Dusting off the Tool Box: Tips for Trainers
Section
1: Things to Know
About
Your Audience
“The golden rule revisited: treat adults as you want them to treat
children.”
— Carter, & Curtis, The Visionary Director, 1999
Why is this important?
Knowing who you are teaching will help you tailor the material and structure
your presentations to fit the audience. Knowing the specifics of your
audience will allow you to determine the logistics of the session such
as: the amount and type of space needed for each activity, the quantity
of materials needed, and how to structure small and large group activities.
Learning about your audience also provides information about their level
of knowledge and type of experience and skill. This, in turn, informs
your choice of teaching structures, learning activities, level of presentation,
expectations, and the types of examples to use. It will also help you
decide if and when to recruit others to train with you.
Some things to consider:
• Gather general audience information prior to teaching by visiting the staff, sending a simple needs assessment survey, talking with staff on the telephone, or building in a beginning activity during your first class or presentation to get more information.
• The questions you might ask about your target audience may include:— Who specifically are you teaching?
— Are they working? If so, in what field and what role?
— Are they students?
— What level of knowledge and experience do they have relative to the topic?
— What larger community influences might need to be considered? (e.g. community climate, or culture)
— Is your group diverse or is it a more homogeneous target audience?
— What makes this group unique and individual?• Review information about general characteristics of specific audiences. For a brief overview of some groups of learners,
see Section 1: Handout 4, Section 1: Handout 5, and Section 1: Handout 6.
What can you add?
About
| Section 1 | Section
2 | Section 3
Section 1
Instructor | Audience
| Presentation