You’re a Peer Support professional. How can you get the best online training tools?

1 Assess your goals

Before you start looking for online training tools, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. What are your learning objectives? What skills do you want to improve or acquire? How will you measure your progress and outcomes? Having a specific and realistic goal will help you narrow down your options and focus on the most relevant and effective online training tools for Peer Support.

3 Evaluate the quality

When evaluating online training tools, you should consider the credentials and reputation of the provider or trainer, the content and design of the tool, the feedback from other users or learners, and the technical requirements and support. Look for tools based on evidence-based practices, aligned with the standards and ethics of Peer Support, and responsive to the needs and challenges of your field. This will ensure that you are using reliable, relevant, and updated training tools.

4 Seek opportunities for interaction

Online training can provide many advantages, such as connecting you with other Peer Support professionals from different locations and backgrounds. You can learn from their experiences and perspectives, as well as share your own, while building a network and support system to further your professional development and well-being. When selecting online training tools, look for opportunities to interact, such as live sessions or chats with the trainer or other learners, discussion forums or groups to exchange ideas and feedback, collaborative activities or projects to work with others, and peer mentoring or coaching for guidance and support.

5 Review and apply your learning

Finally, you should not forget to review and apply what you have learned from the online training tools. Online training can be effective only if you reinforce and transfer your learning to your practice. You should review the key concepts and skills you have learned, and reflect on how they relate to your goals and challenges. You should also apply your learning to your real-life situations, and observe the results and outcomes. You should seek feedback from your clients, colleagues, and supervisors, and identify areas for improvement or further learning.