Designing a training program involves a sequence of steps that can be grouped into five phases: conducting a needs assessment, defining training objectives, detailing program specifics, implementing the training and evaluating its effectiveness.
- Needs assessment – conduct a site audit (pages 8 and 29-31) and determine if employees have and are following appropriate procedures. Make needed site improvements and write/modify procedures prior to launching a training program.
- Instructional objectives – identify what training is needed to ensure procedures are being followed.
- Details – determine how, who, where and when you will train. Consider the following areas: explaining the environmental impact of pellet loss, defining the role each individual plays in affecting change and ensuring knowledge of appropriate procedures.
- Use OCS to design and develop the training program and program content.
- Select the techniques used to facilitate learning (crew meetings, handouts, video, website, etc.).
- Select the appropriate setting for your meetings.
- Prepare materials.
- Identify and train the instructors
- Create department goals.
- Implementation – Schedule classes, facilities, participants and instructors, deliver materials, conduct training.
- Evaluation – Determine participant reaction to the training, how much they learned and to what degree the department goals were met. Re-evaluate all procedures to assess the effectiveness of the OCS program annually.