Train the Trainer

Our Train the Trainer courses provide trainers who teach safety and/or craft skills classes for their local with developmental training that covers effective teaching techniques, training design, and lesson planning concepts. In January 2025, we released six new, online, self-paced courses which are now available in the Train the Trainer library on the TTF Courses & Resources Learning Platform.

Now Available Online

1. Introduction to Training Delivery

This foundational course introduces main principles of adult learning and effective facilitation techniques, guiding trainers through the development of adaptive lesson plans and active learning environments. It sets the stage for understanding classroom dynamics, student assessment, and the continuous improvement of teaching practices, both in structured settings and real-time, hands-on environments, forming the cornerstone of the Train the Trainer program.

2. Adult Education Theory

Adult Education Theory provides a deeper look into the principles of adult learning and the distinctions between andragogy and pedagogy. This course will equip trainers with the skills to apply the Learning Cycle in instructional design, adapt lessons to diverse learner preferences, and create an inclusive learning environment, reinforcing the core concepts necessary for effective adult education across various training contexts.

3. Course Preparation

Course Preparation will emphasize the importance of thorough preparation in training delivery. It will guide trainers on how to effectively navigate instructor guides, manage technical equipment, organize resources, and ensure compliance with course administration requirements.

4. Presentation & Delivery Techniques

Presentation and Delivery Techniques will focus on developing the skills necessary for clear and engaging communication during training sessions. Trainers will learn to enhance their presentation techniques, manage group dynamics, and handle challenging participants with confidence, ensuring that a trainer can deliver content effectively and maintain an engaging learning environment in both formal and hands-on instructional settings.

5. Creating Assessments

Creating Assessments focuses on the evaluation and improvement of the training process by designing, administering, and analyzing assessments. Trainers will learn to create assessments that align with course objectives, develop clear and effective assessment questions, and use rubrics for performance evaluations. Additionally, the course covers interpreting assessment results to inform instruction and ensuring continuous improvement in training methods, whether assessing knowledge in the classroom or skills in hands-on environments. The course also incorporates the Kirkpatrick Model to measure the broader impact of training on behavior and organizational outcomes.

6. Adapting Pre-Developed Content

Adapting Pre-Developed Content will emphasize flexibility and adaptation during training sessions. Using the foundational knowledge and skills learned in earlier Train the Trainer courses, trainers will learn to adjust content delivery in real time based on participant feedback to suit different audiences and learning environments.

How Do We Apply?

IATSE Workers: Individual workers can take the online courses in whichever order they'd like and start or stop at any point and pick up where they left off on any computer or mobile device. The Train the Trainer courses are one of many libraries available with a TTF Courses & Resources Learning Platform account.

Email your completed application to onlinecourses@iatsetrainingtrust.org. We will email your unique password within a few days. Use this password to log into your account and start taking courses.

Train the Trainer: Training Techniques

This course is a general workshop on how to prepare for and conduct successful training. Topics such as classroom management skills and presentation techniques, effective instruction, and adult learning theory will be addressed. Participants will get to directly apply and practice using these skills during the workshop with a short 15-minute section of a specific course they teach or are familiar with as a trainer.

Train the Trainer: Course Development

This course is designed for local trainers who are conducting one- or two-day safety or craft skills training courses they design themselves. This intensive workshop focuses on the practical application of instructional design, curriculum development theories, and concepts for making course curriculum and content learner-centered.

Local trainers will select and work on developing a specific portion of their one- or two-day course to practice applying these skills, finalize a course description and outline, begin drafting lesson plans, and create a list of materials, equipment, and resources needed for their safety or craft skills course. Trainers will receive feedback and support from the instructors and other IATSE trainers in the course. Please note that participants will not be developing an entire course, and there will only be time in this session to work on part of a single one- or two-day course being developed.

*This course does not cover classroom management skills or presentation techniques. Those topics are covered separately in the Train the Trainer: Training Techniques course, which we highly recommend trainers take before attending this course.

Train the Trainer: Virtual Training and Presentation Techniques

This course provides practical tips for facilitating before, during, and after a virtual class. Participants learn to plan, prepare, and set the stage for learning in a virtual classroom, including ideas for interactive learning and games. Participants will also practice new virtual training skills before returning to their local. This workshop is taught virtually and focuses on techniques that can be used for virtual training, but trainers who teach live courses may find value in the content. However, please note that their course for this workshop should be a virtual one for use in the participation portions of the workshop.