# Presentation: 694252

## Designing Training Programs for Your Audience

- Shirley Muns
- Energy Systems Laboratory
- Texas A&M University System

## Menu

- Training Program Design (Meat)
- Training Options (Potatoes)
- Curriculum Design (Vegetables)
- Instructor Selection (Fat)

## Training Program Design

- Elements
- Completed needs assessment
- Who, if anyone, needs training?
- What training is needed?
- Goals and objectives
- How will training be delivered?
- Instructor led
- Self-taught
- Budget

## Target Audience

- Who is the target audience
- Building departments
- Inspectors, Plan Reviewers
- Design Professionals
- Architects, Engineers
- Construction Industry
- Developers, Contractors
- What is the GAP in knowledge
- The difference between what is                   currently in place and what is                       needed to be in place

## Gaps can include differences between

- Current level of code knowledge and the required level of code knowledge
- Present level and desired level of code compliance
- What is expected to happen and          what actually happens

## Goals and Objectives

- Base goals and objectives on the GAP
- Knowledge based
- Example - At the conclusion of the course the participant shall understand what type of projects fall under the residential provisions of the IECC
- Skills based
- Example - At the conclusion of the              program the participant will be able to    successfully input a house into the          RES*check* software

## Delivery Methods

- Audio/Visual
- In the classroom?
- In the field?
- Published material
- Printed material,
- Study Guides, flash cards
- Electronic media
- DVD, CD, VCR tapes
- Hands-on
- Computer based?
- Workshops?

## Training Methods

- Off-Site Class Room
- On-Site Class Room
- Media Training
- Computer Based Training
- Web Based Training
- With or without instructor

## Off-Site Class Room

- Advantages
- High degree of interaction
- Best suited for answering questions
- Best for attitude changing
- Disadvantage
- Cost per student
- Travel, etc.
- More time required
- Lost production time

## On-Site Classroom

- Advantages
- Uniform training of staff
- High degree of interaction
- Best suited for answering questions
- Best for attitude changing
- Disadvantages
- Site logistics
- Skeleton crews needed

## Media Training

- Advantages
- Low cost per student
- Several formats
- DVD, CD, VHS
- Disadvantages
- No interaction
- Can become outdated quickly
- Difficult to update
- Initial first cost

## Computer Based Training

- Advantages
- Low cost per student
- Easily accessible to student
- Self paced instruction
- Disadvantage
- Limited interaction
- Difficult to update
- Initial first cost
- Lack of familiarity of technology

## Web-Based Training

- Advantages
- Low cost per student
- Easily updated
- Accessible
- Uniform training of staff
- Disadvantages
- Limited or no interaction
- Lack of familiarity of technology

## Curriculum Design

- Design to be easily updated and modified
- Training programs are fluid and should evolve
- Modifications typically the result of
- Updated information
- Change in target audience
- Errors in the information
- Instructor preference
- Materials that just don’t work
- Difficult to get it right the first time

## Active verses Passive Learning

- Passive learning can achieve up to 10% retention rate
- “Death” by Power Point
- Active learning can achieve up to 90% retention rate
- Participants should “participate”
- Recommended 30% instructor               activity to 70% learner activity

## Active Learning Examples 

- Question and Answer
- Hands on plan review activities
- Developing input for RES*check* or COM*check *compliance runs
- In class field inspection problems
- Practice using Code tables

## Design for Mixed Training Methods

- Invest once in the creation of the material
- Electronic format can be used in
- Class room training
- Web Cast
- Computer based training
- Media training

## Design for Instruction

- Design for instructor considerations
- Design curriculum for trainers
- Presentation style
- Classroom or web based
- Instructor abilities
- Difficult if the instructor and/or type of program is unknown

## Instructor Selection

- Instructor is critical to success of program
- Ideal Instructor (Classroom)
- Subject matter expert
- Accomplished trainer
- Connects with audience
- Public speaking skills
- Ideal Instructor (Web cast)
- Subject matter expert
- Comfortable with the technology
- Accomplished trainer not as critical

## How Do You Pick the Right Training Method?

- Step One
- Who are the prospective students?
- New to industry
- Knowledge of building construction, but new to code aspects
- Experienced with construction and codes
- Step Two
- Is the training designed to be           knowledge based or skills based?

## How Do You Pick the Right Training Method?

- Step Three
- What level is the training designed for?
- Basic energy code requirements
- Code updates
- Advanced energy code topics
- Step Four
- Time limitations
- Budget limitations

## Summary

- Key Elements to Successful Training Program
- Base program on needs assessment
- Design program around goals and objectives
- Select appropriate training 	     program based on needs
- Design curriculum with more 		  than one media in mind