Chapter 5 designing program
Program design refers to the process of planning and organizing a training program so it runs
smoothly and effectively. This ensures that the training meets its goals and helps employees
improve their skills.
Phases of Program Design
1. Pre-training:
o Prepare trainees: Get trainees excited and motivated to attend.
o Supportive work environment: Make sure the workplace encourages and
supports learning after the training.
2. Learning Events:
o Prepare training: Ensure that training materials, content, and the environment
are ready to help learning.
o Effective learning: Create a space where trainees can easily understand and apply
what they learn.
3. Post-training:
o Apply learning: Encourage trainees to use their new skills at work.
Choosing the Right Training Site
Training Room: This is where the training takes place.
o It should be comfortable, quiet, and free from interruptions.
o It needs enough space for trainees to move and have their own work area.
o Make sure everyone can see each other, the trainer, and any displays.
Important Room Characteristics:
Noise: Avoid distractions.
Lighting: Ensure the room is bright enough to see clearly but without glare.
Seating arrangements: Depending on the type of training, seating can be arranged in
different ways like classroom-style, conference-style, or horseshoe-shaped.
Making Training Effective
Self-direction: Allow trainees to control when, where, and how they learn.
Collaboration: Encourage trainees to work together and learn from each other.
Pretraining: Give an overview of what the training will cover so trainees know what to
expect.
Application assignments: Ask trainees to apply what they've learned to real work
problems.
Classroom management: Manage interactions and handle any disruptions.
Engaging Trainees:
To get trainees involved, you can:
Ask open-ended questions for discussion.
Use creative activities or games that connect to the training content.
Use role-playing exercises to practice new skills.
Curriculum Design
Curriculum: A complete program of study with multiple courses.
Course/Program: Covers specific learning goals and addresses particular skills.
Learning Objectives: These are the goals of the program. They are broad and describe
what you want trainees to achieve.
Curriculum Road Map:
A road map shows all the courses in a program and the order in which they should be taken. It
includes:
Course Purpose: What each course is trying to achieve.
Prerequisite Skills: Skills trainees need before starting a course.
Learning Objectives: What each course will help trainees learn.
Lesson Plans:
A lesson plan is like a roadmap for a single training session. It helps trainers stay on track,
ensures all activities are covered, and guarantees consistency in the training experience.
Choosing a Training Vendor:
When selecting a training consultant or vendor, companies often send out a Request for
Proposal (RFP). This outlines the training needs, the number of employees to be trained, and
other details like funding and expected results.
Transfer of Training:
This refers to how well trainees can apply what they learned to their actual job.
Near Transfer: Using what was learned in very similar situations at work.
Far Transfer: Applying learned skills in new or unexpected situations.
Manager Support for Training:
Manager support is crucial for making sure that employees apply what they’ve learned in
training. Managers should:
Encourage training participation.
Provide opportunities for trainees to use their new skills on the job.
Peer Support:
After training, having a group of peers to discuss and practice what they've learned helps trainees
stay motivated and apply their new skills.
Summary in Simpler Terms:
Program design is all about organizing and preparing for training that helps employees learn and
use new skills effectively. It involves creating the right environment, selecting the right materials
and methods, engaging trainees, and making sure managers and peers support the learning
process. The goal is to ensure trainees can transfer their learning to real work situations and
improve performance.
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