What are some key factors to consider in designing an effective training program?

• Note: The assessments in this course build upon each other to form a training and development program, so you are strongly encouraged to complete them in sequence.By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:
  • Competency 1: Assess an organization’s strategic plan for training.
    • Assess the strategic impact of the training topic on an organization.
  • Competency 2: Demonstrate effective training program design, development, and implementation.
    • Develop a training needs analysis for the topic.
    • Develop learning objectives for the training and development program.
  • Competency 4: Assess the impact of technology on an organization’s training strategy.
    • Assess how a distance learning module enhances a trainee’s learning experience.

  Context

• What trainees take away from a training and development program depends on three critical components:
  • The trainee’s characteristics: how they learn, what they already know, and their motivation to learn the material being presented.
  • The training design: the program itself.
  • The work environment.

  Since workplace training deals with adults, being well versed on how adults learn is key. There are many theories on adult learning, and they come from a variety of sources including psychology, education, and sociology. Another focus in your program design should be on learning styles. We learn in different ways—some of us listen and some take notes for example—and trainees will learn best when they know the objectives of the program. The outcomes of learning are wide-ranging, including verbal, intellectual, and motor skills, as well as cognitive strategies. To transfer what is learned in the training environment to the job environment, the training needs to be authentic—as real and identical to life and as meaningful (useful) to the trainee as possible.

• Questions to Consider

  As you work to complete this assessment, you may find it helpful to consider the questions below. You are encouraged to discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the business community, in order to deepen your understanding of the topics.

  • What are some key factors to consider in designing an effective training program?
  • What characteristics of a training design can motivate learning?
  • How can different trainee learning styles be accommodated?
  • Does it help to match teaching methods to learning styles?
  • How important is establishing specific training program objectives before moving into the design phase