Page 177 - The Creative Training Idea Book Inspired Tips and Techniques for Engaging and Effective Learning

lucas chap 05 11/20/02 12:13 PM Page 166
166 The Creative Training Idea Book
to use information on the job. Similar activities could be done at various points
during the program as Interim Reviews and as a closing review activity.

PUTTING YOUR BRAIN TO WORK: ACTIVITY

What are you currently doing in training to ensure that the participants understand the return on
investment they receive from attending your programs?

What else can you do to help learners better appreciate and benefit from strategies and techniques you use
to enhance learning?

ESSENTIAL FACTORS OF AN
EFFECTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Room Size and Shape

Although it is unlikely you will encounter an ideal training room very often, there are
some factors to look for in a room and how it is set up. The key is that wherever you
conduct your sessions, you should strive to find a facility that best fits the needs of your
participants and your planned activities. In selecting a training venue, look for one that
is open and spacious, yet sized to fit your group and scheduled activities. You will gen-
erally benefit from a room in which the length is not exceeded by its width by more
than 40–50 percent. This allows flexibility without an awkward appearance. In addition,
try to find a location that has ceilings of 9–10 feet to facilitate light and sound distri-
bution and temperature control. In my experience, a room that allows me and my par-
ticipants freedom of movement while providing me easy access to learners and support
materials throughout the session is a plus. You don’t want a room that is overly large or
overly small. The former can lead to a perception of being lost in the unused space or
that someone did not show up to fill the space. The latter can cause heat, noise, and
personal space problems, all of which can negatively impact learners. Similarly, rooms
that have an awkward shape (e.g., long and narrow or L-shaped), or that have obstacles
such as weight-bearing ceiling posts, create serious training challenges.

The Impact of Color

Color is powerful. Marketing experts have known and used that knowledge for decades.
Those who excel in successfully selling products to the public often do so through the
use of color. For example, Heath 12 relates how when Tide detergent was created in the