Providing successful training sessions in eight core competencies
Abstract
A meeting of state commissioners and national service members revealed effective practices for training program managers and service members. These ideas were culled from the session, "Eight Core Competencies: Best Training Practices," held at the 2005 National Conference on Volunteering and Service.
Issue
What makes trainings effective?
Action
According to participants gathered for the "Eight Core Competencies: Best Training Practices" session during the 2005 National Conference on Volunteering and Service, the following effective practices will help ensure successful training sessions in delivering concepts of eight core competencies.
Create concrete steps for participants to follow after the training concludes.
- By the end of the training, have participants create a plan for incorporating what they have learned into existing practices
- Develop a step-by-step process to assist in implementation
- Create an action plan that focuses on how to refine/improve strategies
- Provide additional ideas for achieving objectives, thereby broadening effectiveness
Provide materials to take away from the training.
- Share sample materials and usable resources
- Provide a list of funding websites (tools to take away)
- Give concrete resources to programs in the form of a CD
- Distribute a sample logic model, definitions or glossary and handouts
- Allocate products or tools for immediate use
- Provide an overview of the topic in concise, readable handouts and include staff contacts
- Share notebooks with reference resources and screen shots
Create a context that encourages peer/mentoring relationships.
- Allow for sharing among program directors because this stimulates the flow of ideas
- Provide peer to peer learning opportunities
- Network with trainees in similar positions or skill levels to increase the assimilation of information
Provide information that is substantiated in research or best practices.
- Allow for peer to peer sharing of best practices
- Base knowledge and resources on current volunteer management best practices
- Base knowledge and resources on established and well-researched theory
Design sessions to be interactive and hands on.
- Provide plenty of examples
- Use a large enough computer lab with instructor screen, when appropriate
Provide a learning experience that encourages discussions and group participation.
- Enable participants to identify attitudes, thoughts and feelings
- Promote understanding by encouraging participants to talk about the subject matter at the time of training
- Offer enough time to practice with sample data
Have a questions and answer period.
- Allow adequate time for lengthy questions
- Provide options, comments and suggestions
- Permit related questions
- Discuss participants' concerns
Utilize experienced trainers with knowledge and understanding in:
- Volunteer management
- Supervision
- Needs of national service programs
Offer trainings that are relevant, practical and personalized.
- Have program staff choose topics
- Consider and use real programmatic challenges
- Build from where the program directors are
- Include theory -- but also offer lots of practical tips
- Provide numerous real-life examples
- Use role playing to understand information
- Allow individuals to assess where they are in the process (steps) and identify areas of strength and weakness in approach
- Offer pre-training preparation
Other:
- Allow participants time to share their accomplishments and history of successes
- Incorporate personal and professional motivational analysis of participants
- Keep improving and changing the trainings so that they are constantly evolving, not static
- Integrate mixed use of presentation methods (small group discussions, large group discussion, PowerPoint, handouts)
Context
Participants included:
- Bridget Lee, One Star Foundation, E-mail: bridget@onestarfoundation.org
- M. Sabrina Nelson, New Jersey Commission, E-mail: sabrina.nelson@soc.state.nj.us
- Bob Shogren, Arizona Commission, E-mail: bshogren@az.gov
- Megan Sargent, Michigan Service Commission, E-mail: sargentm1@michigan.gov
- Jamie Balock, Serve Wyoming, E-mail: jamiebalock@yahoo.com
- Jamie Kim, Access, E-mail: jkim@accesscommunity.org
- Melissa Newton, Kentucky Commission, E-mail: MelissaC.Newton@ky.gov
- Barbara Reynolds, Volunteer Maryland, E-mail: breynolds@gov.state.md.us
- Wendy Elliott, Youth Volunteer Corps of America, E-mail: welliott@yvca.org
- Moya Doneghy, West Virginia Commission for National and Community Service, E-mail: mdoneghy@mail.state.wv.us
- Khary J. Bridgewater, TechMission, E-mail: khary@techmission.org
- Ericka Zdenek, Volunteer Florida, E-mail: ericka@volunteerflorida.org
- Jenise Terrell, Public Allies, E-mail: jeniset@publicallies.org
- Dee Wilder, Volunteer Florida, E-mail: dee@volunteerflorida.org
- William Hall, Ohio Community Service Council, E-mail: william.hall@ocsc.state-oh.us
- Christine Luong, NACHC, E-mail: sluong@nachc.com
- Paula Vaugh, Paradise Valley Community College, E-mail: paula.vaughn@pvmail.maricopa.edu
- Julie Struck, Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, E-mail: julie.struck@iowalifechanging.com
- Carol Krenning, Kansas Volunteer Commission, E-mail: ckrenning@ksde.org
- Kim Springer, Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, State of Indiana, E-mail: kspringer@ofbci.in.gov
- Bryan Guiot, Nevada Commission, E-mail: bryan@americorpsnevada.org
- Linda Adam, Delaware Commission on Community and Volunteer Service, E-mail: linda.adam@state.de.us
- Paul Martell, Volunteer Florida, The Governor's Commission on Volunteerism and Service, E-mail: paul@volunteerflorida.org
- Richard Baisch, Catholic Family Service, E-mail: gracieandrichard4@msn.com
- Lynette Murphy, Colorado Governor's Commission on Community Service; E-mail: lynette.murphy@cccs.edu
- Melinda Points, Oklahoma Community Service Commission, E-mail: mpoints@okamericorps.com
Outcome
According to Julie Struck, Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, "Training gave program directors a sense of 'ownership' over program management."
