Closing the Training Session
Closing a training session is just as important as your opening. You want to leave the trainees with a good overall impression of your delivery, the usefulness of the training materials, and the benefits of using SAS. By finishing on a “high note” you’ll be encouraging your trainees to apply what they’ve learned from you.
A “good closing” includes 3 basic parts – summarizing, providing follow-up resources, and administering course feedback.
Summarizing
Another old training maxim says, “Tell them what you’re gonna’ tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them.” Summarizing provides a final opportunity to reinforce the skills and knowledge covered in the material. You should summarize frequently throughout the course as well as at the end. There are two basic ways to summarize:
Another old training maxim says, “Tell them what you’re gonna’ tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them.” Summarizing provides a final opportunity to reinforce the skills and knowledge covered in the material. You should summarize frequently throughout the course as well as at the end. There are two basic ways to summarize:
Trainer Review:
The trainer summarizes the key points in this technique. In this way all of the major points will be covered, it requires the least amount of time, and keeps the trainer in control of the class. Disadvantages are that trainees are not actively involved in the review. Therefore, they’ll have more of a tendency to tune you out.
Trainee Review:
In this method, the trainer asks the trainees questions such as, “In your opinion, what are the major points covered in this topic” to generate a discussion. In this way the active involvement of your trainees keeps retention levels higher, gives you feedback on how much the trainees actually learned, and provides a chance to address any misconceptions or answer additional questions. Drawbacks to this strategy are that trainees may miss important points and it takes much longer to complete this kind of summarizing.
Provide Follow-Up Resources
Before the trainees leave, you should give them some direction on “where to go from here.” Providing them with resources addresses their apprehension at having to go it alone after the classroom time ends.
Before the trainees leave, you should give them some direction on “where to go from here.” Providing them with resources addresses their apprehension at having to go it alone after the classroom time ends.
Follow-Up Documentation:
Make sure that the trainees are aware of where they can find documentation on issues that arise after class.
Additional Training:
Point out resources for any additional training or tutorials that may benefit the trainees. Another option would be to inform the trainees if the course that you are teaching is part of a sequence of courses. This would be a good time to present a flowchart of that sequence. This shows where this course fits in and where the trainees would go next.
Phone Numbers and Email Addresses:
If you are available as a resource for help after the course, provide the trainees with your phone number and email address. Also provide contact information for any help desk personnel who can provide assistance.
Administering Course Feedback
The final activity is to ensure all trainees access and complete course evaluations. Here are some guidelines:
Give Clear Directions and Time:
Make sure it is clear how the feedback is to be administered. Let the trainees know how much time they have to complete the form and where to place it when they are completed.
Explain Use and Importance:
Explain that feedback not only lets us know how the trainees perceived the course, but also enables us to make improvements for future classes.
The final activity is to ensure all trainees access and complete course evaluations. Here are some guidelines:
Give Clear Directions and Time:
Make sure it is clear how the feedback is to be administered. Let the trainees know how much time they have to complete the form and where to place it when they are completed.
Explain Use and Importance:
Explain that feedback not only lets us know how the trainees perceived the course, but also enables us to make improvements for future classes.