Step 5: What For?

Step #5 of the 7 Steps to Developing a Training Plan is the “What for?” “What for” is creating the Workplace Outcome. Trainers are asked to provide sessions to address the knowledge and skills that fulfill the identified Workplace Outcome. The Workplace Outcome identifies what participants will be able to do when they return to their work environment. Effective training results in intentional implementation.

In order to identify the Workplace Outcome you need to make a list and identify what participants will be able to do upon returning to their workplace after attending The Early Childhood Learning Environment training session. Whether you are redesigning or leveling a current training session to a single level or creating a new single level session, it is very important for the trainer to identify the new skill participants will use back at their workplace after completing the training.  This skill is aligned with Core Content and becomes the workplace outcome.  Identifying and publicizing the workplace outcome and the level of training assists the trainee in selecting a training that is most appropriate for his or her identified needs.

Based on what you usually cover in your 2 hour The Early Childhood Learning Environment training the list of Workplace Outcomes are as follows:

• Arrange the physical space in a preschool classroom or home child care setting based on the principles of the learning environment for 3-5 year old children
• Describe the child development information that supports the principles of the learning environment for 3-5 year old children
• Select and arrange an appropriate variety of materials and equipment for 3-year-olds for each area in the physical setting
• Use appropriate storage strategies for materials being used by children ages 3-5 years
• Label storage space ad containers for materials, using a variety of labels
• Rotate materials based on child development information

Please refer to pg. 15 of your ?handout and answer the following questions:

In the new training, is it appropriate to address all of the outcomes on the list?

In the new training, how would you determine the core content competency level to target?

How would you determine what content and practice can be realistically covered in the requested 2 hour time frame?

From our original list of 6 outcomes, the Workplace Outcome you decide to focus on for this Level I training should be:

Arrange the physical space in a preschool classroom or home child care setting based on the principles of the learning environment for 3-5 year olds.

Next, match the selected Workplace Outcome to a Subject Area in Core Content.

(Hint: Learning Environment and Curriculum, sub heading Space and Furnishings)

Look at all of the Core Content competencies in the Subject Area that relate directly to the selected Workplace Outcome.

Select the most relevant Core Content competency within a single level of that Subject Area.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Finding a competency in Core Content to align with the workplace outcome justifies providing training on that topic.

Finally, looking at the competencies in Core Content helps the trainer see the progression of the topic from Level I through Level V and helps the trainer decide if the workplace outcome needs to be revised in order to best represent the level of the training.

In this case the level of training you need is Level I.

Once the most appropriate Core Content competency is selected, the trainer may need to revise the Workplace Outcome to best represent the level of training needed.

The Workplace Outcome that you selected:

Arrange the physical space in a preschool classroom or home child care setting based on the principles of the learning environment for 3-5 year olds.