With so many learning experiences, techniques and devices to choose from, the course designer can be like a gourmet cook, carefully choosing just the right combination to achieve the desired results.  There is no excuse for the overuse of lecture as the primary and often only technique.
 
What is the best activity?  There is no answer to this question.  It depends on your purpose.  Learning experiences may be classified by purpose, although a particular technique may have multiple applications.  Most activities are best used in combination with other techniques. What is the worst activity?  The one that is used all the time, whatever it is!
 
This workshop suggests a seven-step process to develop learning materials, identifies a “best use” for a variety of learning experiences, and presents a proven approach to designing discovery learning by writing adult learning steps to process any learning activity.

Jean Barbazette, M.A. is the founder of The Training Clinic, a training consulting firm she began in 1977. The Training Clinic is America's train-the-trainer leader. Jean is the author of "Successful New Employee Orientation" 3rd edition published by Pfeiffer & Co © 2007. Jean contributed three versions of an instrument, Trainer's Style Inventory, in McGraw-Hill's 1996, 1997 and 1999 Training & Development Sourcebook. She is the author of The Trainer's Support Handbook, © 2001 McGraw-Hill Publishers. Her other books published by Pfeiffer include Instant Case Studies © 2003, The Trainer's Journey to Competence © 2005, The Art of Great Training Delivery © 2006, Training Needs Assessment, © 2006, Managing the Training Function for Bottom-Line Results, © 2008.

Melissa Smith is Managing Partner of The Training Clinic, a training consulting firm specializing in state-of-the art design, delivery, management and evaluation of training through development and delivery of workshops, certificate programs, on-line courses, publications, training products and job-aids. Since 1977, The Training Clinic has trained over 200,000 people on five continents in train-the-trainer techniques and other topics including interpersonal, sales, management development, communication, administrative and self-management skills workshops. 

Melissa has extensive preparation in adult learning theory, workshop facilitation and instructional design. Her methodology, which is based on action learning principles, is designed uniquely for each client and is tailored for a specific purpose and output. In addition to public and in-house workshops, Melissa regularly facilitates webinars, workshops and certificate workshops for Training Magazine and ATD. She is co-author of Temperament and Type Dynamics: The Facilitator's Guide, Quick Guide to the 16 Personality Types and Teams, and Quick Guide to the 16 Personality Types in Organizations and author of many white papers and articles on learning and development best practices. Melissa is a fun, dynamic presenter and course designer who stimulates individual participation, group involvement and learning.