required next steps. We’ve included a project, activities, debrief session, templates, networking, and additional readings, all in one document. Talk about setting our learners up for success! With this tool, your learners will leave motivated and eager to put their new skills and knowledge to work.
What do you do to promote a transfer of training mindset? How do you ensure that learners use their new skills back on the job? Please share your ideas in the comments below.
Additional resource: How to Get Learners to Use Their New Skills [Video]
For a set of comprehensive tools and techniques to ensure that training really “sticks” back on the job, have a look at our The Successful Training Manager workshop. We cover this topic and so much more.
