I have been in the training profession for almost 15 years, delivering mostly lecture content and accompanying activities via PowerPoint.
When I was hired almost four years ago by my current employer, I heard from my fellow team members about the Master Trainer Certificate. After speaking with my manager, I learned that all our team members strive to earn this certificate, which is why, soon after, I was enrolled.
The Master Trainer Program Changed the Way I Think About Training
The Master Trainer program changed my training from instructor-focused to learner-focused. From the first day of my Master Trainer course, the underlying theme was that it is better for the learner if the facilitator is a “guide on the side” and not a “sage on the stage.” It wasn’t until my Master Trainer course that I truly understood what it meant to be a facilitator.
The course also showed me the value of considering the adult learner needs of my training participants, and the 80-20 rule for who does the speaking during training. (Spoiler alert: The learner should be doing most of the speaking.) My Master Trainer facilitator, Jonathan Halls, really amazed me. He brought an impressive amount of training industry experience and has a coaching demeanor that supported all learners in their journey.
I Feel Like the Master Trainer Course Was Just the Beginning of a Facilitation Journey for Me
Soon after completing this course, I finished my master’s degree in education, learning and technology. I pride myself on the level of interactivity and discovery that I build into my courses, and I feel like the Master Trainer course was just the beginning of a facilitation journey for me. More recently, I have been invited to present at our local ATD Midlands Chapter’s SIG (Special Interest Group) learning event.
I have now taken two ATD Master courses: The Master Trainer and the Master E-Learning Instructional Designer. I have not taken an ATD course that wasn’t top-notch. The content is always well planned and professional and allows the learners the space to draw their own conclusions and learn through discovery rather than lecture.