Master Training Specialist: the Introduction

Motivating learners is vitally important to initiate learning. The introduction to a course and topic is the starting point to motivating your learners. Therefore trainers and educators need to recognize the seven important parts of a successful introduction.

Seven Steps of the Introduction

There are seven very important and proven steps to an introduction that Instructors and Facilitators MUST DO in all delivery settings (podium, facilitation, lab, trainer). Each step has an important role in guiding students and motivating them to learn. Smooth delivery of these steps is a hallmark of an excellent instructor / Master Training Specialist.

Introduce Yourself to the Students

Display your name, rank, title (perhaps also contact numbers) for the class, usually on the Visual Aids Panel (VAP). This allows them to respect your identity and position, just as you strive to respect them. This step can be shortened if this is not the first time you teach this particular group; but your info should always be on the VAP.
Establish Classroom Policies
ALWAYS encourage questions from your learners. Explain the procedure you want them to follow to ask a question. Also tell them how you want them to answer your questions. Administrative policies should include safety rules and emergency egress plan; snacking, drinking and smoking policies; class hours and extra study; and computer policies. They might also include special requirements, such as lab coveralls.

State the Topic Title

State the topic verbatim from your lesson plan. Post the full topic title on the VAP. It is best to use magnetic place cards that have your name, topics, and course information on them. If you do not have a VAP in your classroom, design another means to display the topic name, for instance via student handouts.

Read the Topic Learning Objectives Verbatim

Topic Learning Objectives must not be taken lightly. They give the Learner your Goals for the session, and motivate them to achieve those goals both for the test and for their professional development. When reading TLOs verbatim, substitute “you” for “The Trainee” to help personalize the experience for your Learners.

Explain TLOs / Lesson Overview

Now is the time to summarize the TLOs and put them into user-friendly terms. If the topic has many TLOs, you can divide the long list into two or more groups. Remember that the learners need to know these TLOs to aid in taking notes and that the assessments are built from them. Therefore if the learner does not fully understand what is expected of them, they will not perform well when it is time to test.

Create General Interest in the Topic

Now is the time to personalize the lesson with a “Sea Story” from your experience. Keep it real, keep it relevant! Get the Learners interested in learning more about what you are going to deliver!

Lay Out Benefits for the Learners

The final step is to encourage the Learners to develop an intense personal interest (IPI) in the topic. The motivational key is to relate a good story (yours, or borrowed) that will spark the learner’s interest and get him personally invested in learning more. Make it personal, keep it real!