Principle 4 – End

To bring learning to closure through summarization that reinforces key concepts.

• Provide concise summary of key ideas
• Provide opportunities for reflection
• Encourage thinking about “how” the new learning can be used

Providing summary and closure to a training is a critical aspect of the learning process.  Individuals most frequently remember the ideas presented in a succinct summary.  The topics that are included in the summary reinforce the importance of these concepts.  Selecting these topics needs to be consistent with the teaching content’s importance.  Summary formalizes the concepts into a learning “chunk” that one can easily remember.  Summary encourages trainees to reflect about the concepts presented and how they can apply to their workplace. 

Situation Training Topic: Signs of Dehydration

Review the following two training scenarios and pay close attention to the contrast of teaching styles and format. Notice the difference between each in terms of how the sessions end.

Situation 1
The trainer states, “I just told you all about the symptoms of dehydration.  Do you have any questions?  Hearing none, I assume you all are able to figure out when somebody is dehydrated.”

Situation 2
The trainer enlists the assistance of session participants to list and review major ways to detect dehydration in personal care home residents. To help them remember the symptoms that were discussed, the list was put up on the front board. Participants were then asked how they might use this information in their personal care home facilities.

Situation Summary:  In the first vignette, the session ends abruptly, with no review of the major points of information shared in the session. Contrast this with the second vignette where the presenter uses audience participation as a strategy for reinforcing key points highlighted in the session. She also encourages participants to think about how they can apply the information they learned about dehydration. Situation 2 brings closure to the training as well as reinforces the key concepts that were the focus of the teaching. Summary crystallizes the session’s major topics which assists learners to reflect about the major concepts’ content. Summary increases retention and application in future situations.

©2006 -