# Presentation: 699381

## Session One   Training Needs Assessment

- Doug Schanne
- Assistant Director
- Office of Education and Data Management
- Division of Fire, Emergency and Building Services
- Department of Public Safety
- State of Connecticut

- 2006 National Workshop

## Introduction 

- A “Needs Assessment” is a critical first step in the development of an effective training program.
- Allows training objectives to be set by answering two simple questions:
- Who, if anyone, needs training?
- What training is needed?

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## Agenda

- What is a Needs Assessment?
- Methods for Determining “Need”,
- Surveying the Targeted Audience,
- Energy Code Impact Evaluations,
- Site Education Program.
- How Best to Deliver the Training.
- Summary

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## What is a Need Assessment

- Introduction to the Need.
- The who, what, when, where, why and how of training.

- How

- Train

- Goal

- Why

- Where

- Code

- What

- When

- Who

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## Introduction to the Need

- Need can be described as the “GAP” between what is currently in place and what is needed to be in place.
- Can be a current need or a future need.
- Can be identified in a number of different ways.

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## Gaps

- 	Gaps can include differences and discrepancies between:
- Present level and desired level of Code Compliance.
- Current level of code knowledge and the required level of code knowledge.
- What is expected to happen and what actually happens.

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## Survey the Target Audience

- Ask the target audience a series of questions.
- Must have very specific Goals and Objectives associated with subject area being addressed.
- Results can be used to assess levels of knowledge and code compliance.
- Can identify areas of training needs.
- Can identify past training and evaluate the learning impact on code compliance.

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## Target Audience

- Will effect the type of questions asked and choice of answers provided.
- Will help identify the minimum level of code knowledge.
- Sample of Target Audiences:
- Code Enforcement Officials
- Builders and Contractors
- Architects and Design Engineers
- Number of Responses will be affected by the importance the target audience places on the survey’s impact.

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## Sample Survey 

- Target Audience
-  Appointed fire code enforcement officials.
- Goal
- The survey was intended to assess the educational needs of appointed fire code enforcement officials associated with the New Fire Safety Code.

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## Sample Survey

- Objective
- Assess training needs for each part of the New Fire Safety Code Guidebook.
- Rank these training needs for each part of code from 1 to 5.
- 1 being the Highest Priority for training to 5 being the Lowest Priority for training.* *
- Evaluated level of official’s participation in past training programs.

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## Actual Responses

- 626 surveys were mailed out in the beginning of May 2006.
- 88 surveys were returned by the end of June 2006.
- Percent Returned: 14.1 %

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## Who Responded

- What does this tell us?

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## Survey Results 

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## Past Course Attendance

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## Energy Code Impact Evaluations

- Can be used to assess current construction practices.
- Can be compared to code to determine where training should focus.

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## Current Construction Practices

- Performance Evaluation – identifies weaknesses and areas of improvement associated with energy conservation.
- Performance Problems – can target areas where additional training is needed.
- Observations – observe current construction techniques and practices.
- Site Inspections – identifies areas of compliance and non-compliance to code.

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## 2001 Survey of Knowledge, Practices and Needs of Energy Code Officials in NH & RI

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## Comparing Practices to Code

- Construction and Inspection Practices:
- Insulation Values
- Window  U-values
- Pipe Insulations
- Vapor Barriers
- Heating Systems
- Duct Construction and Sealing
- Where to focus training.

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## Site Education Program

- Determine issues with code compliance through:
- Staff Interviews:
- Plan reviewers
- Inspectors
- Building Plan Review:
- Review of Plans and Specifications.
- Review Submitted Code Compliance Documents.
- Field Assessment:
- Evaluate field inspection process.

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## Site Education Program

- Must have very specific Goals and Objectives.
- Results can be used to assess level of code and construction knowledge of staff.
- Can identify areas of staff training needs.
- Can identify past training and evaluate the learning impact on code compliance.
- Multiple sites programs may be require to establish trends.

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## Staff Interviews

- Use of questions to verify staff ‘s knowledge level and understanding of the code.
- Discuss office policies and procedures *including but not limited to permit application, plan review, permit approval, inspections and certification of occupancies.*

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## Building Plan Review

- Review Building Plans and Specifications:
- Use plan review sheet to identify key areas of code compliance or non compliance.
- Compare plan review sheet with plan review process to identify discrepancies.
- Review submitted code compliance documents:
- REScheck
- COMcheck
- Other

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## Field Assessment

- Random selection of building sites throughout the jurisdiction.
- Various stages of construction.
- Residential and Commercial.
- Assess for Code Compliance Issues.
- Identification of Discrepancies between plans, permit and actual construction.

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## Close Out Meeting

- Review findings with staff.
- Institute changes in procedures and policies if necessary.
- In-service training for staff on code and updates as required.
- Establish process for future checks and balances.
- Evaluate site education program.

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## How Best to Deliver Training

- Classroom verses Field Training:
- Pros and Cons of Learning Environments.
- Target Audiences and their learning skills.
- Use of electronic media for training:
- Computer based training.
- Web based training.
- Assessing Adult Learning Styles:
- Establishing positive connections between new materials and individuals knowledge.

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## Summary - Needs Assessment

- A “Needs Assessment” is a critical first step in the development of training.
- Have very specific Goals and Objectives.
- Results will allows training objectives to be set by answering two simple questions:
- Who, if anyone, needs training?
- What training is needed?
- Taking it to the next step – “*Designing Training Programs for Your Target Audience”*

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