Preparing to engage participants

- Remember when you were in school…and learned something you really enjoyed?…During my accounting studies,…I recall learning to analyze financial statements.…It came really easily to me, but if I'm honest,…it was more the result that my professor…knew how to engage students.…A trainer's primary role is to engage participants to learn.…Now, this isn't a natural ability,…but rather, applying a systematic method known as…Gagne's Nine Events of Instruction.…Let's cover those.…

The first and most important event…is to gain attention.…One of the most effective ways to do this…is to hook participants with a compelling introduction.…One popular method is using stories…that relate to their experiences.…Another way is to ask a question that gets them to think…or surprises them.…For example, one way I begin a problem-solving workshop…is to present a problem in riddle form.…It's difficult for anyone to resist a riddle,…and it immediately gets their attention and interest.…

The second event is to inform participants…about the course objectives.…