Much is said about adding tools to your “toolbox.” Trainers are often adding skill sets and learning different methods to train participants. However, I have another tool box, a real one, which I use to keep those essential items I will need when I am training. My toolbox is a plastic box the size of a shoe box that holds the following:
- A deck of cards – In some cases I encourage participants to speak up by
awarding cards throughout the training. At the end of the training we play
poker with the cards and the highest poker hand gets a small prize. Warning:
In highly competitive groups this can become distracting as the participants
are more focused on getting cards than the content of the course. - A tide stick – Regardless of how careful I am at breakfast, I will often show up
to class wearing eggs or jelly. Always have a tide stick for those times a quick
clean-up is needed and a laundry mat is not a reasonable option. - Lip Balm – It seems that 30 seconds before I start speaking my lips dry up as if
I had been wandering in the Sahara for a week. I have some mints for the same reason. - Dry Erase Markers and Permanent Flip Chart Markers – Change them yearly or
as needed to keep them fresh. - Stickers – Use colored stars to reward participation in class. The person with
the most stickers at the end of the training gets the prize. You can also place
different colored stickers on name tents while participants are at lunch and
then regroup them based on the color of the stickers when they return. - Sticky Notes – Have sticky notes on the tables for participants to write down
questions and then post them on a parking lot during breaks. They can also be
used to conduct an impromptu Jeopardy game. - Musical Instrument – Train whistle or other instrument used to bring the class
back together from break or activities. - Masking or Painter’s Tape or putty – Used to hang flip charts. Blue painter’s
tape seems to work best in general. - Small index cards – can be used to provide instruction for activities, for quick “pop-up” review exercises or to place questions on the classroom parking lot.
While none of these resources are free you should consider ways of obtaining them inexpensively. Flip chart markers, whiteboard markers, sticky notes and index cards can often be obtained through your organization’s office supply resource. Masking tape, cards, and musical instruments can often be obtained inexpensively at a dollar store. For me, this is the most expensive resource I have had to purchase. However, I can’t tell you how many times I have used these resources when faced with challenges in the classroom.
Next week…Organizing table settings so they are quick and easy to set up. See you soon.
