Page 184 - The Creative Training Idea Book Inspired Tips and Techniques for Engaging and Effective Learning
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lucas chap 05 11/20/02 12:13 PM Page 173
Creating a Stimulating Learning Environment 173
To ensure that a problem does not occur and that learners can hear you, do a sound
check from various points in the room before participants arrive. If there is an area in
which sound is muffled, try to avoid putting participants in that section or make sure
you can be heard by using a microphone, repositioning yourself, and directing com-
ments toward those learners. In doing your sound check, test all of your training aids
(e.g., video or music) to ensure that the volume is loud enough to carry to every point
of the room. Also, if you are presenting to a large audience or in a large room, consider
putting a stand-up microphone in the middle of the room so that anyone asking a ques-
tion can use it and be heard by others. An option to this is for you to repeat questions
asked by participants before answering them. In addition, try a short practice where you
use your normal presentation voice and have someone stand in various parts of the
room to see if you can be heard easily.
Another element that impacts your ability to be heard is the noise level in the room.
If you can do so, eliminate any excessive or unnecessary noise from air conditioners,
heating, ventilation, or other sources. Many older models of projectors have noisy
cooling fans that can generate a distracting humming sound. Try to either upgrade to a
quieter model or turn the projector off when not using it to make a point. One strategy
that is employed by many organizations for noise reduction is to pump in white noise
or other low-frequency sound to mute room noise.
Participants also contribute to noise levels by using cell phones and beepers and by
having side conversations or speaking in loud voices during small group activities. This
type of noise can actually cue you that learners have completed a small group task
because when participants finish discussing an assigned topic, they will typically begin
networking, laughing, and in other ways causing the noise level to escalate. At any rate,
all distracting noise should be controlled or eliminated to the best of your ability to
enhance the learning experience.
External Noise
Other sources of noise include people and things outside the room, such as passers by;
maintenance, custodial, or catering workers performing tasks; or passing vehicles. Dis-
tractions in the form of noise can detract from learning by causing participants to refo-
cus their attention or take their minds off the task. Typically, external noise is generated
from people or equipment in and around the classroom. You should try to minimize
or eliminate such distractions. The following suggestions can help accomplish this:
Where possible, do not position training rooms near roadways, construction areas,
lunch tables, building entrances, or other locations where people gather.
Select rooms that have acoustic tiles on the ceilings, carpet on the floor, and cloth cover-
ings on the walls in order to absorb excess noise.
Use audiovisual equipment that is well maintained and that does not create excess noise
(e.g., fans).