Be Prepared 85 resources to help you see if one method stands out from the others (see Exhibit 4-3). You can select the key factors and assign values to them, then develop a decision matrix. In evaluating a particular train- ing package, values ranging from 1 to 10 can be assigned to such fac- tors as cost, number of people to be trained, frequency, applicability, format, and availability of trainers qualified to use the package. In this example, the highest value possible is 50. You may determine that a value as high as 40 will make the package a viable choice. Use of online training will likely result in a highly weighted score. Exhibit 4-3. Sample weighting factors for making selection decisions. Factor · Criticality of training · Number of participants · Frequency of delivering · Location of learners · Training materials High-Degree/ Weight · Urgent · Large · Often · Many locations · Must be customized Low-Degree/ Weight · Not urgent · Small · Once or infrequently · All or most at home office · Available off-the- shelf Selecting and Developing Experiential Exercise Interaction is one of the secrets to success in training. Learning the- ory, new and old, and brain-related research on what makes people successful add to our knowledge of how best to interact. Interac- tion can be between the learner and subject material or equipment (e.g., via the Internet), between the facilitator and learners (e.g., in the classroom), and between learners (e.g., text messaging). "All the above" is the best way. Any way interaction involving learners can be stimulated will help you succeed as a training facilitator. In short, experiential exercises are perhaps the best way people learn. (This concept is expanded in Step Five.) Varieties of Exercises There are many exercises to use with learners. Here are some com- mon ones: American Management Association www.amanet.org