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‘Tell people and they forget. Teach people and they remember. Involve people and they learn.' Benjamin Franklin
What we believe
If 80% of learning is forgotten 24 hours after leaving the training room, then our job at ISHR is to ensure the training methodology we use aids deeper processing of the content explored. We do this by using participatory and interactive approaches which are grounded in adult-learning methodology.
ISHR believes that participation is essential for sustainable and successful implementation of the learning content. Our training courses are designed in such a way that encourages active learning and learner autonomy. If participants take ownership of their learning, they are more likely to build upon their existing strengths, develop new skills and competencies in order to meet their identified needs and priorities. They are also required to participate in peer-to-peer learning activities to ensure that mutual learning occurs.
The methods, tools and techniques we use during our training courses are designed so that participants come to appreciate, value and develop their own knowledge and skills. Adults bring a wealth of information and life experience to the learning situation. They need to connect the learning to their knowledge base and recognise the value of training. To help them do so, we try to draw out participants' knowledge and experience which is relevant to working at the international level. We do this by conducting a thorough needs assessment and by providing them with the space to share their experiences through group work and individual testimonies outlining participants' specific experiences.
We make training meaningful and applicable to their areas of work by using problem-oriented instruction such as case studies, simulations, role-plays and debates. These methodologies are supplemented by informal learning through attendance at the United Nations sessions and parallel events.
ISHR trainers
ISHR trainers are not only substantive experts in the field of human rights, they are also expert trainers. In order to maintain our reputation as service providers for high quality training courses and to encourage continued professional development (CPD), ISHR staff is required to attend and actively participate in in-house practical train-the-trainer courses delivered by the ISHR Training Specialist. During these courses, staff develop confident and effective approaches to training which include being able to identify factors which influence successful learning; identifying their own strengths as a trainer, and areas in which they can improve; being able to understand and apply interactive adult learning techniques as well as selecting training methodologies appropriate to the learners and their context. Staff members are also required to design and deliver training sessions and are given detailed feedback on their performance in group feedback sessions. We have incorporated train-the-trainer sessions into our training courses for human rights defenders in order that they will cascade the learning in their networks to multiply their impact.
As well as receiving feedback from the in-house training specialist and ISHR colleagues, we also carefully evaluate the courses we deliver to human rights defenders using a variety of evaluation tools. ISHR trainers work together to incorporate any lessons learnt into the design of future training courses and sessions. We also organise brainstorming and debriefing sessions in order to continuously strive for excellence.
Follow up
Training is only as good as the impact it has in practice, participants are therefore required to develop their own individual action projects which reflect their organisations’ interests and needs in order to implement their learning. Drawing from the knowledge and practical skills gained during the course, participants map out how their organisation could practically engage with the United Nations system to promote human rights in their countries. ISHR staff and sometimes former participants act as tutors and mentors in helping participants to make their plans a reality. Participants are then contacted after the course regarding the progress they have made in its implementation.
E-learning
ISHR launched a new E-Learning component for the Advanced Geneva Training Course, in March this year. The new E-Learning component, hosted on the online-learning platform ‘Moodle’, allows participants to access introductory reading materials beforehand and therefore come to Geneva fully prepared for the start of the course. In addition, it enables participants to get to know each other online, facilitates communication between the participants and ISHR itself, and provides a better follow-up system once the course is over.
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