When developing and producing handouts for learning events, consider how the handouts will help the learner either refer to a point or remember the content of your instruction. Often visual cues remind people of things they are still working on retaining. Handouts can serve this purpose as well as provide material for later reference.
It is important when developing handout materials for a single event to have some design consistency from one handout to another. This allows the learners to identify the materials with the event and the content presented. In addition, handouts should be cleanly laid out so as to cause the least possible confusion. As a rule, long handouts are less effective than shorter one to two page handouts.
Some general guidelines to follow while developing handout materials are:
- Consider how this handout relates to skills being taught and tasks to be performed
- Title the handout and date it
- Identify the purpose of the handout
- Specify when and how the handout is to be used
- Reference any additional materials that are needed in using it
- Bold print, underline or capitalize to emphasize information
- Space information so it is easy to read
- Use short, active sentences
- Avoid unnecessary information
- Fully credit any source of information
Source: Ittner, Penny L. and Alex F. Douds. Train-the-Trainer: Practical Skills that Work. HRD Press. Amherst, MA: 1988
