In today’s world of adult learners who are more informed and educated due to access on the World Wide Web, trainers and educators have assumed different roles and act as a conduit for the sharing of information. They are not always subject matter experts. Instead, they fulfill the roles of learning and performance consultants who are experts in the design and delivery of information.
Some common roles of learning and performance professionals include:
Facilitator. In this role, the trainer and adult educator provide instructions for activities and guides information sharing, but are not the center of attention and do not actively control all aspects of the learning process.
Consultant. Provides guidance on training content, training program design and the information delivery process, is a subject matter expert, and provides expert advice or opinions.
Coach. Educates learners about the learning process, guides and assists them during activities (when needed), observes and provides developmental feedback during practice sessions, and acts as a resource for learners.
Innovator. Brain based learning research points to the importance of using a variety of learning strategies to assist in enhancing adult learning outcomes. As an innovator, trainers and educators continually look for ways to stimulate the brains of learners by adding environmental elements such as light, color, motion, learner engagement, movement, sound and other common factors.
For additional ideas on active learning strategies used by trainers and adult educators and innovative ways for applying brain based learning techniques, check out The Creative Training Idea Book: Inspired Tips and Techniques for Engaging and Effective Learning.
