Designing Training Sessions in 8 Easy Steps

Designing Training Sessions in 8 Easy Steps
 

Designing and producing a training session can be a difficult task. Not only do you have to make sure the knowledge/skill you are training is factually correct but you also have to present it in a form that is easily digested by your learners.

There is a logical 8-step process that will ensure that you include everything you need to and the learning can be evaluated back against your session objectives.

Step 1 - Identifying the Training Need

Talk to the learners and their bosses and find out what they need to be doing differently as a result of the training. Is the need knowledge, skill or attitudinal based?

Step 2 - Setting Training Objectives

Write the objectives that you can realistically achieve given the number of learners you will be training and the time you have to train them in. The objectives should be written in behavioural terms (what they will be able to do at the end of the training) and reflect the knowledge, skill and attitude requirements identified in Step 1.

Step 3 - Evaluating Training Objectives

Now write the evaluation material that you will use to test that the learners have achieved the session objectives. Make sure that the evaluation proves that the learning has been taken on board.

Step 4 - Designing Course Structure

Look at the evaluation exercise and ask yourself, "What do the learners need to learn in order to pass my evaluation exercise?". The answer to this question is a list of subject matter and this list becomes the outline of the training session.

Step 5 - Writing Course Content

You are now ready to write the actual training material. Make sure your design includes variations of approach to suit all learning styles. Include exercises, activities, discussions, role plays, syndicate work, case studies etc. to break the learning up into bite sized chunks.

Step 6 - Planning your Introduction

Write the first thing you are going to do or say at the start of the session. Whatever you choose to do to start the whole thing off, bear in mind that a good dynamic start is more likely to lead to higher levels of concentration and motivation from the learners. It is a good idea for the start to make a valid point about the need that has been identified for this training.

Step 7 - Developing Group Dynamics

You may need to include an activity to enable delegates to get to know each other before the main part of the training starts. Use a process that is relevant to the objectives of the event and not just about each person introducing themselves. For example on a recruitment interviewing skills course I ask each learner to say three things about themselves - one of which must be a lie. Then the learners try to guess each other’s lie. The point here being that it is easy for job candidates to lie if the wrong types of questions are put to them.

Step 8 - Practise

Finally practise running the session with some colleagues and then ask them to give you feedback. This "walk-through" will help iron out any potential problems before you run it live.

 :For more reading:

http://blog.convergencetraining.com/how-to-create-an-effective-training-program-8-steps-to-success