Using small groups to maximize training
Abstract
Small groups provide a valuable training tool that can simultaneously transmit information, teach project-specific as well as general skills, and reinforce the "sense of team" among members. Mosaica's newsletter, Training Briefs, presents ideas for program staff and site supervisors with limited time and resources for training.Issue
Focusing on the participation of each individual participant makes a big impact in training sessions, and contributes to the overall success of a training.Action
Research shows that small groups maximize learning. Small groups are most effective when members have clearly defined roles and tasks. This helps make members responsible for learning.
Small groups work best during training by:
- Encouraging members to participate actively in learning. The smaller the group, the more opportunity each individual has to participate actively and contribute ideas and opinions.
- Fostering teamwork among members, consequently encouraging trust and cooperation. This will likely result in members feeling more comfortable working together in the future.
- Covering different material simultaneously, then reporting back to the larger group to cover more overall ground in training.
- Tapping into the collective knowledge and experience of members.
Context
MOSAICA developed Starting Strong: A Guide to Pre-Service Training to help AmeriCorps programs plan and deliver effective pre-service training. Its user-friendly approach is perfect for staff with limited training experience. The manual explains in detail how to design effective training, and provides over thirty-five sample training activities that are easily modified to reflect program needs.
Mosaica: The Center for Nonprofit Development and Pluralism, provides organizational assessments, strategic and resource development planning, fundraising capacity building, restructuring support, and assistance in financial management and oversight. Other services include board development, program design and delivery, personnel and systems management, volunteer activities, community involvement and community building, community organizing and advocacy, program evaluation, and coalition building.
The goal of Mosaica is to bring together individuals with diverse voices and experience to create an organization with a set of common values. Mosaica was established out of a commitment to social justice and a belief that within the United States and throughout the world, societies that strive for democracy, human rights, peace, individual opportunity, and pluralism must be built and maintained from the bottom up—community by community, group by group—with the active involvement of nonprofit organizations and a strong independent sector. Mosaica helps strengthen nonprofits so they can provide high quality services and advocacy in a sustainable, well-run fashion that supports communities.
Citation
"Big Results from Small Groups." Mosaica's Training Briefs. Washington, D.C.: Corporation for National and Community Service, no. 3, (October 1997).
Training Briefs were produced by Mosaica under Cooperative Agreement #98CADC009 with the Corporation for National and Community Service during July of 1997 through October of 1999.
Outcome
Having members work in small groups during training sessions maximizes learning and provides supplementary benefits to member development efforts as well. Members enjoy working in small groups during training because they have more opportunities to participate and share ideas with their fellow members.Posted On
August 28, 2001For More Information
Resources
See Big Results from Small Groups for the activity "Experts as Resources." The resource will demonstrate how to use outside experts as resource people and learning by teaching others within the context of small group settings.Source Documents
Related Practices
No related practicesRelated sites
Starting Strong: A Guide to Pre-Service Training