Knowing what types of distractions the participants are facing and creating will help you see what can be done. Specifics matter.
Since we don't know any of the specifics I would say people pay attention to the most interesting thing in the room. How can your facilitators make the information more interesting than looking out the window, texting, side bars, etc...
Difficult participants almost always benefit from attention (there are exceptions.) Whether they are sleeping, talking, or scoffing, putting them centerstage (as note taker, demonstrator, etc...) will keep them more alert and on topic.
Send us some of the specifics and we'll see if we can help further.

In the design phase of the training (as really any phase) there are several things that need to be done -- first, grab attention with your opener, second, remember to engage your learner every 8 minutes with interaction, third, remember to chunk material together in smaller bytes.

There are alot more things you can do. I learned alot in just a 1 hour e-learning presentation by Bob Pike last month. I would strongly recommend taking one of the courses for Train the Trainer -- either the boot camp or the 101 session.

Thanks!

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