How do you mix formal and informal training for volunteers?

1 Formal training

Formal training refers to structured, planned, and standardized learning activities that are often delivered by experts or trainers. Formal training can include workshops, courses, webinars, manuals, or certifications that cover the essential topics and requirements for your volunteers. Formal training can help you provide consistent and clear information, assess your volunteers' competencies, and comply with legal or ethical standards. However, formal training can also be costly, time-consuming, and rigid, and may not address the specific needs or preferences of your volunteers.

3 Blended learning

Blended learning is a combination of formal and informal training that leverages the strengths and addresses the weaknesses of each method. Blended learning can help you create a more engaging, flexible, and effective training program for your volunteers that meets their diverse learning styles, goals, and needs. Blended learning can also help you optimize your resources, time, and staff by using a variety of formats, tools, and strategies. However, blended learning can also be challenging to design, implement, and coordinate, and may require more communication, collaboration, and support from your organization and your volunteers.

4 How to mix formal and informal training

There is no one-size-fits-all formula for mixing formal and informal training for volunteers, as it depends on your organization's mission, vision, values, and objectives, as well as your volunteers' roles, responsibilities, backgrounds, and expectations. However, here are some general steps and guidelines that can help you create a blended learning plan that works for you and your volunteers.

5 Step 1: Assess your needs and resources

The first step is to assess your needs and resources for training your volunteers. You need to identify the learning outcomes and competencies that your volunteers need to achieve, as well as the gaps and challenges that they face. You also need to evaluate the resources and constraints that you have for delivering training, such as budget, time, staff, equipment, space, or technology. This will help you determine the scope, content, and format of your training program, as well as the balance between formal and informal training methods.

6 Step 2: Design your training program

The second step is to design your training program based on your needs and resources assessment. You need to define the learning objectives, activities, materials, and assessments for each topic or module of your training program. You also need to decide how to integrate formal and informal training methods in a way that aligns with your learning outcomes and competencies, as well as your volunteers' preferences and needs. For example, you can use formal training to introduce the basic concepts and rules, and then use informal training to reinforce and apply them in practice.

7 Step 3: Deliver your training program

The third step is to deliver your training program using the methods and tools that you have chosen. You need to communicate the expectations and instructions for your training program to your volunteers, as well as provide them with the necessary support and feedback. You also need to facilitate the interaction and collaboration among your volunteers, as well as between your volunteers and your trainers or mentors. For example, you can use online platforms, social media, or mobile apps to share information, resources, and updates, as well as to encourage questions, discussions, and feedback.