1. How do I keep students engaged?
(Why critical? Research suggests that the attention span of adult learners is amazingly brief.)
2. How do I know that they’re “getting it?”
(Why critical? If you wait for the quiz or practice at the end of the training, it is often too late.)
3. How do I motivate students to learn?
(Why critical? Studies say that if students do not feel that the training will benefit them personally or professionally, learning is not optimized.)
4. How do I cause long-term retention?
(Why critical? It doesn’t matter if students enjoyed the training or passed the exam if they can’t remember the key points when they return to work.)
5. How do I handle varied levels of knowledge and skill in the same classroom?
(Why critical? If you slow down for the less knowledgeable students, the advanced students can potentially “drift off” or exhibit problem behaviors, but speeding up has equally dismal consequences.)
6. How do I teach a lot of content within a limited time frame?
(Why critical? Students have a limited capacity in “short term memory” and can easily experience cognitive overload.)
7. How do I avoid “Death by PowerPoint®?”
(Why critical? PowerPoint frequently depresses learning by being overused or used incorrectly, but has the potential of being a powerful teaching aid when used in accordance with proven principles of adult learning.)
8. How do I handle problem behaviors and disruptive situations?
(Why critical? Direct confrontations and conflicts can shut down learning and compromise your objectives.)
9. How can I keep myself energized and motivated to teach?
(Why critical? Obvious boredom and disinterest on the part of the instructor can be contagious and infect the entire class.)
10. What is the best way to teach highly technical or detailed information?
(Why critical? The proper use of analogies, mnemonics, and other instructional tools is essential to facilitate the learning and retention of this type of content.)