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A lesson plan may remind you of being in school and having a teacher flip open a
plan book. That really is what you are doing here. A good lesson plan won’t just
keep your training on track; it helps you to ensure that you have included all of
the required elements in your training. In addition, a good plan has a few extra
elements to it that will help keep you on track.
The Introduction: Sometimes a trainer is so focused on delivering the training that they forget that they
also have to introduce themselves. Your introduction at the beginning of the session (whether you do it
yourself or someone else introduces you) helps to establish your credibility as a trainer.
Are you a subject matter expert, someone who has been where they are and has a good
understanding of their needs?
Is there something compelling about you to the participants that they need to know?
Wrap-Ups: If you can start your training by considering your wrap up, you will bring some
enhancements that other trainers don’t. For example, you’ll want to end your training with a strong call
to action so that participants make the intended changes to their behavior. Sometimes that means
providing them with that call to action in an empty form at the beginning of training so that they can
build it throughout the day. Other times, it means creating it as a part of the summary or evaluation.
Whatever way you decide to wrap up the day, this is an essential element of your training plan.
Activities: Activities are designed as places and times where learning takes place. They are also a way to
engage those different types of learners on levels they relate to, and allow for the self-directed learning
that you are designing to take place. Don’t just throw in an activity because you think it’s time; plan
things that are meaningful to your training. We’ll cover different types of activities later on in this
course.
Breaks: Planning breaks and meal times is as important as your training itself. Starting and ending
training on time – including the times that you design for breaks – shows your participants that you
value them. When it comes to breaks, you can also plan them strategically when you have exercises
taking place. Designing exercises that will be finished as a break starts means that people who finish up
early can leave the room and not distract the participants who want a few extra moments.
Lunches: Lunches are an interesting part of your training plan. If you can afford to have lunch provided
with the training, it’s a nice way to keep the group together and have them grow a little closer over meal
time conversation. If participants must bring their own lunch, encourage them to share the time
together, again for some connecting or networking. If you can avoid having your participants wander too
far at lunch (for example, by shopping or sightseeing if they are from out of town) then you can avoid
their commitment to the class leaving with them, and they will return on time.