Essential Tasks

Within each stage, there are essential tasks to be completed to progress through that stage. We give you information about why these tasks are important and how to ensure that they are being carried out. We do not tell you how to do these tasks—such information is beyond the scope of this handbook. Within each stage, there are “tips” to help put the tasks into action. Finally, at the end of the handbook we offer other ways the information can be used. 

Managing Training

• Confirm that the performance needs assessment has been conducted and that training will close the performance gap
• Plan, acquire, and manage resources to achieve training outcomes
• Select the training design team
• Establish a monitoring and evaluation strategy
• Manage training logistics
• Communicate with learners and their supervisors before training
• Provide followup support for learners and supervisors after training

Designing Training

• Verify the performance gap and goal of training
• Gather background information about the learners and identify the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need to acquire
• Identify content resources
• Write the learning objectives
• Develop the training plan
• Develop or adapt training materials
• Develop or adapt evaluation instruments

Delivering Training

• Establish and maintain credibility
• Conduct training in a responsive and collaborative way
• Create a learning environment where participants feel comfortable and safe.
• Provide supportive feedback
• Use effective communication and presentation skills
• Use effective facilitation skills
• Provide opportunities for practical application of knowledge and skills
• Monitor the process of training and make adjustments, as needed

Evaluating Training

• Determine learners’ satisfaction with training.
• Determine whether learners have met the learning objectives by giving and scoring knowledge evaluations
• Determine whether learners have met the learning objectives by giving and scoring skill evaluations
• Improve training using information from the knowledge and skill evaluations
• Monitor and evaluate performance on the job. 
• Determine the effectiveness of training as an intervention to improve performance