My company is currently utilizing more and more subject matter experts as trainers. What are some great ways to develop these knowledgeable individuals into trainers that can develop and present classroom material?

Hi CM -- in addition to whatever info you get in this thread, I recommend using the FIND feature (above). Many have discussed this many times and you might find some good stuff about the topic already on the boards.

Be very, very careful in the selection process. That's really more important than how much time and effort you spend training them.

I suggest sending them to a "train the trainer" class so that they can get a hands on experience on delivery of training activity itself. New trainers usually have two main concerns (among others):
1. Do they know enough to be able to teach other about their subject (which affects their confidence)?
2. How can they effectively teach and speak in public (this also affects their confidence)

Anyone can learn new skills. Great trainers are not born, they are trained to become one. Those who want it more, get more. Most SMEs know their subject, so it is always better to get them practice the actual delivery of courses. As their confidence goes up, they can start to see how they should teach and express the knowledge they have in their head and with practice they get better at it.

Send them to similar courses as delegates and they can observe what other trainer do and then imitate.

Hi CM:

Getting SME to be effective teachers can be a challenge. Mostly because experts and novices process information in different ways. The key is to get the SMEs the skills necessary to convert their expertise into a usable package for the novice. I suggest some training on the four key adult learning principles: readiness, experience, autonomy, and action. I refer you to the book Telling Ain’t Training by Stolovitch and Keeps.

Good Luck!

Cj