There are four methods used to deliver training. These include:

• Online training
• In-unit trainer delivery
• Group training
• Personal coaching
• Self-study

In-unit training is the most effective method of delivering training. In-unit training provides immediate and people friendly delivery. Group training is another way of filling in the gaps for units that do not have an in-unit trainer. Group training provides more information to share between people. There are times when in-unit or group training does not work however and personal coaching or self-study becomes the only method to train leaders. Online training provide immediate access to information. Our goal is to train leaders, not just holding training events.

Use the tips shown in the Personal Coaching section to see how an in-unit trainer can effectively present training in the unit.

In today's world, leaders need to know how to do their jobs immediately, not 6 months after they start the job. 

ONLINE TRAINING

Some training courses may be completed through online study.
Cub Scout Fast Start, all five job specific Cub Scout Specific Training, Youth Protection training for all Cub Scout and Boy Scout leaders, Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat are all currently available through this web site. With the exception of Youth Protection you must report the completion of the training to your local council office to have the training placed on your record of training. Take or send a copy of the certificate at the end of online training to your local council office.
Youth Protection training is automatically placed on your training record if you successfully complete the training. Please remember to download the local reporting procedures/resources when you take Youth Protection online; successful completion is only possible after the local procedures are downloaded.

IN-UNIT TRAINING

As outlined in the national roll out of this concept, it is now the expectation that New Leader Essential training will be done at the unit level by a member of the unit committee. The registration code for this person is "TR". The in-unit training person will provide parent/leader orientation, Fast Start and New Leader Essential training. Training for the in-unit trainer is to have attended New Leader Essentials and the training for unit committee members. Ideally in-unit trainers will take the Trainers Development Conference.

Training can happen as often as the unit requires it and it can be done for individuals or any size group following the syllabi and tape format. Once the training is done the in-unit trainer must turn in a completed Training Attendance Form to the District Training Chairperson to insure records are updated.

GROUP TRAINING

Use this training method to deliver the training to a large number of participants in cases where units do not have in-unit trainers. Use the syllabus and the videotape to present the material. If you choose, presentations can be done to enhance the tape, but must be in harmony with and contain the exact same materials and information.

Follow these guidelines for group training:

1. Hold group training at locations spread throughout your district to allow easy access by the participants.
2. Be sure your courses have an assigned director and enough staff to cover the needs. Use the "rule of thirds" to staff all group events.
3. Do a budget to cover the event.
4. Use the council handout crates to provide the participants with the proper handouts to support the syllabus.
5. Keep records on each person and turn in course Training Reports to the Council Training Committee.
6. Give the leader a training completion card and find a good forum to recognize the accomplishment. Roundtables or Pack meetings are good place to do this.

PERSONAL COACHING STEPS

Use this training method in a one-to-one situation or with a small number of participants. Sometimes a small amount of personal coaching is sufficient to get leaders started. Then they can join group training sessions to complete the basic training requirements. Personal coaching is also effective when a leader misses one or more group training sessions.

Personal coaching usually takes place in a home, in a relaxed atmosphere. It is scheduled at the convenience of the leaders to be trained. A warm, friendly relationship is important in personal coaching.

Use both the group training outline and the personal coaching outline when presenting a session by personal coaching. The same information should be covered, and the learning objectives are the same.

Follow these guidelines:

1. Study the group training outline and read the syllabus. Adjust the material and method of presentation to fit the situation. DO NOT OMIT ANY SUBJECT MATTER. The individual(s) you are coaching needs this information just as much as those who attend group training. We do not want to shortchange anyone.
2. Learn as much as you can in advance about the person(s) to be coached. Establish a warm, personal relationship early in the coaching experience. A foundation of trust goes a long way in making a personal training session successful.
3. Use the same literature and handouts.
4. Use questions as a technique for obtaining feedback. Do the participants understand what you have said? What additional information do they need?
5. Make yourself available to answer questions or help in other ways. Show that you are interested in the leader as a friend.
6. Present training cards at the end of training process. When the participant has completed training, present the TRAINED leader strip at an appropriate occasion when other leaders are present (e.g., roundtable, unit meeting).
7. Be sure to list the training sessions completed by the leader on a Training Attendance Report and see that copies are distributed. It is easy to overlook this when doing personal coaching, but the information is necessary for accurate council and district training records.
8. Keep in mind that the more leaders know about the program, the better the program they can provide for the youth. DO YOUR BEST.

SELF-STUDY TRAINING STEPS

Use self-study training only when in-unit or group training is not available. Such cases will be rare. The success of the self-study method depends on the self-starting ability of the leader being trained. Remember that much benefit is gained from sharing experiences during group training and personal coaching sessions.

The District Training Chair decides when the self-study method will be used and assigns a person to contact the leader and coordinate the training.

In self-study, leaders study the literature on their own. Personal follow-up by the trainer is a MUST to see that the leaders have a clear understanding of their responsibilities and roles. After the self-study is completed by the leaders, use the personal contact by the assigned trainer to review questions and show that the trainer cares and is interested in the leader's progress.

Follow this procedure for self-study.

1. The trainer's initial contact with the leader should explain how the self-study is conducted and determine what literature is available to the leader.
2. Be sure the leader gets a copy of the self-study course. Also, furnish the appropriate handouts, reference material and any necessary literature if needed.
3. The leaders work at their own pace, completing the assignments indicated on the outline and answering the study questions.
4. The trainer should make personal contact with the participant to review study progress and review study questions. This is an opportunity to ask questions to see that the leader has a clear understanding of the subjects covered and provide feed back or answer questions.
5. Keep in mind, self-study learning objectives are the same as for any training.
6. During the personal contacts, if the leader has missed a point or does not seem to understand a particular subject, the trainer makes marginal notations that will direct the participant toward further study. When a study question has been answered particularly well, the trainer should make some notation of praise.
7. There is no grading system for self-study. The trainer simply determines whether learning objectives have been met and if the leader has gained the desired knowledge and information. When satisfied that the objectives have been met, the trainer furnishes the leader with a training certificate.
8. List the completion on a Training Attendance Report. This is easily overlooked in the self-study method of training but is very important so that district and council training records are kept up to date.