Handouts and reference material
What are handouts?
Handouts are duplicated pieces of paper containing notes, diagrams, or abstracts from articles or textbooks. The information in a handout can be a summary of the content of a training session or learning element, or background reference material, or both
How to use handouts
There are two stages:
preparation
presentation
Preparation
- Identify the main points you want to cover
- Make notes on each of the points
- Select or compose diagrams, line drawings, charts, tables to illustrate your points
- Edit your material into a coherent message or series of messages
- Decide on a paper format and layout (you may need help with this). Normally, A4 size paper is used
- Type up your material, assemble your illustrations, and paste them together onto the page. This is known as ‘camera-ready copy’
- Duplicate the material
- Make sure you have more than enough copies to go round
Presentation
- Let the participants know in good time that you have a handout available for that particular session/topic
- If you believe that the handout contains all the material that the participants need to know, you may want to advise them not to take notes. However, you should not prevent anyone from taking notes if he wants to
- You should decide in advance when you are going to distribute the handout
- It is a natural tendency for participants to become engrossed in a document they have just been given. This can either be to your advantage or disadvantage, depending upon how you handle the situation
- If you distribute the handout at the beginning of your session, you can go through it, directing participants’ attention to salient points. They can make any additional notes on the handout itself if they wish
- On the other hand, you run the risk that they may prefer to read the handout privately rather than paying attention to you
- If your handout is a summary of the session, and you do not intend to refer to it during the session, it may be better to distribute it at the end
When to use a handout
At any appropriate time during a session
Why use a handout
- To provide a summary of the information which you want the participants to retain
- To build up a collection of relevant material for the participants to refer to back home
Source: Adapted from the International Course on Training of Trainers in Labour-Based Road Construction and Maintenance, compiled by David J Mason