In training, teamwork, communication, and the ability to transfer knowledge are fundamental pillars. The same principles apply to trainers themselves: exchanging ideas with colleagues and industry experts while broadening their horizons – it's worth spending a day at trainer-internal events.
The trainer community can benefit the most from each other when they actively share experiences. Last weekend, this exchange took place at the Trainer Congress 2018 in Berlin. About 400 trainers met over two intensive days to ensure their own ability to transfer knowledge: receiving insights from colleagues, gathering information from providers to support training, and learning about future trends in the continuing education industry.
Trainer events: Continuing education and networking
The term transfer comes from the Latin “transferre” and means to bring across/to transfer. Thus, one can understand training transfer in various forms: as a form of one's own continuing education (developing existing knowledge and carrying it into the future) and as a form of networking (mutual exchange of news and information).
At trainer events, you benefit from both: colleagues reported on their best-practice experiences, experts provide recommendations for future concepts, and providers of various services give you an overview of possibilities and current trends. This way, you can optimize your own training and make it future-proof.
The comparison: Fair vs. Congress
What are the advantages of congresses or barcamps for trainers, and when is it worthwhile to visit a fair? At the end of January, blink.it was at LEARNTEC, the leading trade fair for digital education – we reported on that. The trainer congress is much smaller, more focused, and has a practical emphasis. Here’s a brief comparison of both formats:
| Fair | | Congress or Barcamp || ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- || Very heterogeneous audience; a large number of people | Who will I meet there? | Rather homogeneous audience; a smaller group of people with similar concepts and goals || Many information booths, concurrently held brief presentations | What is offered to me? | In-depth workshops; forums with information booths for information during breaks || Information: non-binding acquaintance with services and providers | What is the focus? | Continuing education and networking: deepen and exchange expertise |
So was the Trainer Congress 2018
On March 23rd and 24th, two generally identical congress days took place in Berlin. The concept: time slots with various workshops, from which visitors can freely choose, alternate with longer breaks for exchanging ideas with each other, for refreshments, and for information at exhibitor booths. In 2018, there were a total of 65 speakers and about 400 trainers participating each day.
Michael and Hans from blink.it were able to assist trainers particularly with their offerings around video creation. Many were interested in the “smallest studio in the world” – the blink.it kit and the associated studio@home online course, where trainers learn in a short time how to make professional videos with little effort and cost in their own four walls.
Further event highlights for trainers in 2018
Couldn’t make it? The Trainer Congress this year is over, but in the coming months, there are still several other interesting events planned, specifically designed for trainers:
Petersberg Trainer Days on April 13/14 in Bonn
BDVT Camp Essen on May 10/11 in Essen
Tips & Tools on September 2 in Cologne
Corporate Learning Camp on October 4/5 in Frankfurt
… and you can already register for the Trainer Congress 2019 and receive an early bird discount!
Get your calendar out right away and check the upcoming dates to secure your personal transfer!
