"I can't even begin to tell you how beneficial my OU program was. It has made all the difference in the world. I highly recommend it."
Donna Capps,
Missouri Division of Family Services,
Kansas City, MO

This program is designed for individuals new to training or those who see training as a career goal.

The competencies you will learn are validated by research conducted by the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD). Using experiential learning as a primary instructional tool, these courses are led by experienced trainers who want to share their knowledge and talent. Each course is designed to be interactive, practical and fun.

How will you benefit from attending a Accelerated Training Certificate Program?

For the New or Unskilled Trainer seeking professional competence:

• Learn the specific techniques needed to address the needs of adult learners
• Learn to assess both the skills and the needs of your employees
• Learn to organize your content into an effective curriculum
• Learn the presentation skills needed to entertain while educating
• Learn how to facilitate the learning process and assess the effectiveness of your training

From the moment you start this class,

• You will be learning about adult learning and training theories and techniques.

• You will learn how to do a performance gap analysis, a needs assessment, and how to align performance improvement strategies with organizational goals.

• You will acquire the skills you need to design, develop and evaluate effective training in an organization.

Using realistic scenarios that you develop,

• You will learn how to design individual and group training materials, and select appropriate instructional delivery strategies
• You will examine a range of instructional aids and audio visual tools.

Using a variety of icebreakers, exercises, and other experiential techniques,

• You will learn and apply presentation skills, questioning and feedback skills and how to deliver training.
• You practice in leading reflective discussions, promoting collaborative learning and asking effective questions.

Suggested Profile of the New Trainer Participant

• Less than 3 years of training experience
• Has extensive knowledge of a subject and/or technical skills
• May not currently consider training as a profession or career
• Primary job function in the past may not have involved training, although it may have involved teaching in a formal setting
• Has the personal desire or the organizational assignment to become a full-time or part-time trainer
• Little knowledge or experience designing training curriculum or conducting needs analysis
• Eager to network with others to discover resource materials and techniques
• Interested in developing design and delivery skills
• Has not had formal training education

"You can be very proud of this program, I cannot tell you how much I have learned. It has helped me so very much. I want to thank you and all of your wonderful instructors for giving me tools to work with in my own staff development classes."
D'Neen Barbour,
Norman Regional Hospital,
Norman, OK

Designed for individuals with three or more years training experience. Individuals who are looking for a broader set of skills to help solve organizational performance and learning issues find them in this program.

This program offers skills development in expanding your role as a trainer, facilitating organizational change and applying training business tools. The classes are practical, using simulations, case studies, and action-prompting exercises to make learning both productive and fun.

Facilitating Organizational Change: Trainers with experience recognize that not every problem is a training problem. In this course, you will assume a role and be given a set of organizational issues and challenges, and with your team will explore and look into what is really happening. You will conduct a front-end analysis, practice questioning and feedback skills, explore and select proper interventions that align with organizational goals as an internal consultant.

Expanding Your Role As a Trainer:

As you complete this course, you will be encouraged to try on the hats of coach, facilitator, and interviewer. Skills that have made you successful in the training room will apply to uncovering and solving organizational problems. Building on your knowledge of adult learning, the roles will allow you to take your training skills to the next level.

Applying Business Tools to Training: Training skills are often not enough. This course will help you add value to the organization by learning how to apply measurement tools such as cost-benefit analysis, return on investment, and individual development plans. You will also be exposed to new training technologies and tips for managing outsourcing.

Suggested Profile of the Experienced Trainer

• Participant 3-5 years (or more) of training experience
• Has strength in teaching several topics
• Member of a professional association (NSA, ASTD, other)
• Has had some experience designing curriculum and conducting needs analysis, although not necessarily an expert
• Primary job role involves training
• Spends at least 20% of time (one day a week) conducting training workshops
• Interested in how training links to larger organizational issues
• Has moved upped into some management/leadership roles
• Looking to expand career Has passion for learning, performance
• Has displayed basic understanding of skills and competencies of emerging trainer