Thank you for committing your time and effort to make ASME training events a success!   We look forward to exciting and informative development of our leaders, and our dedicated core of trainers is a key element in that process. 

The VOLT Academy is here to support you in preparing and delivering the highest quality training possible.   We offer you some strategies, tactics and tips (bottom of page). You will probably be familiar with many of these techniques, but it is useful to review them before you begin your preparation, as there is always something to work on to improve your presentation skills.  

You may have already been conducting training for some time now.  Please take a moment to reflect on the following questions:

• How did you learn to teach?
• What would have made the learning process more effective?

Why learn to teach more effectively?  One motivation can be found within ASME’s Code of Ethics, which states: “Engineers shall perform services only in the area of their competence.”  Improving your competency in training and facilitation is not only ethical, but personally rewarding.  Completing a training session knowing that you’ve done your best to provide participants with a valuable learning experience and are observing growth and improvement in your own performance is enormously satisfying.

The resources and guidelines assembled here are for your use as you prepare to develop and deliver ASME training, as well as any other presentations you make in your work life and other activities. Feel free to adjust them, depending on the size and composition of the audience you address and the topic of your presentation. 

Select and utilize what is most helpful to you. Do your preparation. Then go out there and “knock ‘em dead.”

Preparation Resources:

Tips & Tactics (Training news you can use) - the new monthly newsletter developed by the VOLT Academy for volunteer trainers.  The first issue includes tips on adult learning, how-tos for developing powerful presentations, links to informational websites and more.

Designing Learning - How People Learn and Methods that Enhance Learning; Intro to Bloom’s Taxonomy; Learning Objectives; Basic Ingredients of an Effective Learning Session and Training Materials

Keep it Small! Tips For Managing PowerPoint File Size

Learning Objectives – Levels of mastery, writing objectives; action verbs; self-assessment

Quick Job Aid for Session Materials – Summary of key questions to ask yourself

Session Planning Template

Audio Visual Tips for Presentations

Delivery Resources:

Presenter Practice Program - an opportunity for K&C and other trainers, presenters, and facilitators to rehearse, receive peer review and a digital video of their rehearsal, and develop a plan for improving their presentation and facilitation skills

Dealing with Difficult People - the time hog, the wall flower, the devil's advocate, etc

Facilitator Guidelines (adapted from the Codes and Standards training)

Questioning Techniques - different types of questions to ask and how to get the audience to respond

Helpful Web Sites:

Core Competencies in Association Professional Development (2009 Update) - This resource is provided by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

Free Management Library, Training and Development

How to Master Question-and-Answer Sessions

www.presentations.com - resources for the creation and delivery of presentations, including online articles about topics such as the effective use of PowerPoint and other visuals and how a presentation is like pinball game.

Professional Practice Curriculum Modules "Effective Technical Presentations" and "Communicating to Non-Technical Audiences."

www.sloan-c.org - resource to help learning organizations continually improve quality, scale and the breadth of their programs.

Speaker Guidelines for Addressing International Audiences

Teaching Tips used for Faculty Development

The external sites shown above are provided as a resource only. ASME does not endorse external web sites.

Please share your suggestions for improvements and additions to these materials by contacting Ty Booker.