There are multiple reasons to host training sessions. Good business practices such as onboarding new employees, teaching relevant skills, or simply creating a progressive work culture; require training to thrive.
Albert Einstein likened training to lifeblood when he said, “once you stop learning, you start dying”. However, while organising training is important, organising it well is a necessity.
One way to have successful training is to pay attention to the training room setup. Invest time and finances in crafting quality training content but also invest time in the venue and facility.
This article takes a look at some components to consider when setting up a training room optimised for learning.
Considerations When Setting Up a Training Room Optimised for Learning
Set Your Goals
Setting goals is essential to the success of anything a business does – training inclusive. This has to do with the who, why and to-what-end questions.
Before choosing a room and a location, the goals of the training must be clear and specific. For example, a networking training goal would require a different room setup from examination-driven trainings.
Goals and objectives also influence the number of guests as well as the number of facilitators – factors which affect the overall location and capacity of the training room.
Pick Out a Venue
The next thing to do is pick out a venue. When determining what venue is right, it is advised that you consider factors like accessibility, distractions, hall structures, etc.
In some cases, event hosts select and pay for a training hall before the entire facility is considered. This is a flawed process. Choosing a venue involves more than choosing a hall/room.
There is the question of what other kinds of events are held there? What is the noise interference like? Best practices suggest taking a tour of the facility beforehand.
Some facilities provide virtual tours to accommodate the challenges of busy schedules and long distances.
Also, make use of tools such as Google Reviews and social media pages to get an overall experience of the look and feel of the venue.
Google reviews are beneficial because they also include objective photo submissions of past visitors. Objective photos assist in seeing the actual, unfiltered condition of the facility.
In addition, your choice of venue will determine what training hall capacity you can choose from. For example, using a 100-seater capacity hall to host a 10-man training will require more décor to avoid an ‘empty hall’ look.
Another thing to take note of is accessibility. What time is the training? What locations are your trainees coming from? How soon can they get there? With what level of stress? How accessible is the venue?
These questions are necessary because you do not want trainees who are exhausted on arrival.
For more factors to consider when choosing a venue, please view our article on 7-Point Checklist to Choose the Right Corporate Event Venues.
Furniture
Another factor that significantly affects your training room setup is the furniture provided by the facility.
First, you need to ensure that the chairs and tables are comfortable. An impactful training session is one where the trainees are comfortable enough to pay attention.
Furthermore, your choice of furniture is also influenced by the calibre of trainees attending your event.
Comfortable furniture for a teens’ coding session is extensively different from those needed to set up for top management training.
The world is prioritising health matters these days, and rightly so. Hence, as much as you can afford, go for ergonomic furniture.
Other things to look out for when it comes to furniture and effective training room design are;
- Quantity
Make sure that the number of tables and chairs are enough to accommodate every trainee. You don’t want trainees standing up or hassling for seats on the D-day.
- Wear and Tear
Have you ever attended an event and had to look for a needle and thread because a piece of lousy furniture caught at your clothes? Terrible! It leaves you feeling terrible.
Establish that the tables and chairs are in good condition.
- Distraction
Some chairs were created to make noise more than to sit guests. Check to see that the tables and chairs do not generate distracting sounds in your chosen hall.
You definitely don’t want tables that make screeching sounds with every bathroom break. Some suitable halls are carpeted to accommodate particular furniture.
Also, distractions may include things like fancy coverings or elaborate designs.
Lighting
Lighting and learning work hand-in-hand.
According to a Visual Edge Slant Board article, “the best lighting type for maximum productivity and learning is as natural and soft as possible, while still being bright enough to see clearly.
Lighting that is too dim can cause difficulties in learning, like affecting brain focus and visual clarity when reading. It also can lower psychological well-being over time.
Conversely, lighting that is overly bright and fluorescent was shown to contribute to off task behaviour and making hyperactive behaviour worse”.
Adequate lighting ensures that trainees see and take notes clearly – fundamental aspects of any training. It also affects the mood and stress levels of the human mind.
Good training hall design may include roof lighting, stage lighting, projector screen contrast, etc.
On the day of the training, check that the training room lighting is not too much or too blinding. Switch off bulbs if necessary.
Do not be afraid to ask trainees if the lighting is sufficient or not for them.
Training Room Seating Arrangement
Every other checklist culminates in the arrangement.
When you have set your goals, chosen a venue, and ensured the furniture is right and that there is adequate lighting, you can focus on how the hall is arranged for enhanced learning.
There are various types of seating arrangements. Each arrangement depends on the number of trainees, the kind of training, and the session’s goal. Some of the prominent seating arrangements are;
The Classroom Arrangement
This form of arrangement makes the facilitator the sole focus of all the trainees. It is best for mentally immersive sessions. It can, however, sometimes feel too formal.
To reduce the formality, you can break the tables into rows and columns in what some refer to as the non-traditional classroom seating arrangement.
The U-shaped Seating Arrangement
One of the most popular arrangements, the U-shaped is perfect for almost every type of training. It is set precisely as its name – to form “U”.
The end is open and gives the trainer ample space to move around, shuffle between the board and the desks, and interact with the trainees.
The Single Circle/Square Arrangement
This training room layout is perfect for all hands-on deck practical sessions. It creates an environment that brings the trainer down to the level of the trainees (think about a primary school robotics training).
The circle can be very big or small, depending on the number of trainees to be seated.
The Conference or Boardroom Arrangement
A long rectangular table and chairs around it usually makes up the boardroom training room setup. The facilitator usually sits or stands at one of the short widths of the rectangle.
This arrangement is perfect for engaging and discussion-inclined training sessions.
The Hollow Square Arrangement
This training hall design is set as a large square or rectangle with a space in the middle. The facilitator can either be on the stage or at the centre of the square.
The disadvantage of the hollow square seating arrangement is that the facilitator will be backing some trainees at every point in time.
The Banquet Arrangement
Also referred to as the cluster seating arrangement, this design involves a cluster of round or square tables. This training room setup works for sessions involving group projects and discussions.
The trainees can easily communicate within themselves. The facilitator can also move from table to table, interacting with the students as a group.
However, the disadvantage of this setting is that it can create a sense of different classrooms as against one training.
It also requires more facilitators and management. Hosts should also watch out to see that it does not encourage noisemaking and, ultimately, distraction.
Now that you have seen several training hall ideas and know how to set up a training room to enhance learning, it’s time to book a training room and host your event. You can also look through some of our articles to help you plan an excellent training.
- Event Centers Lagos: The Ultimate Guide for Choosing the Top Event Venue in Lagos
- A Quick Guide to Corporate Event Planning
We advise that you choose a venue that is accessible to your trainees. The Zone is located strategically in Gbagada, Lagos.
We are 3km Away from the International Airport, 7km from Victoria Island, 4km from Ikeja – (the Capital City of Lagos) and 4km from Yaba.
Our facility is fully equipped with modern facilities to give your trainees the best experience. We provide a variety of training halls that can be arranged in distinct setups to serve your training needs.
Take a Virtual Tour or Book Your Space to find out more.
