Project Instructions
The objective of this project is to develop a formal training workshop on a topic of interest to you. The goal is to use the formats and ideas from the textbook to create a result that can be used to train a group of employees on how to do a specific skill. This project, as a whole, counts as 35 % of your final grade.
The overall project is broken down into specific steps. Each step builds on the previous to help you create your final product. In the process of developing your formal training session, you will learn to analyze the needs of an organization, identify specific tasks or skills that need to be trained or have additional training, create and evaluate surveys, various teaching methods, and how to design a working lesson plan.
The training plan for Employee Training & Development will be due on Tuesday, December 1st by 11:59 p.m. in Blackboard. Make sure you are utilizing your textbook as a resource in the project.
Analysis Phase – Topic Selection
Analysis Phase – Training Needs Analysis
Analysis Phase – Task Analysis
Design Phase – Training Objectives
Design Phase – Training Method
Development Phase – Program Development Plan
Evaluation Phase – Training Evaluation Plan
Training Proposal
Step 1: Selecting a Topic & Company Name
The topic you select should be something you are familiar with. You will be creating a complete training workshop on this subject. Keep in mind that the goal of your training is to improve (teach and train) others in a process or procedure. I’m sure each of you has, at some time, been through a training session. Keep this in mind when deciding on a topic.
Past topics have included – how to sew a curtain, how to bake cupcakes, how to cook a food item(s), motorcycle safety, becoming a licensed real estate agent, kitchen safety, how to properly change a tire, proper police procedures in a traffic stop, and how to create a single-bud flower arrangement. As you can see the topics are varied and cover multiple areas of interest. The key to having a successful training workshop lies with selecting a topic that is right for you. The more knowledge you already have, the easier this assignment will be for you.
Next, once you select a topic of interest to you then decide on a fictitious company name. Your company name should be in alignment with the training topic & workshop. You will use the company name to introduce and create your training workshop.
Step #2: Conduct a Training Needs Assessment
In this section, you will create a survey to access the knowledge basis of your group of trainees. Use Chapter 3 to complete this assignment. Your Training Needs Analysis should include a needs assessment survey. You will create a needs interview using one or more of the formats provided in the textbook. As this is a class project, you will “conduct” the interview and have responses that support your project.
Determine how you will observe the learner needs.
Create and/or identify appropriate assessment tests to identify learner needs.
Determine how you will use the results of the assessment tests.
At this stage you should know what type of presentation you will be conducting. Will it be informative? Will it be teaching a specific skill? Will it be updating a current skill? How you put together your task analysis is determined by the type of presentation you will be giving. The task analysis helps you identify steps and break them down into manageable parts.
The example in the textbook is just that, an example. Your analysis may look similar but, depending on topic, may be completely different. There isn’t a set way that the analysis should look. At this point, it is the content that matters. Making sure you have covered all the bases and that each component is well thought out.
Note: Use sample Training Needs Analysis sample as a reference in the Project Information folder located under the Lesson Tab in Blackboard.
Step #4: Create a Task Analysis
Once you have the Needs Assessment completed, you will move to the Task Analysis. This is the step where you take your selected topic and break it down into specific steps.
Use a systematic procedure for the preparation of the project with a step-by-step outline listing of the skills, knowledge, and behaviors necessary to perform the skill. Did you conduct a needs assessment? How do you know this is a relevant topic for your audience and that they will gain something from it? This will include a written proposal containing the following:
Describe the functions, goals, employees, etc. of an organization. This organization can be actual or one you create. (Approximately 2 pages)
Design an instrument to assess the training needs of the employees to be trained. (Approximately 1-3 pages).
Summarize the “results” describing the skill needs in a dialog form identifying the implication of the “results” for training.
At this stage you should know what type of presentation you will be conducting. Will it be informative? Will it be teaching a specific skill? Will it be updating a current skill? How you put together your task analysis is determined by the type of presentation you will be giving. The task analysis helps you identify steps and break them down into manageable parts.
`The example in the textbook is just that, an example. Your analysis may look similar but, depending on topic, may be completely different. There isn’t a set way that the analysis should look. At this point, it is the content that matters. Making sure you have covered all the bases and that each component is well thought out.
Note: Use sample Task Analysis sample as a reference in the Project Information folder located under the Lesson Tab in Blackboard.
Step #5: Training Objectives
How do you know if you are headed in the right direction with your training? Do you know the overall objective of the presentation? What are the participants going to learn? You have selected your topic, completed an analysis that shows why the training is needed and you have identified specific skills that need to be addressed. Now, how do you determine if the training is achieving what you want it achieve? You set specific outcome objectives. This can be just a few simple objectives. Or, depending on your topic, can be detailed and lengthy.
Based on the needs analysis, develop 8 to 20 specific instruction/training objectives you would like to achieve through your training session.
Objectives should be SMART:
S – Specific
M – Measurable
A – Attainable
R – Realistic
T – Time Sensitive
Use Chapter 4 to put together your training objectives. Pay attention to your wording. Make sure to use appropriate verbs in your training objectives. Also, please refer to the project sample in the Project Information folder.
Your objectives will look something like this:
At the end of this training session trainees will be able to calculate the interest due on a 15 year amortized home mortgage.
At the end of this training session trainees will demonstrate the proper technique to dress an open hand wound.
At the end of this training session trainees will be able to identify five causes of high blood pressure.
Note: Use sample Training Objectives sample as a reference in the Project Information folder located under the Lesson Tab in Blackboard.
`Step #6: Selecting a Training Method/Creating a Lesson Plan
After you have determined what you want to achieve with your training session, you need to decide how you will actually teach the skill or transfer the knowledge to the trainee. Chapter 4, 5 and Chapter 7 walk you through the process of determining the training method best for your selected skill. This is the place to organize your content. Think about training sessions you have attended. How did it flow? Was material presented in a way that made it easy to follow and easy to learn? What method of teaching works best for you? What materials will be needed to properly conduct the training session? Determine the group size. Look at space, cost, etc. How will you deliver the training session?
Based on your selected topic, you may choose to use a lecture format. You might have better success using a group discussion. Chapter 7 provides the pros and cons to help you decide what the best method of delivery will be for your topic.
The lesson plan (Chapter 4) is simply a step-by-step method for teaching/training a specific skill or topic of interest. This is the section of the project where you can show your creativity. You are not limited to standing in front of a group and lecturing. You can incorporate PowerPoint, hands-on projects, videos, surveys, skills tests, role playing, etc. Think outside the box. You want to make your training interesting and active. Keep your trainees from being bored with repetitive material. Remember that people learn in different ways and that you may have to use a variety of training tools to ensure that the training session is reaching its objectives.
You will also include in your lesson plan any needs you might have. Select the training resources including equipment, facilities and training aids needed to successfully conduct this training session. The instructor must ensure that all training needs materials are available. Last minute planning usually results in poor instruction.
Use a variety of outside resources for help you develop your training session. You should have at least three references. Did you know that Wiki is NOT a legitimate resource? In the past, anyone could add to Wiki without the material being verified as accurate. Do you know how to use the Library to research your topic? As you research your topic, you should learn something you did not already know. Be careful to use the appropriate citations when you use material from an outside source. You don’t want to plagiarize.
What kind of resource material is best for your selected topic? In selecting your resources, you will also need to create your reference page.
You need to have at least three outside resources to support your training project. Unless your training session is for something you created totally on your own or is your own invention, you will need to use outside resources. For example, if you are training someone on measuring flour for a cake, we have to consider several things – who does the recipe belong to, are you recommending a specific brand of flour, etc. The recipe might be from a Betty Crocker cookbook. If so, you will have to show this on your reference page.
Note: Use sample Task Method/Lesson Plan sample as a reference in the Project Information folder located under the Lesson Tab in Blackboard.
Step #7: Development Phase – Trainers Guide and Letter of Proposal
You have selected your topic, completed the needs analysis, developed the teaching methods, determined all necessary teaching materials – space, computer, handouts, PowerPoint, etc. – , now it is time to create the instructors guide. This is a guide that makes it easy for anyone to teach the training session. It should be a step-by-step set of instructions. Look at the sample provided in the project file. Use this as a guide to create your own trainers guide. The guide is directly related to the PowerPoint slide show you are developing as a teaching tool.
Step #8: Training Proposal
This is an important step in the creation of a training project. You have completed your needs analysis. You know what needs to be included and how it should be presented. Now you need to convince the powers that be the training is necessary and beneficial.
You will take material you created in previous steps and insert into the proposal. Use the sample letter as a guide. Your pages may be more in length than shown in the sample. You will need to utilize material from other chapters to complete some of the outlined steps. The proposal should include the following:
Cover letter
Workshop TitleWorkshop description for promotional purposes (1 – 2 paragraphs)
Content Outline (brief description of your lesson plan)
Behavioral Objectives (revised from previous assignment)
Qualifications of the Trainer (1 – 2 paragraphs)
Cost-Benefit Analysis – you need to show the decision maker how the training will benefit the organization both financially and in productivity
You will begin your training proposal in a formal letter to the company or person who would make the decision to approve or disapprove the suggested training program. If you are not sure how to write a formal business letter, you will need to research and find out. The letter is often the key to a company accepting your training proposal.
Step #9: Evaluation Phase – Determining how you evaluate the success/failure of the training session
Use the material in Chapter 6 to develop a method of evaluating your training program. This can be any of a number of things. You can give an end-of-course questionnaire. You can do an “after-the-fact” online survey. You can go back to the “observation” method and actually view the skill in the workplace. It is up to you to decide what will work best for the training skill.
Training Plan Submission
Each student will submit a written paper/portfolio typed in Microsoft Word and submit it in Blackboard.
The written paper/portfolio will showcase your training project. You will be able to compile all the material you have created into one living document.
Letter of Introduction – Introduce yourself and give a brief overview of your training project.
Training Proposal – Use the revised/corrected version of your training proposal.
Learning Objectives – Include your learning objectives.
Needs Analysis/Task Analysis
Training Methods/Lesson Plan – Provide a detailed version of your training plan.
Trainers’ Guide
Accessories – Include any surveys, handouts or other training materials used.
