Before you design a course is the best time to figure out where you want to go with your course as well as what learning formats you want to use. Below are the top 10 questions you need to ask before designing to maximize your design time and training efficacy. Answers for the blanks are at the end of this article.

1. What is the organizational ____________ ?

2. Who is the ________________________ ?

3. What do they need to learn? Is there a gap, overall importance or a future need?

4. Where are the clients located?

5. What ________________________ exist?

6. What is the timeline?

7. What other ________________________ _____ ________________ will be impacted?

8. What are the micro (new hires) and macro (new plant/equipment) needs for training?

9. What is the general ________________________ of those being trained?

10. Are participants _________ to, do they _________ to and are they_______________

to do what is being asked?

Asking questions is part of Step One in designing training. Each of the eight steps is addressed in Instructional Design for Participant-Centered Training a new workshop from The Bob Pike Group. For more information on this workshop, including cities and dates offered, click here.

1. need

2. audience

5. constraints

7. processes or systems

9. atmosphere

10. able, want, allowed