Grouping purposefully for effective training

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Abstract

When using small groups, be sure to consider group composition. Purposeful grouping can be powerful as a tool to achieve desired outcomes from training sessions. This effective practice comes from Mosaica's newsletter, Training Briefs.

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Issue

Offering quality training sessions to AmeriCorps members and service volunteers.

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Action

According to the Training Brief, Maximizing Training with Small Groups purposeful grouping can be a powerful tool to

  • Strengthen the sense of team
  • Create cohesive identity across several sites
  • Respond to diverse individual backgrounds or skill levels
  • Encourage teaching among members
  • Keep participants energized

When developing training of this kind, consider the following:

  • Experiences, needs, and skill levels of members
  • Needs and objectives of the training session
  • How each session fits into an overall training strategy

 

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Context

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.


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Citation

Mosaica's Training Briefs. Washington, D.C.: Corporation for National and Community Service, no. 4, (November 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.

 

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Posted On

August 28, 2001

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For More Information

EnCorps
Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
101 SW Main St., Suite 500
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (877) 250-1615

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Resources

Maximizing Training with Small Groups includes several activities useful for programs during trainings.

Source Documents

Related Practices

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Related sites

Starting Strong: A Guide to Pre-Service Training

Topic Areas

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