Make The Most of Your Training Opportunities!

Make sure that you pay attention to the target audience, session descriptions and training levels as you sign up for any training. Most training sessions are advertised with this information listed in some way. Please don’t go to training “just to get your hours” but rather make it worth your while! Find something you are interested in, something that you want to know more about, and make sure it is for the age group that you work with. Often times, people complain because they work with infants and toddlers and the session they went to was only about school age children - be sure to check the suggested or target audience or description before you go!  Read Choosing Training Wisley.

Be Attentive and Courteous

While in attendance in a training session, individuals should be attentive to the speaker and courteous to other participants. Individuals should not participate in individual side conversations during the training session. Many times, presenters may give a break or implement an activity that will encourage conversations but if it is not during one of these times, participants should not be engaged in conversation.

Take Notes and Ask Questions

During the training sessions, take notes as to the importance and relevance of the topic, therefore you should be prepared with a writing utensil and something to write on. Ask yourself, “When I go back to work, how can I use this information?” or “How can this benefit my classroom?” You may also be asked to evaluate the session and these notes you made will help you do a better job at that.

Arrive On-time and Don’t Leave Early

Conducting yourself in a professional manner may also mean arriving early or on-time for training sessions. Entering late or leaving early is not only rude to presenters but also very distracting for other participants and presenters. It is also important to remember that if given a break during a training session that a prompt return is important so that you don’t miss any part of the information being given or distract everyone as you enter late. Know that the WKU CCR&R Training Policy states that participants arriving more than 30 minutes later or leaving more than 30 minutes early will not earn training hours for that session.

Silence Cell Phones and Beepers

Another distraction during training sessions is if/when cell phones or beepers ring. Upon entering the training, please turn off or silence your cell phone or beeper. If there is an emergency that you must take care of, please do so outside of the training session. Text messaging during the session is also very rude and distracting, therefore cell phones should be placed in your personal belonging and not left out on the desks or tables.

Dress Comfortably

Often times training rooms can be too cool or too hot. Please remember this and plan ahead, dressing in layers or bringing an extra sweater is recommended so that you are prepared for various temperatures.

The rules listed above are one way that training participants can make the most of their professional development opportunities, however there are other ways that directors can also help ensure that their staff members are getting the most out of the training.

A few of these ways include, but are not limited to the following:

Allow staff members to choose their own training sessions (except the state mandated training sessions). When individuals have input into the decisions there is a “buy-in” that occurs, people will be more interested and willing to participate.

Use your professional development plans. By having individual professional development plans in place, choosing training can be easier and done more wisely. During on-going monitoring and observations of staff, directors or supervisors are aware of the individual needs and interests of staff. If these are included in the staff development plans, then choosing training can be easier.

Plan Ahead! Be aware of the upcoming opportunities in your area and work with your staff to plan ahead and not wait until the last minute to get the training hours required.
Ask the participants to share what they learned in training with their co-workers. When staff are expected to bring information back to a group, they may take in more information then if there are no follow up expectations.