There are two factors to consider about the content of the training course:
— Selection of content.
— Sequencing of content.
Selection
Knowledge: What knowledge is required for fulfilling the needs of the learners? It is useful to divide the list into three categories:
— Must know
— Should know
— Could know (or ‘nice to know’)
All the knowledge that the learners must know has to be included in the content. Some of the knowledge that they should know and a limited amount of what they could know can be included. It is impossible to include everything!
Skills: What skills are required? A skills analysis may reveal these.
Attitudes: What attitudes or changes in attitudes are required? This needs careful research, through surveys, interviews and observation.
Once all the knowledge, skills and attitudes have been selected, it is necessary to organize them into a sequence.
Sequencing
There are four basic rules to follow when sequencing the content:
1. Move from the simple to the complex.
2. Use an existing logical organization. This may be chronological, topical or dependent on learning styles.
3. Move from the known to the unknown.
4. Cover the content in the order of job performance.
Having completed the selection and organization of the content of the course, the materials and methods should be selected.