THE FIRST FORTY MINUTES Available to Purchase

In the design of technical training courses, there has been a considerable shift from “chalk‐and‐talk” to more participative methods, principally discovery learning, syndicate exercises and project work. Courses are more learner centred, less trainer dependent, and trainees learn more from each other. Central to the success of such methods is the establishment of a high level of rapport within the group at an early stage of the course. Some ideas on the design of opening sessions and views on the implications for training practitioners are offered.