Teach only a few things at a time. The number of things will vary, depending upon the degree of familiarity that the learners have with the topic.
Studies of how the brain works have shown that learners can absorb and retain a limited number of items or concepts at one time. If a training program is overloaded with content, it creates a cognitive load that is unmanageable. The learners can’t absorb or retain it, which means they never learn it.
When the items are meaningful and familiar to the learners, it is possible to cover 4-5 concepts during one training segment.
When the items are unfamiliar to the learner, they are essentially “nonsense.” This is because they lack sufficient meaning or context. In this case, it is only possible to cover 2-3 concepts during one training segment.
Teach Only a Few Things at a Time
Therefore, assume there are ten steps in a process or twenty items on a list. It will be necessary to break them down and teach them in manageable chunks. If they are meaningful to the learners, then you can teach 4-5 items. If they are new and unfamiliar to the learners, then you can teach just 2-3 items.
The Length of a Training Segment
Please note that a training segment may be anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours, depending upon:
- the complexity of the items to be taught,
- the level of learning desired, and
- the type of learning activities used.
When designing your training program, take pains to determine what the learners already know and what is brand new information. That will help you plan your lesson with reasonable amounts of time allocated. Remember to teach only a few things at a time.
In Tip #14, we will look at the impact of sequence on learning and retention.
If your trainers are overloading participants with too much content, please book a call to discuss a tailored train-the-trainer program. https://laurelandassociates.com/contact/