Training & Facilitation Certificate

• Types of Learning—Learning Frameworks

• Types of Formal Learning

• Helping Learners Make the Most of the Experience

• Managing Logistics for a Smooth Event

• Creating the Ideal Learning Environment

• Understanding the Audience and Their Needs

• Creating a Facilitation Plan

• Prepare to Deliver Your Training

• Basics of Cognitive Science

• Addressing Variations in Learner Preferences and Cognition

• Understanding How Adults Learn

• Selecting Effective Delivery Options

• Delivering to Meet Learner’s Preferences

• Matching Learning Methods to Desired Outcomes

• Selecting Engaging Delivery Methods

Training delivery and facilitation are means by which talent development professionals help individuals improve performance at work by learning new skills and knowledge. The practitioner serves as a catalyst for learning by understanding the learner’s needs, creating the right environment for learning, building rapport with participants, and using the appropriate delivery options and media to make learning engaging, effective, relevant, and applicable. —TDBoK Guide

Training and facilitation differ in their objectives, roles, and approaches within the learning and development field. Trainers deliver information, share knowledge, and focus on specific content and learning objectives. Facilitators facilitate discussion and call on participants to share knowledge. While trainers direct, tell, inform, and teach, facilitators often listen, question, and coach. So, how do successful L&D practitioners combine the two when delivering learning events?

According to ATD’s TDBoK Guide, “Facilitating usually refers to taking less of a delivery role, being learner-centered, and acting as a catalyst for learning. When a trainer uses facilitative methods, learners assume responsibility for their own learning.” The Training & Facilitation Certificate program is designed to help trainers of all levels hone their facilitation techniques and skillfully deliver learning that empowers participants and meets their needs and preferences.

Upon successful completion of this training and facilitation course, you will be able to:

• Select the appropriate mix of learning modalities to support specific contexts, learners, and learning objectives in both formal and informal learning settings.

• Identify the logistical tasks necessary to create a classroom environment that is conducive to effective in-person learning.

• Create facilitation plans that prepare you for a successful learner-centered event.

• Apply brain science to delivery strategies that address various learner preferences and cognitive needs in the learning environment.

• Select learning methods to support a variety of learning preferences to reach the desired learning outcomes.

• Demonstrate adult learning principles and effective facilitation techniques to assess and ensure a safe, comfortable, and supportive learning environment.

• Utilize a variety of facilitation techniques to create a professional and engaging learning experience.

• Use a variety of techniques to engage participants, communicate effectively, and manage group dynamics and behaviors during an event.

• Summarize techniques that can be used to develop and evaluate a variety of course materials designed with the learner and the learning objectives in mind.

• Apply best practices when selecting informal learning networks and tools to meet the needs of an organization.

• Get an overview of all phases of the training cycle from the planning phase through the evaluation phase.

• Leave with the knowledge and skills to become a participant-focused facilitator in any environment, from facilitating large-scale training sessions to leading productive meetings and presentations.

• Learn from experienced facilitators and trainers, who will demonstrate best practice and core training and facilitation techniques in the classroom.

• Demonstrate your new skills in a facilitation practice session and receive personalized, actionable feedback from your ATD expert facilitator.

• Gain access to ATD-exclusive templates and tools to use in your own practice.

• Earn an industry-recognized facilitation training certificate, continuing education credits, and an ATD digital badge to share with your networks.

New and experienced trainers and facilitators from any industry and those who want to gain a comprehensive skill set for facilitating and delivering instructor-led learning events and group sessions will benefit from this facilitation training program.

In addition to professional trainers and facilitators, training coordinators, training managers, learning consultants, instructional designers, independent consultants, and those who educate and lead others may benefit if facilitation is part of their job. Professionals with subject matter expertise (SMEs) who have been asked to teach others, those who facilitate frontline worker training sessions, customer/technical/software educators, or those in other similar roles will gain valuable grounding in core training and facilitation concepts.

Additional courses to help you build effective facilitation skills

• If you are training and facilitating in a virtual platform, such as WebEx, Zoom, Adobe Connect, or Microsoft Teams, consider one of our other facilitation courses, Virtual Training & Facilitation Certificate.

• ATD also offers Training & Facilitation for Government Professionals Certificate, designed specifically for public sector professionals.

• Interested in using advanced techniques to lead productive meetings, strategy discussions, or other group sessions? Try our Advanced Facilitation Skills Certificate.