R.A. Training

Last Friday I attended an R.A. training. It was a small group of students, and one facilitator. There were two aspects that really struct me - One had to do with the students, and the other had to do with the way the training was oriented.

First of all, the students sat far away from the trainer. It reminded me the first day of college when no wanted to sit in the front because they were scared of what might happen. Since this was the case, the energy of the room was off, as well. It seemed as though there was a disconnect between the students and the trainer.

Maybe part of this 'off' experience was because it was different that what I was expecting. In these types of trainings I expect the trainer to talk (almost lecture) and for the R.A.'s to take notes. But it wasn't like that. I want to say it was better than that; however, with the small class size and the type of energy in the room the activity that was done almost felt like pulling teeth, or like the students were just passing time to get in their recommended hours for being an R.A. They were told to reflect personally and to write. So most of the time the R.A.'s were very intRApersonal. So the hour seemed to drag on for quiet a while. Possibly this activity could have worked better with a larger group, or after a fun presentation. However, the way it flowed seemed awkward.

To plan for this type of situation I would read my audience. First of all, it was at the end of the day... on a Friday... and very few students were there. In my mind that would register as they do not particularly want to be there. If so, then I would have done something energetic and fun to start of the training. I would have gotten them up, moving and interacting. Then maybe I could have incorporated the reflective learning at the end before the time was up. But I think by reading the audience the hour could have been more than what it was.