You've probably seen a few announcements for ATD-OC's Total Trainer: Creating Training program. If you've been a member for a few years, and have participated in Total Trainer before, you may have commented on its new name.

"Is this part of the ATD re-branding?" you may have wondered.

ATD-OC would like to assure you that it is not.

"We’re bringing 'Total Trainer' and 'Powerful Presentation Skills' under the same name," shared Anthony Harmetz, Past President of ATD-OC and Total Trainer project manager. "The thought is to bring both programs under the umbrella of the “Total Trainer University.” Other ongoing offerings that might one day be part of the Total Trainer University include a course on SAM and a course on developing elearning."

The two programs will now be called: 
  * Total Trainer: Creating Training (formerly “Total Trainer”)
  * Total Trainer: Delivering Training (formerly “Powerful Presentation Skills”)

But the name isn't the only thing that's been updated.

"We have quite a few volunteers to help with this year's program," says Anthony. "And the team has started working together earlier than usual. What this means to the program is that we will have the bandwidth to make some enhancements we've been wanting to make for some time."

Already in the works? A Total Trainer Glossary. 

"We are identifying terms from your presentation that are key in grasping the overall concept of your training topic." says Meghan Koyama, Total Trainer volunteer who has been diligently connecting with each of the Creating Training facilitators to capture their expertise in this resource.

But the biggest change will be the class project. 

"We’ve decided to try this new approach," says Anthony. "Instead of 3 or 4 small groups each creating brief presentations, the entire class will work together to create a two-hour training session which some class members will deliver on the final evening."

This will allow participants the opportunity to develop in the areas of most importance to them.

But perhaps most exciting? The team is working to develop training for a real client with a real need.  According to Anthony, they've conducted some initial planning with a training manager at a local Orange County company.

What hasn't changed:

"Total Trainer: Creating Training" continues to be taught by senior training professionals from the ATD-OC community.  Over a series of ten workshops, participants will learn about all facets of creating training from initial needs analysis through the evaluation of training. Topics will include: 

• Performance Consulting
• Needs Analysis
• Program Design
• Program Evaluation
• Document Design
• Facilitation
• Distance Learning

This is an exciting time for us as we take real steps to enhance a flagship ATD-OC program. We hope you join us, by registering for the event, or by sharing your Total Trainer experiences with our 2015 Total Trainer program volunteers at our Chapter meetings!

Our Total Trainer Program Team:
  * Carolyn Kelly
  * Brad Logue 
  * Andrea Plummer 
  * Meghan Koyama
  * Grace Valle
  * Don McGray
  * Angela Helmer 
  * Anthony Harmetz