Closing With Depth – What, Why, When And How
As trainers, we always plan a closing activity that includes learners leaving with a list of action points they intend to implement back in their workplace. But it’s just that, a list of points. This close takes that action list a step further with learners leaving with:
- a summary of the entire workshop.
- when they would use each idea.
- how they would use each idea.
- why they would use each idea.
For this activity, I’m assuming the workshop was ‘How to Design A Blended Solution for Training’. You’d simply change the title of the training for your own title.
Virtual version
Step 1
- Ask learners to run and find a sheet of blank A4 paper and ideally some coloured pens. Say they have only 30 seconds (this adds a great transition as well as movement).
- With the paper landscape, ask them to write their first name, large from left to right.
Step 2
- Say, “For each letter of your name I’d like you to write a key idea from today’s training. The idea can start with the letter eg for the ‘D’ of David I used ‘Digital’. But it doesn’t have to start with the letter, eg for the ‘A’ I used ‘What Goes Where’.
Step 3
- For each idea, I’d like you to add next to it:
-Why you’d use it.
-When you’d use it.
-How you’d use it.
Step 4
- Ask learners to hold their completed ‘name of ideas’ to the webcam. Ideally take a screenshot of this and send it to learners as a follow-up reminder of their training and what they plan to do.
Suggestion – as this is virtual, I’d suggest having a slide with an example of each step (as with the example above). This stops any confusion.
Face-to-Face version
This close could be done the same as above with learners working individually. If you wanted a collaborate group close try:
- Form teams of 4 or 5 learners.
- Ask each team to work together using one of the tables within the room (you could also do this with blank flip charts posted around the walls).
- Give each team a flip chart sheet and pens.
- Ask teams to devise a team name and write it across the flip chart sheet, landscape and in big letters.
- Complete the activity as you would in the virtual world but the work together to agree the ideas and then write the When, Why and How.
- Ask teams to select their key idea and action.
- Going around the room team by team, ask them to hold up their team name and explain their key idea and actions.
What’s good about this close
What I really like about this close is that it gives substance and depth to the ideas from the training ie rather than just a list of topics – which is what happens in a typical close. Substance was added with the when, why and how they would use each idea.
Call to Action
Try this activity at the end of your very next workshop and see learners leaving with a full summary of their training including how, why and when to use each idea.
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