Training definitions

assessment

The trainer’s — and sometimes the participants’ judgement of individual existing knowledge and progress of those participating in the course.

brainstorming

Group exercise where participants call out ideas to solve a specific problem or plan a particular project and the ideas are listed on a flip chart or whiteboard. Suggestions can be called out in any order; no explanations, justifications or comments are needed.

break-out groups

Small groups which work on the same problem or different aspects of the same problem at the same time. On completion of the task each group reports back to the class so they can compare other groups’ ideas with their own and the trainer can give feedback.

break-out rooms

Rooms where smaller groups of the class can work without disturbing or being disturbed by others.

buzz groups

Informal short sessions where the students talk to the people next to them about a given topic. Usually used to break up a lecture or presentation.

case study

Description of a real-life experience related to the field of study or training, used to make points, raise issues or otherwise enhance the participants’ understanding and learning experience. These are particularly useful when no practical experience is possible within the course.

certificate

A piece of paper or light card which documents that a student has attended a training course and/or records achievements in a course.

class activities

Activities where the students actively participate to solve a problem, plan a project, etc. Serves to establish the students’ level of knowledge or reinforce learning.

course

A series of lectures, training sessions or days that comprise a discrete learning package.

coursework

A piece of work set for participants to be completed during the time the training takes place.

delivery

The act of transferring the whole of the training to the participants — this covers the time in the classroom, not the design and preparation of the course.

distance learning

Learning where the trainer and the students are separated by distance and interact primarily by post, computer (e-mail, bulletin boards, Websites, Usenet groups, etc.), phone or a combination of these and other communication methods.

education

A systematic kind of instruction or intellectual and moral training designed to give participants a broad and/or deep understanding of the topics covered. Usually associated with children and young people.

evaluation

The participants’ — and sometimes trainers’ — assessment of the training course covering all aspects from catering and accommodation to course content and performance of the trainers.

experience

Knowledge or skill resulting from actual observation or practice of event or technique.

expertise

Expert opinion, skill or knowledge in the field.

facilitated learning

Training characterized by students having a high degree of involvement in all aspects of their learning. The teacher’s role is facilitator and organiser providing resources and support. Participants learn with and from each other and set their own objectives.

facilitator

Person who facilitates or eases and enables discussions, groupwork, projects etc. May chair or choreograph entire training course or programme.

handout

A hard copy text which supports, expands on, organises or otherwise provides follow up to a presentation or course.

individual learning

Where learners plan and organise their own learning path, may be a mixture of attending classes and studying alone.

knowledge

Theoretical or practical understanding of a subject or profession: an individual’s range of information on a topic

learners

People who place themselves in a position to learn from any form of training or education.

learning outcomes

Set of stated objectives that should be achieved as an outcome of the training.

lectures

Presentation delivered to a large number of learners by a teacher, usually 50–55 minutes of uninterrupted discourse from the teacher with no discussion, the only learner activity being listening and note-taking.

on-the-job training

Very practical training designed to give working participants either the necessary skills to carry out their job or to enhance their skills and knowledge to enable them to advance in their careers.

participant

Student, learner or other attendee of a training course.

practitioner

Person who is actively practising their profession.

presentation

A focused talk, using visual aids, on a given subject to inform, instruct or persuade the audience.

profiling participants/learners

The act of researching and assessing the constituency of possible learners for training or education.

sessions

Discrete portion of a training programme dedicated to a delineated topic: can be a lecture, exercise or any other type of delivery.

skills

Practiced ability or facility in doing something.

small group work

Tasks set by the trainer to be undertaken by the class divided into small groups. They may all be given the same or different tasks to do.

speakers

People who train or teach by delivering lectures or presentations.

students

Learners, but more often associated with those attending university or a longer course of study.

study

To investigate or acquire knowledge of a subject in depth.

SWOT analysis

Exercise to assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats offered by a situation or object.

syndicates

See break-out groups

teach

To transfer knowledge in a theoretical way, usually in a formal environment such as school or university.

teaching aids

Items used in the classroom to aid teaching and training. May be visual aids or interactive tools.

teaching resources

Anything used by teachers and trainers to develop into their own materials to use when delivering training, such as books, journals, Websites, bibliographies, databases, equipment, etc.

techniques

Technical skills and methods to achieve a practical task.

theory

System of ideas and principles used to explain a practical occurrence or methodology.

train

To transfer knowledge and skills that enable participants to carry out their work; tends to focus on job skills and awareness-raising.

training aids

See teaching aids

training materials

Lecture notes, exercises, lesson plans, etc. used by the trainer interacting with the learner.

visual aids

Visual representations which support presentations in the form of words, cartoons, graphs, illustrations, photographs. These can be OHP transparencies, computer-generated projected images, handouts, flipcharts, posters, objects, etc.

Last updated: 20 December 2005