How to Develop Training Plans?
One of the important steps in the training planning process is to develop a training plan that includes the following: i) tentative course title; ii) training scope; iii) target group; iv) key course topics and generic course activities; v) estimation of development time; vi) required resources; vii) course duration; and viii) budget. The training plan has two key purposes: to direct and focus your training
Components of a Training efforts, and to help make decisions about the training. A training plan can Plan alert you to potential problems and design constraints. For example, planning forces you to think about what you are going to do and what resources you will need about what you are going to do and what resources you will need to do it. The course project plan should incorporate the following elements:
- Tentative Course Title
- Definition of the Training Scope
- Identification of the Target Group
- Identification of Key Course Topics and Generic Course Activities
- Estimation of Development Time
- Identification of Required Resource
- Course Duration
- Outline of the Course Development Budget
- Tentative Course Title
The course should have a name that reflects its purpose.
- Definition of the Training Scope
The scope of the training should be defined in terms of general content boundaries. For example, the scope of a training course might be to introduce project features and the course might be to introduce features and the training course.
- Identification of the Target Group
The target group (trainees/participants) is whom the training is for. The plan should include the following: i) their current level of knowledge and skill; ii) the anticipated gaps in their knowledge and skill; iii) knowledge and skills they need to acquire; iv) how many people need to receive the knowledge and skill; v) how many people need to receive instruction; and vi) and what special considerations they might require in terms of shifts, hours, culture, language and geographic location.
- Identification of Key Course Topics and Generic Course Activities
Critical topics and activities that should be included in the course are called key components. Critical activities are instructional methods that should be included in the course. For example, instructor-led lecture, case studies based on actual stories from the field, group discussion, and workshop can be undertaken.
Questions about key components help form a wish list of topics. The analysis phase of the training development process will determine which topics are critical, useful to know to improve the level of knowledge, or missing from the list.
- Estimation of Development Time
Time may be the most important resource for a training planner. There never seems to be enough of it. Design decisions in a training plan are based on one of the two time alternatives: a non-negotiable delivery date, or an estimated delivery date. A non-negotiable delivery date drives design decisions. An estimated delivery date is derived from decisions on the course design.
When the training has a non-negotiable delivery date, the following table helps you determine on the time you can spend on each development step.
- Identification of Required Resources
The project plan must include human and capital resources required for all phases of the training, including design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation. They include indentifying project team members, subject matter experts, equipment, facilities, and services. Services include booking of the venue and accommodation, meals and printing.
- Course Duration
Duration refers to how often and for how long the course is to be delivered. The duration of the course can influence cost and resource decisions, as well as design and content development decisions. It can indicate a need for follow-up expenses as evaluation of the training course.
- Outline of the Course Development Budget
(1) Budget
The budget includes anticipated expenses such as fees of subject-matter experts, travel-related course attendance, equipment purchase or lease, facilities rental, printing training materials (text, presentation materials, and other references), and training kit (papers, pencils, and files).
Consider what you might need to outsource. Outsourcing should be considered when the cost of doing it yourself, which includes learning,
equipment, software is higher than an estimated cost from an official.
(2) Tools and Templates to Use
The training plan is a report. You can create it by using planning tools such as Project Manager, and spreadsheet programs such as Excel to create time lines and Work Breakdown Structure.
A training program should not be too heavy, so as to leave no time for the trainee to absorb the inputs. Neither should it be so light as to convey the impression that the training programme is not a serious endeavour. The programme should be stimulating enough, but must leave time and opportunity for reflection.