The world of training and development is in constant motion.
To truly make an impact, training providers need to be agile, insightful, and equipped with the right strategies and tools to make sure they are delivering the most effective training possible to their participants.
Recently, Arlo’s Head of Marketing Andre Van Den Assum had the privilege of diving deep into these topics with Jeff Makey, a senior training consultant at cLearn, one of the top instructional design companies in the US in our webinar: Harnessing the Science of Adult Learning & AI to Deliver Impactful Training.
In the webinar, Andre and Jeff went through:
- How the science of adult learning shapes effective training programs
- The role of blended learning, eLearning, and AI-driven authoring in modern course delivery
- Strategies for delivering impactful training that keeps customers engaged
Check out the webinar below, or read on for a written recap of the key takeaways 👇
Key Takeaways From the Webinar
1. Treat Adults as Contributors, Not Passive Learners
Jeff stressed the importance of not treating adult learners as ‘learners’ per say, and more as participants in the training session.
Each participant brings their own expertise and experiences to the room, which can be an invaluable source of learning for others in the room:
“Sometimes those participants are going to know more than you, the instructor. Getting them involved builds trust. Peer-to-peer learning works best.”
2. Protect Dignity to Keep People Engaged
Embarrassment is a learning killer. Adults will shut down quickly if they feel disrespected, exposed, or singled out.
“You never want to single out an adult learner, you’re going to simply build a wall and not get through to them.”
Instead of calling on someone cold or putting them on the spot, create an environment where participation feels safe.
Use open-ended prompts, group discussions, or written reflections that let everyone contribute on their own terms.
3. Ditch the Slides—Use Paper Instead
PowerPoint might be the default tool for many trainers, but Jeff challenges its usefulness. Slides often promote passive consumption.
Paper-based tools, like workbooks or printed exercises, get people actively thinking, writing, and applying. It’s a tactile, personal form of engagement that deepens retention and makes the session feel more grounded.
“PowerPoints don’t teach. We rarely use PowerPoint. Instead, we use handouts or workbooks, something magical happens when we hear something and then we put pen to paper.”
:4. Use Movement to Hold Attention
Physical movement helps keep participants mentally present. Micro-movements, such as standing up, raising hands, or switching tables, can all help re-energize the room. It resets attention and helps bring people back into focus.
“If people are moving in their seats, they are more likely to be listening. We use simple gestures like raising hands because it brings people back into the learning moment.”
Micro-movements, such as standing up, raising hands, or switching tables, can re-energize the room. It resets attention and helps bring people back into focus.
5. Use AI and Blended Learning to Build Momentum Before the Session Starts
It’s easier than ever before to create engaging pre-course materials such as pre-reading, with the proliferation of AI elearning authoring software.
Creating pre-course materials allows you to front-load knowledge so that face-to-face time can focus on discussion, application, and skill development.
When participants show up already familiar with the basics, the group can go deeper, and faster.
“We will have prerequisite homework using blended, AI-driven learning. When participants come to class, they’ll already be prepared, making the session more productive.”
6. Automate the Admin, Focus on the Training
Running a training operation involves more than delivery—it’s the scheduling, compliance, and tracking that bogs teams down.
“Arlo is tracking all the legal requirements for us. it significantly reduces our workload, allowing us to focus on delivering quality training.”
Using training management software like Arlo automates backend processes, frees up time, reduces errors, and lets trainers do what they do best—teach.
7. Build for Change, Not Just Today
Training content and requirements don’t stay fixed. Things can shift quickly, and it’s so important that you have tech in place that helps you adjust to swift changes.
“Legislation might halve our continuing education requirements. Arlo helped us quickly adapt by customizing our course catalogs to remain flexible and responsive.”