In addition to customizing staff development programs for your organisation, I offer staff development training in the following areas:
- Burnout, Stress and Anxiety
Role of the trainer
My intention is to invite the whole person, emotionally, physically and mentally, to be involved in learning. To facilitate a holistic learning environment I will co-create with the learners, a receptive, trusting and challenging atmosphere. To do this, I will:
- Encourage positive social interactions
- Present information in a clear, open manner using simple language
- Constantly monitor learners’ fatigue, receptivity and level of understanding
- Encourage questions and discussion
- Demonstrate my own willingness to learn and change, and
- Help learners overcome inhibitions, and negative beliefs about learning, especially about computer technology.
Instructional methodology
My instructional methodology for adult learners with various levels of previous knowledge, skills and experience, will be client-centered, (defining the client as the organisation requesting assistance), learner-focused, participatory and adaptive.
To provide training to organisations upon request, it is essential to complete a pre-training assessment of organisational capacity, needs and wants, in order to provide the appropriate level of training that moves them to the next level of capacity and satisfies their needs.
After the client’s needs are considered, it is important to assess the individual learner’s characteristics so that the training material can be customized to the learner’s average prior knowledge and experience.
Trainees will differ in their learning style of:
- Visual, kinesthetic, or auditory
- Dependent or independent.
Therefore, my training technique incorporates, for example, rational and intuitive, linear and spatial, graphic and hands-on approaches to reach the broadest possible audience.
To facilitate a participatory learning process, the training will be designed with:
- Limited use of lecture
- Hands-on application of course material
- Team problem-solving activities
- Real-life contextual examples, and
- Sharing of the group’s expertise.
Learning theory research shows that the more meaningful the material to the individual and the more involved a learner is in the social aspect of the learning environment, the more information will be retained.
In developing countries, for example, contingency plans must always be considered in advance, to insure that the training can be effectively carried out whether or not there is electricity, running water, a comfortable space or the proper equipment. Training that relies heavily on the availability of electricity must have extra laptop batteries and hard copy back up ready for use.
Past Training Experiences
- 1977-1980 Trained student facilitators at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana
- 1984-1985 Friendly Visitors training course, Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey
- 1987-1999 Foster parent and foster children education and trainings, Lutheran Social Service (LSS), Minnesota
- 1987-1999 Staff development trainings, LSS, Minnesota
- 1995-1996 Diversity training for agency staff, LSS, Minnesota
- 1999 Staff training on Family-based Social Services, Tirana, Albania
- 2000 Refugee therapists training on Burnout, Kakuma, Kenya
- 2000-2003 School staff training on gay and lesbian issues, Edina, Minnesota
- 2000-2003 Parent education training on adolescent issues, Edina, Minnesota
- 2000-2003 Student classroom trainings on bullying, Edina, Minnesota
- 2000-2003 Peer mediation training, Edina, Minnesota
- 2003-2004 Wrote training curriculum for SOLVE Program, International Labour Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland
- 2004 UNHCR-ICMC training - "My Life as an ICMC Deployee", Stockholm, Sweden
- 2005 Indonesian NGO staff training - "Working with (Orphaned/Separated) Children In Host Families", Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- 2006 UNHCR staff training on a review of verification form completion procedures in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh
- 2007 ICMC - Caritas staff training on self-care and psychosocial interview techniques when working with Iraqi asylum seekers in Amman, Jordan.
- 2008 ICMC - Caritas staff training for five days on recognition of psychological disorders and self-care techniques. Held in Amman, Jordan, this training included individual staff assessment and evaluation sessions.
Professional Credentials
Contact
To inquire about my availability and to arrange a consultation, please email me.
