The Nonprofit FAQ

How do we know what training volunteers need?

Nancy Macduff said in the Training Department of the Volunteer Program
Management Mini-University::

Training in Context

Jill Muehrcke, Editor of Nonprofit World, in a recent editoral raised the
issue of the effectiveness of training. Bravely, she asserted (using some
credible research) that "traditional training often has little or no
impact." She further states that the value of training can be enhanced by
paying attention to the context of training for the learner. She reports
that people return to the workplace excited about what they have learned,
but unable to apply it. Her recommendations include sending teams to
training that include people from all levels of the organization, a means
for the team members to share what they have learned, opportunities for the
team to continue meeting, and support from the organization's leaders.

"Context" is all important in adult learning. When you are a trainer, the
infomation you give must be related to the real life of the learners. I
observed a training session for new group leaders in a national youth
organization. The well-meaning trainer started with an elaborate overview
of the international, national, regional and local organizational
structure. One woman in the session turned to another and said, "This is
all fine, but what am I going to do for two hours with those 10 kids next
Thursday?" The topic being shared by the trainer was not important to the
learner. Her mind was days ahead and quite real to her. The structure of
the organization was not.

In addition to Muehrcke suggestions for training, the trainer needs to
determine if they have exercises and activities that connect the content to
real life for the
learner. Sometimes that is as easy as asking people to write down three
ways this applies to them or how they will use this information.

Then get people to share samples of their ideas. Context is a
responsibility for
learner and for trainer. The learner needs to look for ways, both large and
small, in which the information might apply in the work or volunteer
setting. The trainer is charged with helping them make those connections as
easily as possible. While context is not the only element that influences
the effectiveness of training it certainly is one of the most important.