How to Create Engaging Training Materials That Will Transform ...

Good training materials are the foundation of an effective training program. Training materials that engage and motivate will boost your organization’s learning culture and promote strong learning outcomes.

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Follow this step-by-step process and proven tips to develop training material to boost learner motivation and training outcomes.

Examples of training materials

There are many types of training materials that you can use.

However, here are the most common:

• Presentations—From PowerPoint presentations to simple flip-charts, presentations are popular for instructor-led training. Still, you can also use them for self-directed training (Powerpoint presentations can easily be shared, for instance)
• Videos—Training videos bring concepts to life by engaging multiple senses in learners (using audio and visual media) and offering rich graphics and animation
• Written notes—Clear and comprehensive notes assist learners by bringing together information in an easy-to-refer format that’s typically portable across multiple media types (e.g., PDF documents, online notes, or app-based notes)
• Detailed training manuals—For more in-depth or long-form information (e.g., complex procedural or technical training), detailed training manuals provide learners with a greater breadth and scope of knowledge and reference materials
• Process documents—For training related to workplace procedures, process documents offer orderly, step-by-step instructions that guide learners through processes in logical sequences
• E-learning or computer-based training (CBT)—With the advent of modern computer technology, e-learning offers versatile, modular, on-demand learning across a range of media (e.g., video, audio, on-screen notes, and interactive modules)
• Activity sheets—To take learners through specific exercises, activity sheets offer guided instructions and allow learners to record their progress and responses to questions
• Whiteboards or “smart” boards—Whiteboards or interactive smart boards are helpful for instructor-led training, allowing a convenient way of presenting and recording information in real-time. In the case of smart boards, you can also digitally share information after the training sessions
• Checklists—Checklists offer learners quick and easy reference materials to help them remember critical steps, procedures, “must-dos,” “must-not-forgets,” and best practices
• Self-assessment tools—These help learners evaluate themselves (against their learning outcomes) after a learning activity and are often designed using psychological and sociological principles

How to create engaging training materials in 8 steps

Step 1. Identify learning objectives

Learning objectives identify the knowledge and skills a training program is designed for and define the specific learning outcomes the training will deliver. They set the direction for the training curriculum and guide the materials and resources that work best for the particular training.

Learning objectives that align with SMART goals will directly support your people in their roles. SMART goals are clear, specific, and measurable, making them ideal for aligning with well-structured training.

Consider the following example of a SMART goal for an IT role: “Improve website page loading speeds by 20% within the next month”.

How would you set learning objectives for this? Here’s a simple illustration:

Step 2. Curate and evaluate your existing materials

What training materials do you currently have at your organization? Are they relevant and valuable for your proposed training?

You can save time, effort, and resources by evaluating training materials you already have access to and curating them to fit your current training needs.

Some questions worth asking when assessing your existing training materials are:

Step 4. Choose the right formats

As we’ve seen, there are plenty of choices regarding training material formats—from written notes to whiteboards, videos to activity sheets, and presentations to checklists. However, for successful training, you’ll need to choose the most effective formats to deliver your proposed learning outcomes.

Written manuals and notes may be the best way to deliver the detailed knowledge required for technical or compliance training.

For behavioral training, in-person discussions supported by whiteboards, activity sheets, and video presentations may be more effective.

How you choose your training formats will play a significant role in how engaging your training will be. The more engaging your training is, the more likely your learners will adopt the learning outcomes and enjoy the learning experience.

Interactive and visual training materials, in particular, promote training that will be memorable and engaging for your learners. These training materials include graphics, videos, charts, images, activity sheets, and computer-based training systems.

For more information, please visit Didactic Training Equipment.

The benefits of visual and interactive materials are:

Step 5. Define the scope and develop the outline of your training

Once you’ve set your learning objectives, start thinking about the scope of your training and a content outline. The scope of your training will depend on the roles and prior knowledge of your learners—consider the following:

• Learner workplace roles and responsibilities
• Learners’ prior knowledge and familiarity with the training content
• The time that learners can allocate to training
• How learners will apply the learning outcomes at work
• The training material formats that best suit learner job types and preferred learning styles

The key areas that your outline should address are:

Step 6. Create content

Now, it’s time to create the content that will form the bulk of information that your training program will deliver.

The nature and volume of your content will depend on your chosen training materials (e.g., video scripts vs. technical notes vs. graphics).

Still, you try to incorporate the following best practice suggestions:

Tip: Seek feedback from learners and subject matter experts as you review your materials.

Also, remember that the currency and relevance of your training materials will diminish over time. Therefore, keep them updated by periodically reviewing and adjusting them when necessary, particularly when using them for a new training program.

Accelerate learning with Deel Engage

Training materials are at the heart of good training. Well-designed and effective training materials help learners get the most from their training. At Deel Engage, we know how to create outstanding training materials.

We have the tools, features, and knowledge to create engaging training programs and materials using proven research-driven methods.

We also embrace the latest innovations and leverage the power of AI to bring you more efficient and effective ways to create training materials that deliver strong learning outcomes.

Additionally, The Deel platform comes with built-in HRIS capabilities, at no additional cost.

Book a demo to see how to bring out the best in your people through relevant and effective training.

Finding materials that meet the needs of the course and engage learners can be complex, especially when considering content, audience, and cost. Even then, learners do not always purchase or read the required materials.  To make the most of your materials, you must ensure alignment with your learning objectives, the course syllabus, and your teaching philosophy (CUSE, ). Below are other points to consider when selecting instructional materials: 

Committee of Undergraduate Science Education (CUSE). (). Chapter 7: Choosing and using instructional resources. In Science teaching reconsidered (pp. 47-54). Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. Retrieved from https://www.nap.edu/read//chapter/1

Lang, J.M. (, April). Choosing and using textbooks. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from https://www.chronicle.com/article/ChoosingUsing-Textbooks/ 

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