Developing a Training Program Framework

Determining the Structure of Corporate Education

May 27, 2009 Joni Rose

A training framework includes the delivery modes, instructional style, delivery style, audience definitions and content structure.

Before you focus on the content to include in a training program, build a framework for the training program. The framework identifies the structure of the program.

Delivery Mode(s)

Face2Face instruction i.e. instructor led in a classroom allows for participant interaction, body language clues and activities requiring physical participation. Instructors assigned to deliver the curriculum are more engaged as they deliver it in person. The main disadvantage to Face2Face instruction is that it has to be scheduled at a convenient time for participants and instructors.

Online instruction allows for materials to be delivered to various locations at any time and can provide some interaction with video conferencing or social networking tools. While online courses require an instructor to monitor student progress, upload discussion questions and provide tutoring when needed, the flexibility of this mode is ideal when schedules of instructors and participants clash. The main disadvantages of online instruction is that participants must have computer access and be computer literate to participate, no physical interaction preventing full communication by body language and costs of online curriculum development can mean a huge outlay initially.

Workbooks can deliver content without the need for an instructor or timeline. Workbooks are often used in distance education offerings when participant numbers are too few to justify online course development costs. The main disadvantage to workbooks is that it does not allow for participant interaction.

Often curriculum is delivered in “mixed modes” where two or more delivery modes are combined e.g. a mix of face2face and online delivery

Instructional Style

Self-paced – students set the pace for the learning. There is typically no set timeline for completion of the content. If an instructor is assigned, it is usually in the role of a tutor. Typically online and workbook delivery modes are used with self-paced instruction.

Instructor Led – the instructor determines pace and a timeline for completion of the curriculum. Instructors can lead face2face and online delivery modes.

Delivery Style

Interactive Group Work – discussions, games, brainstorming and simulations can all make group work interactive. Often the participants are divided into pairs to larger groups in order for group work to be completed.

Lecture – instructor led information sharing

Demonstration – instructor demonstrates a process in front of the group of participants.

Individual Work – work assigned to individual participants such as assignments (work sheets, research papers, readings etc.) and experiments.

Audience Definitions

Who is the audience for the training? What subgroups are included in the audience? For example, do you have a mix of roles (e.g. accounting, communications, marketing, product development, sales etc.), levels of responsibilities (front line, managers, executives) with the larger group?

Restrict Content to a Specific Group – Is there certain content that should be restricted to a specific group of participants? For example, if you are developing a company orientation training program, you may want to develop certain training modules specific for managers and supervisors and other modules for front line workers. You may also need to divide the modules based on roles e.g. a different module for the accounting department.

Open to a General Audience - Is there some content that everyone in the company (and perhaps external clients and stakeholders) would benefit from? Typically this content is the foundational content that covers training to common competencies within the larger group.

Content Structure

At this stage, you can start thinking about the content structure.

Module Themes – Start by determining themes based on common competencies and then role specific competencies. These themes then tie content topics together to create an outline for the content structure. Use bullets and headers to create a simple outline of the modules and the topics within.

Sequencing of Content – An important step in creating the outline of the content structure is determining the sequence of the modules. You may find that you are limited by other aspects of the framework such as the availability of instructors if the module is to be delivered face2face.

Building a training framework is an important part of creating a training program. It is important to consider the elements of the framework to ensure that the logistics and delivery options are considered so that the content can be molded to fit the framework. With a strong framework, the program will be well organized and the content will flow logically.

The copyright of the article Developing a Training Program Framework in Training/Professional Development is owned by Joni Rose. Permission to republish Developing a Training Program Framework in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Building a Training Framework