Maximize your Training & Workshop using 4C’s Training From the Back of the Room
As a trainer and facilitator, our main goal is to deliver an effective training or workshop. One of the key to deliver an effective training is by maximizing engagement with the participants or learners.
One of the method that I have been used for the past 3 years is using 4Cs Map from Training from the Back of the Room book by Sharon L. Bowman.
In a nutshell, the 4Cs Map is a 4-step instructional design and delivery model that is based on how human beings naturally and normally learn, NOT on outmoded assumptions about human learning. Your brain is hardwired to learn in certain basic ways, regardless of age, gender, nationality, or culture.
I will try to explain each key step :
C1 : Connections
In this step, trainer or facilitator will make connections with learners and topic. As a learner, you will want to connect your own past experiences and prior knowledge to the topic you’re learning about. The topic will need to be meaningful to YOU, not just to the person teaching it. And you’ll want to connect with anyone who can help you learn more about the topic – not just the “teacher,” but others who might have more knowledge or experience than you do. This will also help facilitator to know their audience.
Activity that you can do in this step :
- Asking questions about the topic, examples : What do you know about the topic? Do you have experience on implementing the method? etc
- Sharing experiences
- Shout out — Share thoughts / assumptions
C2 : Concepts
This step is where the trainer or facilitator will introduce new information or concepts. The concepts should be limited to the need-to-know information necessary for learner success. Avoid overloading them with too much information that will loose them.
As a learner, you will take in new information in multi-sensory ways: listening, seeing, talking, writing, drawing, choosing, reflecting, asking and answering questions.
Tips on this step : Don’t take too much time on this step so that the learners are focus and not overwhelmed.
C3: Concrete Practice
In Concrete Practice step, learners actively practice a new skill using the new information, participate in an active review of what they have learned and again teach others what they know or can now do.
In this step, we can practice to implement new knowledge through games, teach-backs, simulations, demonstrations, and learner-presentations.
You will learn as much from your mistakes as you will from your successes. Gradually, you’ll master what you’ve learned — and, of course, one of the best ways to master anything is to teach it to someone else
C4: Conclusion
In last step, which is Conclusion, we will do self-reflection during this step of the learning process: evaluating what you’ve learned, how you can use it, how it will change your life, and how you feel about the entire learning experience up to now:
- Summarize the learning
- Evaluate. How do learners feel about what they learned? Can learners use what they learned? What can we improved in the future?
- Make an Action Plan to be applied
- Celebrate the learning experience
Closing
Using 4Cs Map from Training from the Back of the Room can really help you maximize the value of the training of workshop by optimizing engagement, discussion, collaboration and sharing between learners.
4Cs Map are also very practical and easy to use because it was designed and created based on how human beings naturally and normally learn.
If you are a trainer or facilitator and never used 4Cs Map, I suggest you try to use it and feel the difference. Share your experience & let’s discuss. Cheers!
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