Pedagogy and adult training: A trainer’s manual

Mehta-Bhatt, P. and Nyangaga, J. 2011. Pedagogy and adult training: A trainer’s manual. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI.

This manual, to be used to train adult participants, is designed with features to help overcome the challenges faced in delivering such training service. For one it promotes interactive, experience-based, practical and impact-oriented approaches based on various experiences. This involves role plays, hands-on exercises and training materials that are designed for trainers to deliver the service effectively. The course is based on case studies and shared learning from a large number of developing countries with agriculture, climate change and animal science focus. The training manual is divided into seven sessions. Session 1 defines adult learning; Session 2 explains the principles of designing and planning of a training program; Session 3 describes the course introductory session; Session 4 elaborates on guidelines for effective teaching styles for adults; Session 5 explains the different styles involved in adult training; Session 6 describes training aids or materials that can be used to support the training; and Session 7 covers the steps to be taken to evaluate and measure the impact of an adult training course. Each manual session has four parts to facilitate its use as a practical training guide, whereby each session can be implemented as a stand-alone course. The first part of a session gives a summarized introduction of the session. The second part contains session guide, objectives to be achieved and the training activities and requirements. The third part of each session contains slides that can be used in plenary presentation. The fourth part contains detailed notes to be used by the trainer or given out to the course participants. Each session then ends with a list of references used and recommended reading. The manual’s goal is to strengthen trainers and their faculties’ capacities to design, disseminate (or conduct) and evaluate the impact of adult trainings forums and their development as ‘Trainer of Trainers’.