Train the Technical Trainer

Not soft skills training. Not trade school.

 

Train the Technical Trainer is a train the trainer program for people who teach hands-on technical skills in corporate settings, whether they are coaches, managers, or involved in formal training programs.

Most trainer development programs fall into one of two categories:

• Corporate train-the-trainer programs that focus on facilitation, presentation, and soft skills—but don’t translate well to teaching practical, hands-on work
• Vocational and trade-based programs that go deep into technical standards and certification—but are often too rigid or specialized for corporate environments

This program fills that gap. And like all professional development programs provided by Jonathan Halls LLC, the program is framed through learning science. It’s designed for trainers who need to teach real technical skills at work—where the goal is not certification, but safe, consistent, and effective job performance.

Who This Program Is For

This program is for people who train others to do technical work, such as:

• Maintaining and repairing equipment
• Operating machinery safely and efficiently
• Troubleshooting and diagnosing faults
• Performing inspections and quality checks
• Following procedures and compliance standards
• Using tools, instruments, and systems correctly

These are not abstract skills. They require precision, judgment, and consistency—and the training must reflect that.

A Practical, Evidence-Based Middle Ground

This program brings together the best of both worlds:

• The structure and rigor needed to teach technical skills correctly
• The flexibility and practicality required in a corporate environment
• And a foundation in learning science to ensure training actually works

The result is training that holds up in the real world—not just in a classroom, and not just within a certification framework.

Built on Learning Science (Not Just Adult Learning Principles)

Many train-the-trainer programs rely on adult learning principles—broad ideas about how adults prefer to learn. There is nothing wrong with this but we take a different approach that equips you with greater precision to facilitate deeper and more creative learning.

Our programs are grounded in learning science—research into how people actually learn, remember, and build skills. Instead of assumptions, we focus on evidence about:

• How attention and cognitive load affect learning
  Ever sat through training where too much information came too fast—and you left remembering very little? That’s cognitive overload. You’ll learn how to structure training so learners can actually process what you’re teaching.
• How knowledge is stored and retrieved from memory
  “I learned this last week, but I can’t remember it now.” That’s a retrieval problem. You’ll learn how to build recall into your training so learners can access knowledge when they need it on the job.
• How practice and feedback develop skill mastery
  Watching a demonstration isn’t enough. People improve when they try the task and receive feedback. You’ll learn how to design practice that builds real skill.
• How learning transfers to the workplace
  Training works in the classroom—but falls apart on the job. You’ll learn how to design learning that transfers to real tools, real conditions, and real pressure.
• How to create a learning experience that promotes learner engagement
  You’ve likely seen high-energy training that is well-presented but fails to engage. In this program, you’ll learn how to keep learners focused on the work itself, without relying on superficial presentation techniques or “performance tricks.”

We then apply this science directly to technical training methods. The result: training that is more precise, more reliable, and more effective.

What You’ll Be Able to Do

By the end of this program, you will be able to:

• Explain how people learn technical skills using clear, evidence-based concepts
• Plan training experiences that build skill, improves retention, and transfers to real work
• Help participants learn tasks using structured research-informed methods
• Facilitate hands-on learning while managing safety, group dynamics, and varying skill levels
• Deliver credible, professional training that stands up to scrutiny from technical stakeholders

Why It Matters

Technical training is often high-stakes. Mistakes can affect safety, quality, and performance. This program helps you move beyond “delivering training” to something more important:

• Building real technical capability in your organization
• Reducing errors and variability that cost safety and money
• Improving consistency and performance

You’ll also gain the confidence to explain why your training methods work—strengthening your credibility with engineers, operators, and leaders.

The Outcome

You leave with more than techniques. You leave with a way of thinking about training—grounded in science, adaptable to your environment, and designed to deliver real results.

Five Modules, Flexible Delivery

Module 1 – Learning Mechanics (3.5 hours)
Explore how people learn from a cognitive perspective, what this means for technical training, and the techniques that ensure learning sticks and translates to performance.

Module 2 – Learning Conditions (3.5 hours)
Even with strong design, learning fails if the conditions aren’t right. This module focuses on creating the right environment—including physical space, emotional climate, organizational context, and learner readiness.

Module 3 – Training Challenges (3.5 hours)
Technical trainers need to respond to real-world unpredictability. Learn how to manage common challenges such as difficult participants, equipment failure, and unsuitable environments—and how to prevent them where possible.

Module 4 – Training Professionalism (3.5 hours)
Credibility extends beyond the classroom. This module focuses on how to support and influence participants, clients, and stakeholders before, during, and after training to strengthen impact and reputation.

Module 5 – Capstone (7 hours)
Bring everything together in a practical, performance-based experience. Participants deliver a 10-minute technical lesson and receive structured feedback from peers and the facilitator. This module also develops advanced in-person facilitation skills, including questioning techniques and vocal delivery.

Program Format

The program is designed to be flexible to meet business needs:

• Delivered virtually as five modules (we recommend Modules 1–4 across consecutive days, with the Capstone delivered in person)
• Or delivered fully in person as a three-day immersive program

Participants are supported by a digital learning platform that introduces each module and provides additional resources.

This is a highly interactive program. Participants actively practice throughout—designing and delivering short learning experiences between sessions and engaging in team teaching and structured reflection in every module.

Book this program!

This program is not currently offered as a public program. However, it is available to bring onsite to your organization. We customize all our programs so call us today about how we can help your trainers, coaches and/or managers better train their teams and deliver deeper learning.