Training Volunteers: Keep it Simple
While every volunteer learns differently, there are similarities in how we all learn. The trick to effective training is to match teaching methods to how people learn.
We can remember things better when they’re attached to an experience, or when they are meaningful. So, making a training session matter to volunteers will help them retain the information. It also helps to make it experiential. Hands-on tasks, rather than just listening to someone talk, will typically result in better training.
We’re all bombarded with technology and more information than we can process. And we can only absorb so much, even if it is presented experientially. That’s why it’s important to limit the amount of information you give volunteer trainees at any time. Keep training sessions short, with frequent breaks and plenty of review time.
As time passes, we forget what we’ve learned—particularly if we don’t use it often. The more time passes, the less we can remember. Think about a recent seminar you’ve attended, webinar you’ve participated in or class you’ve taken. How much of what you learned have you retained? You can help prevent that “brain drain” in volunteers, by reinforcing training continually
When it comes to volunteer training, you can sum it all up by remembering to make lessons meaningful, keep training sessions short, and reinforcing training on a regular basis.
Tags: Training Volunteers