Helpful Tips and Reminders

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After you finish assessing and prioritizing training needs, create the plan for your training “season,” whether it’s for a month, six months, or a year. Then direct your attention to the individual trainings and follow a systems approach to developing and delivering each session. And finally, incorporate knowledge about adult learning principles and diverse learning styles into your design and facilitation. Using these steps and processes can produce trainings that have a measurable impact for the nonprofit organizations in your community.

Following these “Dos” can help you deliver effective training.

You must follow important principles to create and deliver training that meets the needs of the organizations in your community. Below is a list of training “dos” that can lead to successful training outcomes.

  • Do adopt a systems approach to designing and delivering training.
  • Do take time to do a needs assessment.
  • Do draft a design document.
  • Do craft objectives before you develop the training experience.
  • Do consider many approaches to delivering training.
  • Do look for existing lesson plans and media you can use.
  • Do write an instructor guide/lesson plan.
  • Do incorporate adult learning principles.
  • Do accommodate all learning styles.
  • Do ask for feedback from others at every phase.
  • Do evaluate your training process and outcomes.

Here’s a list of key questions to consider in each phase of the ADDIE process.

Please click this link to download the document containing key ADDIE questions.

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Avoiding these “Don’ts” can help you deliver effective training.

  • Don’t assume you know the learners’ needs.
  • Don’t train on what you’re good at instead of what they actually need.
  • Don’t begin creating content before you write learning objectives.
  • Don’t wait until the last minute to create the training experience.
  • Don’t underestimate the amount of time needed for the training session.
  • Don’t use inexperienced trainers.
  • Don’t use trainers unfamiliar with the world of nonprofits.
  • Don't forget to evaluate your training.