OJT and Task Demonstration

When demonstrating a task to a trainee, do the following:

Position the trainee to observe as you perform the task. The best position for the trainee is to the side or slightly to the rear of you because the trainee needs to view the demonstration from the same perspective in which the trainer conducts it. Make sure there are no physical barriers between you and the trainee.
If there are written training materials/step by step procedures (and hopefully there are!), ask the trainee to periodically refer to the procedure during your explanation of the task and as you demonstrate the task because trainees who use procedures during training sessions are more likely to use them afterward.
Explain each step aloud to give the trainee a mental picture of what will happen. The trainee should read along silently.
Demonstrate the task, explaining each step while it is being performed. Point out any safety precautions or quality concerns. The trainee should ask questions as needed to ensure an understanding of each step.
Summarize the task when the demonstration is completed. Task summaries should include stating the purpose of the task, why it.s important, and how it fits into the bigger picture, and explaining how the task should be performed, step-by-step.
Ask if the trainee has any questions. At this point, if the trainee is unsure about the task, repeat the verbal explanation and the demonstration.

Human Performance Applications
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E-mail: diane@teamojt.com