3EPA Unittd State* Environmental Protection Agency Off ice of Solid Waste and Emergency Response DIRECTIVE NUMBER: 9013.00-2 ^ - X: J^X'' ^i TITLE:,.OSWER;TRAINING P^IES-A^D;"PROCEDURES; Volume " ' ._ ,' , - . ^ - - m * - ' ** ^^^^ ^ m v ^y ^L U-tii^^ ' ^L ,v':-:"-x" v/i;v.;and;:Volume^il: Appfiftdicies^ '.\^o ,:':- "-'" y '" - ;.v ;> '":.-'v''^ APPROVAL DATE:'-September' 30^ :i937 -V;;^V: ; >'r T-" f EFFECTIVE DATE: October i, " ."ORIGINATING.OFFICE:; Off ice''of/Solid1 Wasteland' .' . . '-:-'.. ' f;° .. .'-''.Emergency Response.'.' . '. . .B-FiNAL-'-"^..''r;'"^----'^-;' " - -:.v^v--n:C:';;v:%*v^-^S'n<^ .^-_..;4:-r^.V":^'v:;,-;'>->-':>;^^;vV 'V^-7?; r^^<;'SLTi'^.1jiJ^.-'*;Trfi. /-^?t"'->-^:^i.v-''.V *;3vt>1^'*<';-L:.,"^' -ifx^w'-"'.-:^^ ? -^ r^"--T /".?..*'"-'". "'" ',.- -' " * 'Or .,*/ -^ t". i ->'-':.' ' .i"'-.v_*v;r*r**i^'5:A'.*».">r.'1..-\iv"£.*.1 .a' *?' ;* '.V,.- r^ *J... o-"- "- -:-i 5.''.;_.'! *» &'?.' A.- ".'vr-'.-.'' " ,' .". \ '" » -V "" / .',-V - - ' :', '* "> -' ;-V '*' -7'' '"'y"'-"'"-" *.'Vir.fSj'.. .'-' ^f,.'*."' " Ti1,- >1 «;".. ! *.- " " L ''.''.' v.'i i" -\ .&.,-.- . ; t' i . " OSWER OSWER OSWER VE DIRECTIVE DIRECTIVE Dl ^£%iMi%^&^^ ------- untted ^ oswER Directive Initiation Request 1. Directive Number 9018.00-2 2. Originator Information Name of Contact Person Camille Lee Mail Code UH-562A Office Office of Progranj^eprtone Code Management c Technology 382-4431 3. Title OSWER TRAINING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, VOLUME 1 and VOLUIIE II: APPENDICIES 4. Summary of Directive (include brief statement of purpose) The purpose of this directive is to set policy and establish uniform procedures for *. conducting consistent coordinated training activities and provide clear definition of training roles and responsibilities for the various organizational entities within OSWER and the Regions. 5. Keywords Training Does This Directive Supersede Previous Directive(s)? 6a. b. Does It Supplement Previous Directive(s)? n No No Yes What directive (number, title) Yes What directive (number, title) 901G. 00-1 OSWER TRAINING STRATEGY Draft Level Final A - Signed by AA/DAA B -- Signed by Office Director C - For Review & Comment [jD-ln Developmen 8. Document to be distributed to States by Headquarters? | Yes X No This Request Meets OSWER Directives System Format Standards. 9. Signature of Lead Office Directives Coordinator n Date 10. Name'and Tijle of Appro J. UinsfcMI Date Ad SEP 3 0 I98T EPA Form l3iSf 17 (Rev. 5-87) Previous editions are-obsolete OSWER OSWER OSWER C VE DIRECTIVE DIRECTIVE DIRECTIVE ------- United States Office of Solid Waste September 1987 Environmental Protection and Emergency Response Agency (WH-562 A) Washington, DC 20460 &EPA Training policies°swERDlR9018002 and Procedures Volume I ------- 9018.00 -2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This document was prepared by International Business Services, Inc., 1090 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005 in partial fulfillment of requirements under Contract No. 68-01-7031 with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Additional support was provided by Evaluation Technologies, Inc. under Contract No. 68-01-7030. ------- 9018.00 -2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY General Provisions The purposes of this policy statement are to consolidate Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) training guidance into one basic reference, to provide a clear definition of the training responsibilities of various organizational entities within OSWER, and to set policies and establish procedures for conducting training activities in the following areas: a. Documenting training needs b. Reviewing and coordinating the development of required training c. Documenting instructional materials (Course Outline, Instructor and Student Guides, performance objectives, etc.) d. Delivering training e. Monitoring and evaluating training. These policies apply to OSWER technical and programmatic training sponsored by the Assistant Administrator's Office, the Program Offices or the Regional Offices that meets the criteria of being: (1) Critical need, and (2) Directly supportive of priority program objectives, and (3) Of an ongoing, long-term or continuous nature, and (4) Addressed to a large audience. Determining Training Needs OSWER policy requires an annual OSWER-wide review of training needs and establishes procedures for ongoing needs identification. Topics addressed in Chapter 2 include: Annual Training Needs Assessment to be conducted by the OSWER Training Coordinator in conjunction with the Program Offices and Regions. This yearly survey will provide information necessary for developing training plans and schedules and formulating budget estimates. Training Planning Document is to be completed by anyone proposing new training development efforts whenever the need arises. This form has been developed to provide a means for organizing new training development initiatives; and procedures have been established for coordination throughout OSWER in order to avoid redundancy and duplication of effort. ------- 9018.00 -2 Training Development Chapter 3 outlines OSWER policy on the manner in which training development projects will be conducted. This chapter includes policy regarding Annual Training Plans, documentation of training development activities, and regular reviews, of training materials. It also contains requirements for minimum standard contract specifications to be used in contracting for training development activities. The major policy requirement contained in this section is for the submission of Annual Training Plans by the Program Offices and Regions, as described below: Annual Training Plans (ATPs) are to be used to facilitate coordination and communication among OSWER organizations, to reduce redundancy and to ensure quality and consistency in OSWER training. ATPs include information regarding training objectives and related priority program goals, type and source of training, number of trainees, costs, etc. (see p. 14). Annual Training Plans are to be submitted by Headquarter1s Program Offices and Regional Waste Management and Environmental Services Divisions. Training Development and Evaluation General procedures for training delivery are found in Chapter 4, including scheduling, trainee -selection, and reporting requirements. Headquarters Program Offices or Regions sponsoring training deliveries are required to submit: OSUER Training Delivery Quarterly Reports, single-page reportswhich briefly describe any trainingdeliveries for the past quarter, including information similar to that requested in the Annual Training Plan. The reports are designed to allow for tracking of all current training activities, as well as a determination of the extent to which training plans are fulfilled. Training Coordinators for Headquarters Program Offices and the Regions are responsible for .submitting the reports. OSWER policy on training evaluation focuses on the extent to which training contributes to the achievement of OSWER program goals. OSWER is in the process of developing a comprehensive course monitoring and evaluation system. In the interim, course implementors (sponsors, facilitators, training coordinators) are required to submit: Summary Evaluation Reports on each course detailing student reactions to training content, design and delivery. Sample participant evaluation forms are included in Volume II, Appendix I. ii ------- 9018.00 -2 TABLE OF CONTENTS . VOLUME I:' OSWER TRAINING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SECTION PAGE 1. General Provisions 1 1.1 Purpose 1 1.2 Policy' .. 1 1.3 Scope 2 1.4 Definitions 3 1.5 Responsibilities 4 2. Determining Training Needs . 10 2.1 . Review of Training Needs 10 2.2 Identifying Needs TO 2.3 Documentation of Training Needs 11 2.4 Procedures 11 2.5 Determining Priorities 12 2.6 Relationship of Needs and Objectives 12 to Training Evaluation 3. Training Development 13 3.1 Statement of Policies 13 3.2 Documentation 14 3.3 Review of Instructional Materials 15 3.4 Contracting for Training 16 4. Training Delivery and Evaluation 18 4.1 General Requirements for Training Delivery 18 4.2 Evaluation 18 ------- 9018.00 -2 TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME "II: APPENDICES SECTION PAGE A. Training Planning Document A-l B. Review and Coordination of Training Initiatives B-l C. Managers Guide to Training Design and Delivery C-l D. Formats for Training Documentation D-l U.I Course Outline . D-l .0.2 Instructor Guide . D-4 D.3 Student Manual D-10 E. Standard Training Development Contract Specifications E-l F. Trainee Selection Guidelines F-l G. Participant Data Form G-l H. OSWER Training Delivery Quarterly Report H-l I. Evaluation Forms 1-1 ------- 9018.00 -2 CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS 1.1 Purpose. The purposes of this policy statement are to consolidate Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) training guidance into one basic reference, to provide a clear definition of the training responsibilities of various organizational entities within OSWER, and to set policies and establish procedures for conducting training activities in the following areas: a. Documenting training needs b. Reviewing and coordinating the development of required training c. Documenting instructional materials (Course Outline, Instructor and Student Guides, performance objectives, etc.) d. Delivering training .. e. Monitoring and evaluating training. As additional procedures are developed and implemented, Policy Directives Will be issued by the Assistant Administrator's Office. However, all program directors will follow the intent of policies contained in this document until such directives are issued. 1.2 Policy. a. It is OSWER's policy to plan and provide for the programmatic and technical training needs of Headquarter's and Regional employees in the hazardous and solid waste programs. Such training will focus on maintaining and improving skills needed by new and existing personnel in support of statutory and/or programmatic objectives. Training needs will be continually reviewed and a consistent training development process will be implemented to ensure the relevance of OSWER training. Evaluation of -1- ------- 9018.00 -2 training will be conducted to establish whether individual courses and programs are contributing to achievement of organizational missions and if the results are being obtained efficiently and effectively. b. In order to meet the diversity of training needs and the broad scope of efforts required to fulfill them, training will be developed primarily through OSWER Program Offices. Any training that is developed should address the Program Offices' priority objectives and shall be documented in accordance with OSWER procedures. OSWER training shall address the needs of all Headquarters, Regions and States to the extent necessary to insure an integrated federal and state training program in hazardous and solid waste. Other Federal agencies, local government and contractor employees may be included as training attendees. c. Training coordination and delivery will continue to be, primarily, the responsibility of Headquarters Program Offices and the Regions. . . .-'-. d. It is OSWER's policy to support and enhance State capabilities to meet their own training needs in support of priority program objectives. 1.3 Scope. These policies apply to OSWER technical and programmatic training sponsored by the Assistant Administrator's Office, the Program Offices or the Regional Offices that meets the criteria of being: (1) Critical need, and (2) Directly supportive of priority program objectives, and (3) Of an ongoing, long-term or continuous nature, and (4) Addressed to a large audience. All other internal EPA training and employee development initiatives are governed by the policies set forth in the "EPA Training and Development Manual" available through the Personnel Management Division (PM212) of the Office of Administration and Resources Management. -2- ------- 9018.00 -2 1.4 Definitions. a. Technical Training - a planned, prepared and coordinated program, course, curriculum, system or routine of instruction in fields which are directly related to scientific, professional and technical developments and to the performance of official duties, whether provided through internal or external sources. b. Programmatic Training - instruction directed to scientific, technical, managerial or administrative functions required to implement OSWER programs or to keep abreast of changes in program administration. c. OSWER-Sponsored - any training which is funded, in whole or in part, through Agency budget appropriations for training to the Assistant Administrator's Office, the Office of Emergency and Remedial Response (OERR), the Office of Solid Waste (OSW), the Office of Waste Programs Enforcement (OWPE), the Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST) ,and corresponding offices in the regions. d. Training Needs - a lack of skills or knowledge required to implement program goals and objectives. Training needs can be expressed in terms of knowledge or skills that are required to perform the job or through identifying a problem to which training may be constructively applied. e. Long-Term Training Need - refers to training needs which can be expected to recur over an extended period of time, due to turnover or size of the audience, regardless of the actual length of the training period. f. Evaluation - an assessment or analysis to determine whether the training course or programs are achieving the desired results in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. At a minimum, evaluative methods should include a careful analysis of: -3- ------- 9018.00 -2 (1) The extent to which specific training courses or programs produce desired changes in employee knowledge, skills, abilities or performance. (2) The extent to which the training courses or programs that are provided cover the areas of greatest needs. (3) The need for modification in the coverage or conduct of these training courses or programs to meet changing program needs. g. Performance Objective - A statement of the behavior expected from students at the end of training, including the conditions under which the task is performed and the degree of proficiency to be attained in precise, measurable terms. Unit objectives are based on the tasks addressed by the training and include the conditions and standards required for performance. Lesson objectives are based on the specific skills and knowledge required to perform the task and also contain conditions and standards. 1.5 Responsibilities. a. Assistant Administrator of OSWER. The Assistant Administrator, through the staff of the OSWER .Training Coordinator, is responsible for developing programmatic and technical training policies, strategies and guidance, and for ensuring that OSWER training is accomplished in an effective and efficient manner minimizing conflict or redundancy among Program Offices. In addition, the Assistant Administrator's Office will assume responsibility for coordinating Superfund training at the Headquarters level. Specifically, these responsibilities include: (1) Conducting OSWER-wide needs assessments in cooperation with Headquarters Program Offices, Regional training coordinators and subject matter experts, as required. -4- ------- 9018.00 -2 (2) Establishing a system for determining OSWER training priorities for training needs that combine skills required across program areas. (3) Providing chair to the OSWER Training Work Group to promote the coordination among OSWER Program Offices and Regions. (4) Establishing and implementing OSWER-wide technical and programmatic training policies and evaluating OSWER-sponsored training to ensure that those policies are carried out. (5) Developing Monitoring Systems to collect information on training activities (e.g., course title, number of deliveries, number of attendees, dates, locations, cost, etc.) to provide the basis for training budget formulation and to maintain data for accurate cost accounting. (6) Developing cross-cutting training curricula to meet the critical program needs for OSWER to ensure effective and efficient utilization of resources. (7) Developing and implementing an evaluation system to ensure that training contributes to program objectives in a cost-effective manner. (8) Establishing intra-agency and inter-agency relationships for sharing information and training resources, including other offices (e.g., Office of Human Resource. Development), other programs within'the Agency (e.g., Air, Water), as well as other Federal agencies (e.g., DOT, FEMA, USGS). (9) Establishing requirements for an integrated federal and state training program. (10) Reviewing Annual Training Plans and Training Planning Documents submitted by Program Offices and Regional Offices. -5- ------- 9018.00 -2 (11) Establishing training evaluation procedures to ensure the relevancy of OSWER training, to assess its impact on trainee performance, and to provide for periodic updating of instructional materials. b. Headquarters Office Directors. Office Directors for the Office of Emergency and Remedial Response (OERR), the Office of Solid Waste (OSW) the Office of Waste Programs Enforcement (OWPE) and the Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST) are responsible for the overall conduct of Program-specific training plan development, curriculum and course development, and training evaluation. Specifically, Program Offices are responsible for: (1) Providing a minimum of one full-time Training Coordinator in each office. (Except for OERR). (2) Interpreting program needs, providing input to overall OSWER needs assessments and establishing program training priorities. (3) Analyzing, designing and developing program-specific training. (4) Approving training budgets based on program-identified needs. (5) Approving Annual Training Plans and Training Planning Documents to be submitted to the OSWER Training Coordinator. c. Headquarters Program Office Training Coordinators. Office Directors for OSW, OWPE, OUST and Staff .Offices within OSWER should designate Training Coordinators. Headquarters Program Office Training Coordinators are responsible for the conduct of training .within their jurisdiction, and specifically for: (1) Preparing all Program Office training initiatives for approval of Office Directors. -6- ------- 9018.00 -2 (2) Coordinating Program Office assessment of training needs. (3) Overseeing the analysis, design, development and implementation of all program-specific training. (4) Scheduling Program Office training courses and providing that input to the OSWER Training Calendar, including course descriptions. (5) Developing training budgets based on Program Office needs and priorities. (6) Taking the lead oh assigned OSWER Training Work Group initiatives and reviewing project deliverables. (7) Completing and submitting .OSWER Training Delivery Quarterly Reports (see Chapter 4) to the OSWER Training Coordinator. (8) Reviewing and coordinating all relevant training projects sponsored by the Program Office, including contractor's statements of work or work assignments for compliance with OSWER policies. (9) Developing and submitting Annual Training Plans (see Chapter 2) to the OSWER Training Coordinator for review. (10) Ensuring that training is attended by the appropriate target audience. (11) Evaluating training and providing summary reports to the OSWER Training Coordinator in accordance with OSWER training evaluation procedures (see Chapter 4). -7- ------- 9018.00 -2 d. Regional Training Coordinators. Regional Waste Management Division Directors should designate Training Coordinators for the Regional Offices. Regional Training Coordinators are responsible for the conduct of training within their jurisdiction, and specifically for: (1) Preparing all Regional training initiatives for approval of Regional Division Directors. (2) Coordinating Regional assessment of training needs. (3) Overseeing the analysis, design, development and implementation of all region-specific training. (4) Scheduling Regional training courses and providing that input to the OSWER Training Calendar, including course descriptions. (5) Developing training budgets based on Regional needs and priorities. (6) Taking the lead on assigned OSWER Training Work Group initiatives and reviewing project deliverables. (7) Completing and submitting quarterly OSWER Training Delivery Reports (see Chapter 4) to the OSWER Training Coordinator. (8) Reviewing and coordinating all relevant training projects sponsored by the Region, including contractor's statements of work or work assignments for compliance with OSWER policies. (9) Developing and submitting Annual Training Plans (see Chapter 2) to the OSWER Training Coordinator for review. / ' (10) Ensuring that training is attended by the appropriate target audience. -8- ------- 9018.00 -2 (11) Evaluating training and providing summary reports to the OSWER Training Coordinator in accordance with OSWER training evaluation procedures (see Chapter 4). e. Subject Matter Experts. Technical personnel selected by the program offices to provide expert advice and guidance for programmatic and technical training developed within OSWER are responsible for ensuring that training is relevant to the knowledge and skill requirements of the target audience, and specifically for: (1) Defining objectives and content for fulfilling identified training needs and/or developing training materials. (2) Reviewing all developed training documents for technical accuracy and adherence to stated objectives. (3) Acting as instructors in selected courses or sessions. (4) Evaluating the technical adequacy of delivered courses and their relevancy to job performance. -9- ------- 9018.00 -2 CHAPTER 2. DETERMINING TRAINING NEEDS 2.1 Review of Training Needs. It is the policy of OSWER to maintain a system of continuous review, analysis and revision of specific training activities and goals to keep them in alignment with actual problems and current needs. This will be accomplished through: (1) An annual review of training needs, and (2) Ongoing needs identification procedures. The purpose of both types of needs assessments within OSWER is to identify existing and foreseeable organizational training needs, and thereby provide a realistic basis upon which to plan, program and direct training activities toward the achievement of the OSWER mission. 2.2 Identifying Needs. Each Program Office is responsible for ensuring that a continuous effort "is made to identify both .individual and organizational needs related to present and anticipated program requirements. To ensure the most effective use of program funds, management must give priority attention to those needs which will improve the performance of employees in fulfilling program objectives. There are four primary ways that needs may come to the attention of managers and supervisors: a. Expressed need for information b. Change of responsibilities c. New responsibilities, and d. Performance discrepancies In addition to a lack of skill and knowledge, training may also be required due to administrative, legislative or regulatory mandates. Training needs are best expressed in terms of competencies (skills and knowledge) needed to perform essential functions. Each office should identify desired changes in performance which are expected to result from training. -10- ------- 9018.00 -2 2.3 Documentation of Training Needs. a. Annual Review. The annual review of training needs required by EPA policy will be carried out by the Assistant Administrator's Office with input from the Program Offices and the Regions. A training needs assessment questionnaire requesting estimates of the number and type of employees requiring training in various areas will be circulated among OSWER Office Directors, Regional Waste Management Division Directors, and Environmental Services Division Directors. OSWER will conduct the annual needs assessment in order to obtain information necessary for: Developing training plans and schedules for available courses; Determining the need for course development activities; and Formulating OSWER budget estimates for training. b. Ongoing Needs Determination. All new training initiatives must be documented by the individual who proposes to manage development, using the format provided in Appendix A -- Training Planning Document (TPD), and coordinated through Program Office or Regional Training Coordinator. 2.4 Procedures. When a potential new training requirement has been identified, a TPD will be developed by the proposer and submitted to the appropriate training coordinator. A "new training requirement" refers to any training that is not available through existing courses. Major revisions to existing training materials for content or presentation in a different format will also require completion of a TPD. The TPD is designed as a problem-solving tool to assist in analyzing the potential training requirement to determine the scope and objectives of the training and to provide an initial cost estimate. Training Coordinators will review the TPD for completeness and submit it for preliminary approval to the appropriate Regional or Headquarters -11- ------- 9018.00 -2 Branch Chief or Division Director. The TPD will then be submitted to the OSWER Training Coordinator for review and recommendations. As necessary, the TPD will be circulated among Training Work Group Members for coordination. When needs cross the Program Offices and/or Regions, the affected offices will be requested to collaborate in the training development effort, thereby reducing redundancy and duplication of effort and allowing determination of the most effective delivery strategy. After review and coordination by OSWER, the TPD will be forwarded to the appropriate Regional Waste Management Division Director or Headquarter's Office Director for final approval. A more detailed discussion of procedures for the review and coordination of TPDs is contained in Appendix B. a. Regions. Regional offices are expected to complete a TPD only if a potential training need can be expected to meet the criteria listed in Section 1.3 above, or if OSWER funding will be requested. Region-specific training will be excluded. When requested, the OSWER training staff, will be available to work with the Regional Training Coordinator and Regional subject matter experts in developing the training to ensure that regional needs are met. b. Headquarters Program Offices. For training initiated by a Program Office, the TPD will be reviewed by the Program Office Training Coordinator and approved by the appropriate Branch Chief or Division Director before being submitted to the OSWER Training Coordinator. The OSWER Training Coordinator will review, coordinate and concur upon all TPDs to determine any cross-cutting needs among Program Offices or other organizations. If necessary, various offices will be requested to collaborate on training to meet more than one training need. Final approval rests with the Office Director, who will assign a priority and establish funding for training development. 2.5 Determining Priorities. Headquarters Office Directors and Regional Waste Management Division Directors are responsible for establishing -12- ------- 9018.00 -2 priorities for the development and delivery of needed training. Prioritization shall be based on criticality of training, program requirements or objectives, size of audience, and extent of ongoing need. 2.6 Relationship of Needs and Objectives to Training Evaluation. The initial identification of a training need serves as the basis for defining appropriate training course objectives and determining appropriate delivery strategies. Such objectives, whenever practical, should define the behavior or performance to be attained. Following completion of the training, the evaluation process should furnish the necessary feedback as to whether the desired performance objectives have been attained, and should help identify modifications to the training that would achieve the initial objective. -13- ------- 9018.00 -2 CHAPTER 3. TRAINING DEVELOPMENT 3.1 Statement of Policies. a. Annual Training Plan. Each Headquarters Program Office, Regional Waste Management Division and Regional Environmental Services Division shall submit an Annual Training Plan to the OSWER Training Coordinator for review. The purposes of this report are to facilitate communication and coordination among OSWER organizations, to reduce or eliminate duplication of effort, and to ensure the quality and consistency of OSWER training. The Annual Training Plan will describe all training initiatives that the Headquarters Program Office, Regional Waste Management Division, or Regional Environmental Services Division intends to conduct or develop during the upcoming fiscal year. The following information shall be included in the annual plan: Statement describing organizational training objective and related priority program goal to be achieved. Determination of level of priority or criticality to accomplish program goal (i.e. 1- must know, 2 - need to know, 3 - nice to know). Titles and brief description of relevant courses selected to fulfill program goal. Source of training (includes in-house, contractor or commercially available courses). t Number of deliveries, including date and location, if known. Number of target trainees by job title or responsibilities expected to attend each course. -14- ------- 9018.00 -2 t Description of any training development efforts that can be anticipated (a Training Planning Document will be required for 'all development efforts, see Section 2.4). Proposed delivery strategy per course, e.g., lecture, videotape, train-the-trainer, etc. Estimated costs for each delivery or development effort planned. b. Development Process. All training courses and programs sponsored by OSWER will be developed using a systematic process which is based on job requirements and consistent with the attached guidelines (See Appendix C -- Manager's Guide to Training Design and Delivery). These basic guidelines, together with the requirements set forth below, shall be followed in developing training courses or programs. The concepts contained in Chapter 2 of this document should serve as the basis for initiating needed training. Appropriate types and methods of -training described in Appendix C, which effectively and economically meet training needs and requirements shall be used. Designated Training Coordinators should be available at Headquarters and Regional levels to assist in developing training courses and programs to meet documented training needs. c. Review and Approval. All technical or programmatic training developed within the OSWER organization must be reviewed by the OSWER Training Coordinator. Approval will be granted by the appropriate Office or Division Director. 3.2 Documentation. a. Required Documentation. All OSWER-sponsored training will have the following documentation, as a minimum: -15- ------- 9018.00 -2 (1) Course Outline * (2) Instructor Guide * (3) Student Manual * (4) Audiovisual materials required to conduct training (5) Logistics sheet listing the equipment, supplies and facilities required to conduct the course * See formats included in Appendix D. b. Required Copies. Training developers shall submit three (3) copies of all instructional materials to the OSWER Training Coordinator's office. 3.3 Review of Instructional Materials. a. Subject Matter Expert(s). Headquarters Program Offices and Regional Offices will be required to provide subject matter expert!s) to review all developed materials for technical accuracy and relevancy to job functions of the target audience. b. Training Coordinator. Appropriate Training Coordinators will provide a review of developed materials to determine the appropriateness of instructional methods proposed, consistency of materials and objectives, and adequacy of stated performance objectives. 3.4 Contracting for Training. a. All courses and programs developed under existing technical contracts shall include minimum standard training specifications (See Appendix E), in addition to project specific requirements. -16- ------- 9018.00 -2 b. When requested, training will be developed under the central training support contract maintained by the Assistant Administrator's Office. Program Offices and/or Regions will be expected to provide funding and technical oversight for training projects they initiate. The Assistant Administrator's Office will support independent initiatives and provide overall contract management. -17- ------- 9018.00 -2 CHAPTER 4. TRAINING DELIVERY AND EVALUATION 4.1 General Requirements for Training Delivery a. Scheduling Courses. Headquarters and Regional Training Coordinators are responsible for scheduling delivery for all OSWER training, and for providing schedules and course descriptions to the'OSWER Training Coordinator for inclusion in the Quarterly Calendar. These coordinators also responsible for ensuring EPA representation at any agency-sponsored training. b. Trainee Selection. Course implementers (training coordinators, facilitators, or logisticians) are responsible for ensuring that training is attended by the appropriate target audience and that limited training slots are filled by those individuals capable of utilizing the training most effectively. Attendance may include other Federal agencies,- local governments or contractors, depending upon program objectives and availability of resources. Appendices F and_ G contain suggested guidelines for trainee selection and a sample participant registration form. c. Instructor Qualifications. (Reserved) d. Reporting Requirements. Headquarters and Regional Training Coordinators shall submit an OSWER Training Delivery Quarterly Report to the OSWER Training Coordinator within 30 days of the end of each fiscal quarter (see Appendix H). 4.2 Evaluation. The OSWER Training Coordinator will be responsible for the evaluation of OSWER training programs with respect to overall system planning, implementation, documentation, and compliance with OSWER policy. The evaluation of training is intended to establish whether "OSWER training -18- ------- 9018.00 -2 courses are contributing to the achievement of organizational missions and objectives. Included in the evaluation process will be a periodic review of ongoing training to ensure its continued utility. a. Evaluation Procedures. OSWER is in the process of developing a comprehensive course monitoring and evaluation process. The system will be designed to provide a single source of information on training activities and allow comparisons among various training courses and programs. Prior to implementation of the new system, evaluation procedures will include but not be limited to: (1) Observers. For selected training, OSWER will assign one or more qualified observers to attend the training and provide a comprehensive report on the content, design and delivery methods employed, as well as the instructional methods and materials used. (2) Student Evaluations. Training Coordinators, are responsible for ensuring that participant questionnaires which contain questions regarding course content, design and delivery be made available to attendees at each session. An optional standard form is included in Appendix I. The information contained on completed evaluation forms should be summarized and a report submitted to the OSWER Training Coordinator. (3) Impact Assessments. Three to six months following training, a subset of course attendees and selected supervisors will be requested to complete the follow-up questionnaire also found in Appendix I. This form contains questions designed to assess the extent to which training has been useful in fulfilling job functions. This information will also be summarized and a final training impact assessment will be submitted to the OSWER Training Coordinator. -19- ------- 9018.00 -2 b. Review of Training Materials. (1) Revisions. All OSWER-sponsored training shall receive minor revisions as required. Minor revisions are defined as updating of content which impacts lesson-related performance objectives. A major revision review will be conducted when required due to technical or programmatic changes in course objectives, content, or delivery strategy. Major revisions are subject to Headquarters Program Office approval and coordination through the OSWER Training Work Group. (2) Existing Courses and Programs. Instructional materials (including detailed course outlines) for ongoing OSWER training shall be subject to review by the OSWER Training Coordinator to ensure compliance with OSWER policies. Course outlines shall include performance objectives which are job-related, measurable and observable. Review shall take place on an annual basis or as necessary. -20- ------- United States Office of Solid Waste September 1987 Environmental Protection and Emergency Response Agency (WH-562 A) Washington, DC 20460 SEPA Training Policies and Procedures Volume II: Appendicies ------- 9018.00 -2 TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME I: OSWER TRAINING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES SECTION PAGE 1. General Provisions 1 1.1 Purpose 1 1.2 Policy 1 1.3 Scope 2 1.4 Definitions 3 1.5 Responsibilities 4 2. Determining Training Needs ' 10 2.1 Review of Training Needs . 10 2.2 Identifying Needs 10 2.3 Documentation of Training Needs 11 . 2.4 Procedures 11 2.5 Determining Priorities 12 2.6 Relationship of Needs and Objectives 12 to Training Evaluation 3. Training Development 13 3.1 Statement of Policies 13 3.2 Documentation 14 3.3 Review of Instructional Materials 15 3.4 Contracting for Training 16 4. Training Delivery and Evaluation 18 4.1 General Requirements for Training Delivery 18 4.2 Evaluation 18 ------- 9018.00 -2 TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME II: APPENDICES SECTION PAGE A. Training Planning Document A-1 B. Review and Coordination of Training Initiatives B-l C. Managers Guide to Training Design and Delivery C-l D. Formats for Tra.ining Documentation D-l D.I Course Outline D-l D.2 Instructor Guide D-4 D.3 Student Manual D-10 E. Standard Training Development Contract Specifications E-l F. Trainee Selection Guidelines F-l G. Participant Data Form G-l H. OSWER Training Delivery Quarterly Report H-l I. Evaluation Forms 1-1 ------- 9018.00 -2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This document was prepared by International Business Services, Inc., 1090 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005 in partial fulfillment of requirements under Contract No. 68-01-7031 with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Additional support was provided by Evaluation Technologies, Inc. under Contract No. 68-01-7030. ------- 9018.00 -2 APPENDIX A TRAINING PLANNING DOCUMENT ------- 9018.00 -2 U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING PLANNING DOCUMENT Instructions: Please provide a description and rationale for any proposed training initiatives utilizing the following format. PART I - DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION 1. Issuing Office/Retion: 2. (a) Preparer: (b) Telephone/Mail Code: 3. (a) Training Coordinator: (b) Telephone/Mail Code: 4. Proposed Course Title or Subject Area: 5. Total Number of Participants Requiring Training: 6. Is OSWER funding assistance requested? If so, what is the estimated project budget? $_ (See Instructional Cost Worksheet Attached.) ------- 9018.00 -2 PART II - INSTRUCTIONS These instructions describe the points that should be addressed in completing the items in Part II Rationale. 1. Problem Definition Address the reason you believe training is needed What is happening that shouldn't be, or what isn't hap- pening that should? Why is training the appropriate solution, and what are possible alternate solutions (other than training)? Document the specific evidence that convinced you the need was valid. 2. Target Audience Who requires the training? Please provide job titles and/or responsibilities What is the audience's back- ground? Will the training be targeted to new or experienced personnel? Where are they located? The more diverse the target audience, the more difficult it will be to successfully relate the course to the jobs of par- ticipants. Try to. ensure that the audience will share a need for specific skills. 3. Overall Course Objectives In general terms, what is the purpose of the training? What will it enable participants to do? You should be able to state clearly what the course will accomplish. Explain how increased skills and knowledge addressed by the training will improve performance of a specific function for a specific target audience. 4. Proposed Content of Training Provide an outline of the proposed content areas to be addressed by the training. Which subjects are really relevant to job performance? This may be determined by listing major job tasks and identifying the skills and knowledge needed to perform each task, 5. Length of Course Allowing for approximately six hours of actual instruction per day, estimate the number of days needed for training to meet your goal. Keep in mind that it is essential that instructors have time to address questions and that students are allowed time for class activities and exercises. 6. Recommended Resources Is a course, orothertraining medium, like this available? Research any sources of training that might have an existing course appropriate to your needs either within EPA orthrough commercial sources. If you do not know of an existing course, try to identify resources that could help develop or deliver the course. 7. Recommended Subject Matter Experts Who do you know that would be available to provide technical direction to the course? this should be a person or persons well versed in the subject matter who would be able to relate knowledge and skill needs to the audience's job requirements. Include name, identifying information and phone number for one or more subject matter experts who can be relied upon to review course materials. 8. Estimated Costs The major cost factor to be considered is the cost of new course development or revisions to existing materials. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect that 40 hours of development time will be required for each one hour of classroom time. This will be considerably less if existing materials can be adapted for use. If a contractor is to be used for course development an average of $50 per hour can be used for a rough estimate. Delivery costs will vary depending upon the number of target audience members who will be able to attend each session. Considering the type of training you have in mind, highly interactive or predominantly lecture, plan the number of students who can attend each delivery, and develop an estimate of the number of deliveries needed. Delivery costs will also vary on the basis of needs for any specialized equipment required for training, and the number of instructors expected to be needed. A cost worksheet is attached to assist in developing estimates for standard courses Other types of train- ing, such as self-instructional manuals or video taped presentations, will require other methods for cost determination. ------- 9018.00 -2 PART II - RATIONALE A statement addressing each of the following items in order is requested. Please use additional pages as needed. See Part II - Instructions for a description of points to be addressed in each item. Use continuation sheets as necessary. 1. Problem Definition 2. Target Audience 3. Overall Course Objectives 4. Proposed Content of Training ------- 9018.00 -2 5. Length of Course 6. Recoranended Resources 7. Recommended Subject Matter Experts 8. Estimated Costs (See Worksheet) ------- 9018.00 -2 SIGNATURES 1. Prepared by: Date: 2. Branch Chief or Division Director NAME DATE 3. OSWER Training Coordinator NAME DATE Recommendations: 4. Office Director or Waste Management Division Director HAMT DATE ------- 9018.00 -2 INSTRUCTIONAL COST WORKSHEET 1. DEVELOPMENT COSTS A. Contractor or In-House Development Length of course (Hours) x 40 hrs. development time/each B. Materials Revision Hours to revise existing materials hour of course x 40 Equals Development Hours = x $50/hr. average x 50_ Equals Total Development Cost = x $50/hr. for contractor x 50 Equals Total Revision Cost = TOTAL DEVELOPMENT COST (A or B above) $ 2. DELIVERY COSTS A. Instructor Expense . J200/day average Instructor .Fees - $ 200 x number of days of course x x number of instructors x TOTAL INSTRUCTOR EXPENSE = $ B. Travel and Per Diem Cost $400 average travel costs per delivery $ 400 x number of instructors x Equals Travel Expense = Plus + $110 per day Per Diem $ 110 x number of days x Equals Per Diem Expense TOTAL TRAVEL AND PER DIEM COST = $ Instructional Materials Number of pages in student manual x .10 per page (Ave. 300) x .10 x number of students x COST OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS = $ NOTE: Contractors are generally restricted from engaging in any printing involving more than 5,000 units of any one page or 25,0000 units in the aggregate of multiple pages. ------- 9018.00 -2 INSTRUCTIONAL COST WORKSHEET (Continued) Facilities and Equipment Rental Rental for training facility depends on number of students and availability. Cost per day of facilities ($350 avg) x number of days Equals Facility Cost Plus Cost of Rental Equipment (overhead, projector, etc.) ($100 avg.) x number of days Equals Rental Equipment TOTAL FACILITY & EQUIPMENT EXPENSE E. Other Costs This could include costs for purchase or rental of specialized equipment, or other miscellaneous costs not included elsewhere. TOTAL OTHER COSTS $ TOTAL DELIVERY COSTS (A+B+C+D+E) ' = $_ 3. TOTAL DELIVERY EXPENSE Total Delivery Cost (above) x number of deliveries x TOTAL DELIVERY EXPENSE = $" 4. TOTAL ESTIMATED COST Development Costs (Item 1) + Total Delivery Expense (Item 3) + TOTAL ESTIMATED COST = $" NOTE: Average cost figures provided above are "rule-of-thumb" estimates. Use actual costs to the extent they are known. ------- 9018.00 -2 APPENDIX B REVIEW AND COORDINATION OF TRAINING INITIATIVES ------- 9018.00 r REVIEW AND COORDINATION OF TRAINING INITIATIVES IN OSWER These procedures have been developed in order to: (1) facilitate coordination of training activities among OSWER Program Offices and the Regions, (2) impose minimum quality control processes for training development, and (3) to serve as a basis for decisions regarding funding of courses to be sponsored or assisted by the Assistant Administrator's Office. The affected Program Offices include: Office of Emergency and Remedial Response (OERR), Office of Solid Waste (OSW),^Office of Waste Programs Enforcement (OWPE), Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST) and the Staff Office for the Chemical Emergency Preparedness Program (CEPP). Although slight variations exist (as noted below) depending upon the source of the initiative, all persons . desiring to initiate new training activities within OSWER are requested to follow the steps listed below. 1. Complete Training Planning Document (TPD) (see Appendix A) to assure appropriate planning and to communicate appropriate information regarding the proposed training. The TPD will then be submitted to: (a) Program Office Training Coordinator for courses being initiated at Headquarters, or (b) Regional Training Coordinator for training proposed by the Regions. 2. Obtain Preliminary Approval. The appropriate Program or Regional Training Coordinator will review the TPD for completeness and forward it to the appropriate Headquarters or Regional Branch Chief or Division Director for preliminary approval. The document will then be submitted to the OSWER Training Coordinator for coordination through the OSWER Training Coordination Work Group. The OSWER B-l ------- 9018.00 -2 Training Coordination Work Group is a steering committee composed of representatives of each Headquarters Program Office, ten EPA regions, and a national and state representative of the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO). 3. Review by OSWER Training Coordinator. The TPD will be reviewed by the OSWER Training Coordinator and by members of the OSWER Training Coordination Work Group to insure coordination among Program Offices and Regions. (a) If it is determined that the proposed training can serve more than the purpose for which it is intended, negotiations with other relevant offices or organizations will then be conducted. Such training will be developed by Headquarters in cooperation with relevant offices. (b) If the proposed training is determined to be duplicative of other efforts, recommendations will be made by the work group as to where the needed training can be obtained. (c) If it is determined that the need to be addressed by the proposed training can best be addressed by methods other than course development and training (e.g., change in procedures, provision of technical assistance, etc.), recommendations for alternative solutions will be provided. (d) Otherwise, the OSWER Training Coordinator will sign-off on the proposal to indicate that coordination review has taken place. In any case, coordination through the OSWER Training Work Group will serve to conserve resources and eliminate duplication of effort. This step will also serve to alert OSWER and the Program Offices of anticipated budget needs and upcoming technical review requirements. B-2 ------- 9018.00 -2 4. Concurrence and Approvals. The OSWER Training Coordinator will concur with the TPD once coordination is complete. The next step is to obtain the approval of the appropriate Office or Division Director, who will be responsible for determining project priority and obtaining necessary funds. 5. Authorization. Following coordination through the Work Group, authorization for the expenditure of training funds should be sought. This step includes the development of a Work Assignment for a contractor utilizing the standard contract specifications to be found in Appendix E, if course development is to be supported through extramural funds. The OSWER dedicated training support contract is the vehicle of choice for OSWER-sponsored courses. For in-house development, the same standard course development procedures (described in Appendix E) are expected to be followed to the extent possible. 6. Review of Training Materials. Following the development of course materials, two mandatory reviews must be conducted. (a) Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review the course materials for technical accuracy and relevance to job performance goals. Within Headquarters, SMEs will be designated by the Program Office. For courses developed in the Regions, appropriate SMEs must be identified by the proposer. (b) Training Coordinator Review. All course materials will be reviewed by the appropriate Program Office or OSWER Training Coordinator to ensure consistency with OSWER policy and to assess the consistency among objectives, content and criterion tests (if any). B-3 ------- 9018.00 -2 7. Scheduling of Training. As soon as possible after the initiation of course development, training schedules will be established. All course-sponsors are required to submit in a timely manner relevant descriptive information and schedules to the Program Office Training Coordinator or the OSWER Training Coordinator, as appropriate, for inclusion in the Quarterly Calendar. B-4 ------- 9018.00 -2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This document was prepared by International Business Services, Inc., 1090 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005 in partial fulfillment of requirements under Contract No. 68-01-7031 with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Additional support was provided by Evaluation Technologies, Inc. under Contract No. 68-01-7030. ------- 9018.00 -2 APPENDIX C MANAGER'S GUIDE TO TRAINING DESIGN AND DELIVERY ------- 9018.00 -2 MANAGER'S GUIDE TO TRAINING DESIGN AND DELIVERY Introduction Each year, EPA managers provide a variety of training for EPA personnel in technical and non-technical areas. One of the roles of a program manager or coordinator is to represent the organization's interest and attempt to ensure that a quality product is provided. In many cases, managers are not greatly involved in the process of actually reviewing, adapting, or designing training programs once the training provider has been selected; it is felt that is the contractor's job. However, managers and their staff have critical expertise to contributeknowledge of the organization and the course's proposed target audience. This brief document is intended to explain the issues involved in course design and delivery in order to ensure the organization's needs and interests are well represented in 'the process of training selection or design. By spending training dollars on truly effective training, it is possible to. increase an organization's efficiency and avoid waste. The purpose of this document is to provide assistance in the monitoring of training projects to ensure that the training dollars really yield the desired results. Overview The concept of a "systems" approach in engineering is one in which each of the variables or subsets of an entire system are analyzed as subsystems in themselves. In recent years, the term "systems approach" has been applied to the design of courses, which also depend for effectiveness on the analysis of many variables, such as the learner and the organization. This document discusses the impact of key variables on training programs. It begins with a discussion of the characteristics of effective training. It proceeds to an analysis of the basic elements of the C-l ------- 9018.00 -2 training process from planning to implementation and ongoing delivery, or "institutionalization" of the program. Topics included in the discussion are need definition, predevelopment analysis, design, development, validation, revision, and ongoing delivery and control. Characteristics of Effective Training Training is not an end in itself. The key questions are whether the material presented is retained by students, whether it is used, and whether the designed impact has been achieved. Research has identified a number of characteristics of effective training. These are as follows: a. Training application is clear. Trainees are most likely to remember material if the training has a specified intended use. Trainees "tune out" presentations that do not seem useful. b. Questions are incorporated to focus attention. c. Examples are provided for concepts presented. d. Students are given experience using material presented. They are apt to apply to the job what they have already done in class. e. The learning situation resembles the job situation. Ideally, if the end result of a program is that participants should be able to determine whether lab reports adhere to quality control standards, students should review sample lab reports in class. In teaching students to use breathing apparatus, fire departments often incorporate smokefilled mazes in training. In learning the consequences of decisions in an emergency, simulations may be more effective than case studies. However, the costs of closely approximating work conditions are relatively high in the second C-2 ------- 9018.00 -2 and third examples, and consideration must be given to the importance of the training, the level of retention needed, and resources available. At any event, preference should generally be given to the closest feasible proximity to job performance, except when training focuses on specific aspects of a task that must be isolated from the larger task to achieve emphasis. f. The material learned is used in the work place. The rule that guides memory is "use it or lose it." g. Training provided is well-structured. Students must also be able to perceive the structure. Use of structured outlines that include key words but leave space for notes free student attention from deciphering new words, guessing spelling, or catching up with listing items to follow what the instructor is actually saying. h. Finally, students are involved in the training. When they are participants in the training process memory is increased. Using A Systems Approach A "systems approach" can either be closed, carefully prescribing each step in training design, or open, allowing for modifications in approach based on situations! variables. There are common elements to each model that may be readily identified and used as the basis of a general discussion. The advantage of a systems approach is that the design of a course is specifically tailored to a specific audience in a specific situation. This "engineered" product will focus the learners' attention on areas critical to their actual jobs, improving motivation and retention. When a high-priority training need is involved, and the need is so job-specific as to preclude use of materials already developed, a full-scale course C-3 ------- 9018.00 -2 design effort based on the systems approach may be the most cost-effective approach to ensuring organizational needs are met. The elements of the systems approach to training as presented here are as follows: (1) Need definition (2) Predevelopment analysis (3) Design (4) Development (5) Validation (6) Revision (7)' Ongoing delivery and control 1. Need Definition The training development process is initiated by a perception of need. It is at this preliminary stage need definition -- that many training programs go wrong before they are started. Training is never cost-effective, if it is not needed. Too often any performance deficiency is read as a training need and treated as such, when in fact the problems noted may be related to performance barriers in the organization or extraneous factors such as hiring policies or changing legal requirements. Before initiating training, the following basic questions must be clearly answered: (1) Is the need for improved performance due to a lack of knowledge or skill as opposed to a lack of motivation or organizational barriers to performance? If it is not a skill deficiency, the problem is not a training problem and money spent on training will not be a wise investment. (2) Would approaches less costly than training, such as on-the-job coaching by fellow workers or a "job aid" to assist in task performance, work equally well? To be effective, job aids must C-4 ------- 9018.00 -2 be appropriate in sequence of information and time required to the job itself. For example, an index to hazardous materials intended for emergency use must be designed such that the material in question may be located quickly and key information highlighted for rapid retrieval. In short, it is important to be sure that the task is not being performed as desired because of factors that can be changed through training. If funding and time do not permit a full-scale needs assessment based on well-designed sampling strategies, it is important to call several persons in a position to know about the needed training before proceeding further with vendor selection. The concept of the issues the training should address may change radically. a. Change of responsibilities The way responsibilities are discharged may be changed because of new legal requirements or internal regulations, new equipment, new scientific knowledge, or changes in the conditions under which a job is performed. A task analysis should be compared as a guide to training planning. b. New responsibilities Training should be considered when new responsibilties are created for employees. As for changed responsibilties a detailed task analysis is needed to identify appropriate training in new areas. (See predevelopment analysis.) c. Expressed need for information Employees may feel further information would help them improve job performance. This is most likely to occur in highly technical areas in which managers are selected primarily for C-5 ------- 9018.00 -2 administrative expertise rather than detailed familiarity with technical tasks. Perhaps the most frequent error in training preparations is failure to consult the target audience. d. Performance discrepancies When workers are having trouble performing tasks as well as expected, training may -Improve performance. However, causes of poor performance other than lack of skills or knowledge should be ruled out before a training need is identified. These might include poor directions, improper hiring, or external problems interfering with task performance. Confirm the problem to be a training problem by consulting the target audience directly wherever possible. 2. Predevelopment Analysis Effective training must be appropriate to its audience. A course on hazardous materials designed for fire officers might not be appropriate for EPA representatives, since the focus might be on incident command issues even though the same technical information on hazardous materials behavior was conveyed. Varying levels of detail may be required in this phase depending on how unique the tasks are on which training is available. In many cases organizational studies exist that can be used in lieu of new efforts. Information such as needs assessment, job descriptions, organizational charts, pertinent regulations, and organizational policy and procedures in the training area should be shared with the contractor. The major areas of required information are: a. Job performance requirements. It is important to identify the level of performance required on the job to avoid insufficient or excessive training and to identify criteria on which the success of the program will be judged. C-6 ------- 9018.00 -2 b. Organizational characteristics. Training must be appropriate to the organization in which it occurs and reflect organizational values and priorities. c. Specific tasks on which training is required. An analysis of specific tasks performed by the target audience is essential to defining training objectives. Task analysis may be based on observation of the target group performing the tasks on which training is needed, simulated task performance by others, analysis based on written data (as in technical manuals), interviews with the workers, or surveys. The nature of the task is critical to the selection of the method and lack of data may lead to a decision that, will not improve performance. The factors considered in predevelopment analysis are not "academic" considerations, but factors that may be expected to have a significant impact on the overall effectiveness of the proposed training. Many programs have failed as a result of inadequate or poorly conducted preliminary analysis. Even if the purpose is to select a "package" program and financial restrictions preclude any significant adaptations in course support materials (such as overheads or slides), the communication of available material in any of the categories discussed above will enable the trainer to relate better to the audience, to anticipate questions and concerns, and to adjust the emphasis of materials. 3. Design Design of the program involves specifying objectives, determining the sequence and timing of subject areas, and selecting appropriate methods and technology. Programs that do not specify objectives are frequently less cost-effective. Objectives are generally phrased to express the behavior expected from the student at the end of the course, and specify basic "ABCDs"-the Audience expected to perform the task, the Behavior expected, the Conditions under which the task is performed, and the Degree of proficiency required. A "criterion-referenced" objective is one that C-7 ------- 9018.00 -2 describes the required proficiency the student is expected to attain in precise, measurable terms. As an example, Robert F. Mager, a leader in the field of training design, said: Given a compass, ruler, and paper be able to construct and bisect any given angle larger than five degrees. Bisections must be accurate to one degree. The last sentence offers a criterion for successful performance. The issue of subject sequence is also addressed at the design phase. Failure to sequence material logically can lead to students being lost through large portions of the course. Effective presentation tends to progress from old to new, simple to complex, familiar to unknown, first in time to last in time. Another reason for predevelopment analysis is to assist the training . professional in sequencing material in a way that builds logically from what the student already knows. Appropriate timing of all subjects is also critical to success. More material presented does not necessarily mean more material retained! Instructional methods are procedures used in training that are selected according to the type of student performance specified in course objectives. In selecting methods, the primary guiding principle is to replicate the actual performance of the task as the student will carry it out. For example, if a task requires the student to analyze something that is seen, such as a microorganism, slides or other visual media must be used as opposed to verbal description. Methods fall into three primary groups: Presentation Demonstration » Application Each of these groups is appropriate in the context of certain specific educational purposes, and one is not intrinsically preferable to others. C-8 ------- 9018.00 -2 a. Presentation Methods Presentation methods involve content reinforced by visual elements as needed. The material to be learned is described and explained in a logical sequence. Lecture is the primary example of a presentation mode used without supplementary media. It can cause boredom and poor retention when used without supplementary media. It is also dependent upon the instructor, which makes standardized presentation difficult. Its effectiveness may be reinforced, however, by the use of proven techniques such as: Embedded questions posed in the lecture to spur learner interest and involvement. t Structured note-taking outlines to reinforce key words. Combination with other media and methods. Presentation methods are useful in transmitting knowledge (as opposed to skills) to large groups, or in providing standard information to a homogenous'group. Such methods are appropriate for objectives that require students to "describe," "explain," or "recognize." It is difficult to plan a presentation at a level entirely suitable to the needs of a large group, however, so most are best combined with interactive elements. For example, videotaped lectures are most effective when facilitated by a trainer who can lead activities applying lecture material, or when used in conjunction with technology that enables students to ask questions. Presentation is not a means of effectively teaching a skill, especially one involving psychokinetic elements; application methods must be employed. Presentation methods will continue to be central to most OSWER training. Other methods should be used to ensure student retention and use of material. C-9 ------- 9018.00 -2 b. Demonstration Methods Demonstration methods require the instructor to model a specific procedure or set of procedures. Demonstration may be used, for example, to illustrate the use of a piece of equipment such as a breathing apparatus, crane, or control panel, or to model a decision- making process using a case study. Like presentation, demonstration is led by an instructor, but often has a higher level of student interest because it focuses on something specific. Where physical actions are involved, repetition is needed to ensure retention. Demonstration may be performed using models (such as a small-scale replica of a piece of equipment, or a theoretical model such as a site map) or actual equipment. Sometimes, use of a model is preferable because of improved visibility. Demonstration modes are advisable when a motor skill is required or when specific procedures must be carried out. In OSWER programs, demonstration modes are preferred when new technologies become available. c. Application Methods Application methods build from presentation methods to show how a given concept applies to a specific situation. Instructors use application method when examples are used to bring home points (a means of increasing both understanding and retention). A variety of techniques designed to show applications involve students by enabling them to test their mastery of the material presented. (1) Case studies are situations presented for analysis. Participants -are asked to identify problems, analyze contributing factors, and propose appropriate procedures. Case studies are used in OSWER training to show applications of concepts such as risk assessments. C-10 ------- 9018.00 -2 (2) Role-plays require students to act out parts based on real life situations. They are used when interactive skills are required, as in communications or public relations training. Role-plays may be presented for student analysis. Students can participate in role-plays with other group members. In the context of OSWER training, role- playing may be found in courses such as community relations. (3) Brainstorming is used to promote class participation in problem-solving. Students provide responses which are initially accepted noncritically, and later developed analytically. (4) Action plans require students to implement material presented in class within a specific job context. This approach involves the preparation of a . time.line and is appropriate in courses such as contingency planning. (5) Simulations involve realistic representations of situations. They allow students to practice performances in areas in which real world mistakes would be costly or dangerous. Altered time scales permit a closer scrutiny of conditions. They also allow time to practice complex actions. A computer simulation designed to test student capability to make a decision can immediately "notice" and react to student error. (6) Problem-solving activities offer a wide range of possibilities. Consensus-seeking methods such as the Delphi approach or the use of standard man calculations to determine the level of toxic exposure are examples of problem-solving activities. Problem-solving activities are critical whenever the objective requires refinement of decision-making skills. C-11 ------- 9018.00 -2 (7) Examples are illustrations of a concept offered by student or instructor, and may be either presented in lecture or elicited through discussion. Frequently a "plan of instruction" or "course design document" is prepared prior to training development. This plan offers a chance to "troubleshoot" if course objectives are inappropriate. A design document specifies objectives, units, content areas, method and timing. It is similar to an architectural plan. Catching an error in the design phase may save thousands of dollars compared to the cost of corrections after the course is complete. 4. Development Instructional materials are prepared at the development stage, including manuals for instructor or student and media support. It is important to ensure that those assembling the course have access both to technical experts and experts in training methods and materials development. 5. Validation Training effectiveness is determined by a validating process referred to as course evaluation. This section will address the following questions: Why evaluate training programs? What should evaluation cover? How is evaluation data collected? What are evaluation criteria? a. The purposes of evaluations may be driven by a number of forces. Change may be measured by means of pre- and post-training achievement tests. In addition, achievement measures may be used at C-12 ------- 9018.00 -2 Intervals following training to test material retention. Changes in attitude, skill, knowledge, and behavor may be measured to provide a basis for assessing the organizational impact of training. Evaluation may provide feedback in identifying the appropriate training method. This is sometimes referred to as the diagnostic aspect of evaluation. Audiovisuals, instructional strategies, printed materials, and other teaching aids are assessed within this area. The purpose of cost-benefit approach to training evaluation is to justify the existence of the program. The efficiency of different training techniques is based-upon the expenditure required. Evaluation data may be used by management to demonstrate the productivity of a program. Evaluations provide a basis for management decisions. b. What should evaluation cover? Typically, the following types of data may be collected: t Participant demographics Achievement of course objectives Measures of reaction to training materials Worth of training. c. How is evaluation data collected? Evaluation data may be collected by a variety of methods such as: t Questionnaires Interviews Observations. C-13 ------- 9018.00 -2 d. What are evaluation criteria? Evaluation criteria define what constitutes a successful course. -Criteria help to standardize course evaluation data, screening evaluator bias from the results. Recommendations are drawn from quantitative data and are thus supported by "hard" rather than soft evidence. 6. Revision At this stage of the development process, instructional materials are refined and improved. Effective non-biased evaluations are essential to guide revision. 7. Ongoing Delivery and Control Once post-pilot revisions are complete, it is necessary to monitor ongoing deliveries. Technical advances may challenge the accuracy of the material. Conclusion A manager, has a critical role to play in the selection or planning of .effective courses. Often, training duties must compete with other, more immediate tasks which offer more tangible rewards. Yet, the importance of effective training has been proven again and again. By spending training dollars on sound educational programs, a manager can make a significant contribution to the organization's effectiveness. C-14 ------- 9018.00 -2 D.I COURSE OUTLINE FORM AND INSTRUCTIONS The Course Outline is a complete source document describing the training requirement in sufficient detail to enable initiation of course development activities. This document outlines the scope, content, duration and schedule for courses. The content outlines are used to organize the course of instruction to ensure that all requested topics are included and adequately covered within the course. The Course Outline includes sections detailing: The rationale, purpose, course objective and any special requirements for the planned course Detailed outlines of the units of instruction to be included in the course scope A time plan representing the projected time required to adequately cover the material to be presented t Plans for training evaluation activities t Proposed methods for delivery of the training to the target audience. The Course Outline shall be prepared in the following format: 1. Title Page. This page shall contain the complete title of the course, with no abbreviations, the name and address of the contractor or office, the contract number (if appropriate), the course length in hours or days, and the date prepared. 2. Forward. This shall be a statement of the purpose and rationale for the training. Rationale shall be related to the course itself, not simply the course content. D-l ------- 9018.00 -2 APPENDIX D FORMATS FOR TRAINING DOCUMENTATION D.I Course Outline D.2 Instructor Guide D.3 Student Manual ------- 9018.00 -2 3. Course Data Page. This page shall Include the following: t Course Objective - A general statement of who is to be trained to perform what, to what degree of qualifications, where, and under what general conditions. Special Requirements - Recommended physical requirements, such as facilities for simulation exercise, laboratory or other highly specialized equipment or setting. Qualifications - Describe any limitations to attendance including recommended prerequisite training. Instructional Materials - Listing of proposed instructional materials such as Instructor/Lesson Guides, Student's Guide, training aids, and reference materials. 4. Summary, Outline of Instruction. The Outline of Instruction summary shall contain an outline of each major unit of instruction within the training course. It shall list the amount of classroom and practical application time, and the total time allocated for each major unit of instruction. It shall further list the total hours planned for the classroom, the total hours planned for practical application, and the total course hours. Training course complexity, content, and length shall be determining factors as to the length and number of units listed in the end product. 5. Units of Instruction. The description of the units of instruction should include a comprehensive listing, of the content items to be included in the training activity. Each unit of instruction will list, in detail, the major topics to be covered, the time allocation for the unit, and the general instructional methodology to be used. In the development of the general instruction methodology, attention should be given to the principles of adult education, especially the element of trainee participation. D-2 ------- 9018.00 -2 / 6. A Scheduled Order of Presentation. The schedule shall be a planned hour-by-hour program for each day and week of the training course. This schedule shall serve as a milestone chart of the course progression and as a guide for instructor, training monitor, and training development personnel in planning the daily schedule. To facilitate planning, this schedule shall list separately all classroom and practical application sessions. The schedule shall indicate the course day, lesson title, hours planned for the lesson, subject matter, and assigned instructor, if known. 7. Delivery. This statement will identify proposed methods of delivering the training activity to the target audience. This will normally be through the Environmental Response Branch Training Centers or the OSWER dedicated training support contract for courses sponsored by OSWER. D-3 ------- 9018.00 -2 D.2 INSTRUCTOR GUIDE Instructor/Lesson Guides provides the detailed course technical data and information to assist the instructor in the presentation of each individual lesson included in the course. The Instructor/Lesson Guides are used to organize the instructor's presentation and to insure that all required topics, subtopics, and related reference material are included in the presentation of procured training courses. One instructor/lesson guide shall be developed for each main topic in the course/curriculum outline. A cover sheet for each instructor/lesson guide shall conform to the format of Figure 1.1 and contain the following information: Course Title t Instructor/Lesson Guide Number Topic t Time allotted \ Instructional materials - all materials which the instructor may utilize for preparation or during the presentation, including all equipment and audiovisual aids necessary to conduct the lesson. Lesson Objectives - these are three part objectives related to the skills and knowledge addressed by the lesson which describe the behavioral actions, the performance conditions, and the attainment standards expected of the student upon completion of the lesson. D-4 ------- 9018.00 -2 Homework - this shall identify any written assignments, such as student activity guides, to be completed by the student. The body of each Instructor Lesson Guide shall utilize the three-column format depicted in Figure 1.2. This format enables the instructor to view all class activities, including his own, in terms of what he wishes the students to gain from the lesson. Outline of Instruction column - shall cover the planned lesson discussion content for each of the six steps specified below. The outline shall be developed in sufficient detail to be used as the instructor's primary teaching document. No further guide or lesson plan shall be necessary. The paragraphs and subparagraphs shown in Figure 1 are only illustrative. The number of paragraphs and subparagraphs shall be as required by each lesson: The Introduction - this step shall be developed to promote student interest, .to motivate each student with a desire to gain an understanding of the lesson topic, and to cause each student to recognize lesson objectives and their relationship to job requirements. The Presentation - all lesson material shall be covered in this step. The main or key points of the step shall correlate with the lesson objective. These points shall be presented in sufficient detail to insure thorough and complete coverage of the subtopic. Additionally, the Instructor Activity column shall list all diagrams, text materials, audiovisual aids, and other materials to be used in the presentation. These materials shall be identified adjacent to each point in the outline where they are to be utilized, for each time their utilization is planned. Indicate time spent in this step. - D-5 ------- 9018.00 -2 The Summary - the objectives shall be listed as well as all key points of the presentation which support each lesson objective. t The Application - this step shall be presented in a manner to cause each student to apply the lesson information to solve one or more realistic problems. This may require either mental or physical student activity. The Evaluation - this shall be designed to check student progress and determine the extent to which the student has accomplished the lesson objectives. This step shall consist of either a list.of thought-provoking questions, with answers, covering the Instructor/Lesson Guide objectives, or instructions to administer a progress test. t The Assignment - this step shall provide the objective of the assignment, if any, and motivate the student by emphasizing key points in the subject matter, aid him in developing sound study methods, and provide good, sound reasons for accomplishing the assignment. The Instructor Activity column - shall contain a listing of all planned instructor activities designed to enable him to present that instruction outlined in the column headed "Outline of Instruction." These listed activities shall provide sufficient guidance to enable the instructor to establish student contact and motivation, and to present instruction outlined using appropriate training materials. It shall also be structured to enable the instructor to maintain maximum student interest and participation, adequately measure student comprehension of the subject, and provide planned summaries at strategic points within the presentation. D-6 ------- 9018.00 -2 All audiovisual aids, reference documents, and other aids such as teaching machines and programmed learning equipment for which utilization is planned to support instruction shall be listed. They shall be listed adjacent to each point in the outline for which utilization is planned. If an aid supports instruction at different points within the outline, that aid shall be listed at each point where use is planned. D-7 ------- 9018.00 -2 Figure 1.1 Cover Sheet for Instructor/Lesson Guide COURSE TITLE; INSTRUCTOR/LESSON GUIDE NO. TOPIC; TIME ALLOTED; INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS; LESSON OBJECTIVES: HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS: D-8 ------- 9018.00 -2 Figure 1.2 Outline of Body of Instructor/Lesson Guide Outline of Instruction Instructor Activity I. INTRODUCTION A. Establish contact B. State lesson objectives C. Establishing readiness 1. Motivatingjstatements 2. Lesson overview II. PRESENTATION A. 1. 2. a. b. B. 1. a. b. 2. 3. III. SUMMARY A. B. IV. APPLICATION A. 1. 2. B. V. EVALUATION VI. ASSIGNMENT D-9 ------- 9018.00 -2 D.3 STUDENT MANUAL The Student's Manual is composed of a series of instruction sheets which collectively provide the student with the objectives and self help materials such as reading assignments, study questions, problems, practical application job steps, self-test items, diagram sheets and other supplementary information to assist him in achieving the objectives during a training course. The manual may include additional training publications and/or text material such as handbooks, guidance documents or technical manuals which contain information considered helpful to students. The Manual shall correlate with the training course/curriculum outlines and related Instructor/Lesson Guides. The following elements shall be included as required: Information sheets Student Activity sheets Assignment sheets Note-taking sheets Supplementary information. The guide shall contain front matter that consists of: t Table of contents t Guidelines and instructions for use of each section of the Student's Manual. Each type of instruction aid, whether it be an information sheet, assignment sheet, or note-taking sheet, shall be numbered in such a manner that it easily identifies the specific Instructor/Lesson Guide for which it was designed to support. The level of comprehension of all written material in the Student's Manual shall be consistent with the requirements of the job, unless otherwise specified by the procuring activity. D-10 ------- 9018.00 -2 Information Sheet Structure. Student information sheets shall be in contractor format and shall consist of narrative descriptions, diagrams, sketches, charts, graphs, pictures, or other audio-visual material, as necessary, for student reference to support the information presented in the course. They may be excerpts from other documents not readily available to the students or original material prepared by the contractor. A dry-process, commerical quality paper reproduction of each audio-visual aid used in the course shall be included in the student information sheets for each student participating in the course regardless of their inclusion in other documentation or data required by the course. Student Activity Guide. The Student Activity Guide is a complete listing of all questions the student is to answer, or projects he is to complete, in order to provide the student a means of applying principles learned during classroom instruction without requiring the use of actual equipment. Student Activity Guides contained in the Student Workbook may be completed in the classroom, or they may become homework assignments. Examples are theoretical calculations the student is to make, predicted waveforms at designated points, predicted meter readings or measurements at designated points, projected movements at designated points, etc., designed to cause the student to apply those principles learned during classroom instruction in a pencil-and-paper situation. The guides shall be designed to require the student to apply the knowledge gained during the training course. Completion of the question(s) and projects shall require only reference material available to the student and application of newly acquired knowledge. Assignment Sheet Structure. Assignment sheets in support of each Instructor/Lesson Guide shall contain the following essential parts: Introduction - a statement of the purpose and scope of the assignment. D-ll ------- 9018.00 -2 Objective(s) - the objective(s) to be accomplished by the student through completion of the assignment. Study Assignment - specific study instructions, identifying paragraphs, pages, and publications. If there is a best sequence to study scattered portions of the text, this sequence shall be provided. t Study Questions - thought-provoking questions relative to the assignment. Preference shall be given to the type of questions that require mental decisions similar to those the student would make while working, and those types which measure the student'.s accomplishment of objectives. Note-taking Sheet Structure. Note-taking sheets may be needed for lessons that provide important information to which the student must refer from time to time or recall from memory. These sheets shall contain the following essential parts: References - complete identification of publications pertinent to the topic. Note-taking Outline - a topical outline of the associated Instructor/Lesson Guide. Adequate space should be provided for the student to add personal notes. . The outline may contain fill-ins (optional) and should normally express complete ideas. Supplementary Information. Any additional information such as guidance documents, technical manuals, or relevant publications applicable to the objectives of the training may be included as appendices or separate documents. D-12 ------- 9018.00 -2 APPENDIX E STANDARD TRAINING DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS ------- 9018.00 -2 STANDARD TRAINING DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS Training Development Activities Training development refers to the process used to produce training materials for a specific audience that ends in a product which can be used for repetitive offerings of a training activity. This process includes research, needs assessments, task analysis, instructional design, writing and editing training materials, selecting and/or preparing graphic and audiovisual materials, selecting and developing tests, conducting pilot training activities, evaluation, revision of materials and/or methods, providing bibliographic reference materials, and producing original training material and copies of training materials for use in conducting required training. The contractor may be required to furnish a range of training program development activities from revision of existing instructional materials to the complete development of innovative training approaches and materials. Some or all of the requirements detailed below may be required depending on the circumstances of the requirement. Training Materials Development. The process typically involves four phases of work: a. Phase I. Analyze Training Requirement. The Contractor shall, as required, analyze the specific training needs and base all analysis on job related information. In this phase, an inventory of job tasks shall be compiled and divided into two groups: tasks not selected for training, and tasks selected for training. The contractor may be required to conduct analyses of particular jobs or functional content areas. The contractor shall identify and analyze the usefulness of existing training courses or training material based upon the information contained in the tasks selected for training. The contractor shall analyze the tasks selected for training and make recommendations concerning the most E-l ------- 9018.00 -2 appropriate delivery system (e.g., on-the-job training or technical assistance, classroom instruction, etc.). The contractor shall describe the job(s) in such detail so as to be able to derive course, unit and lesson objectives as well as to document procedural steps as required. The format for documentation of these analyses shall be approved by the Project Officer. b. Phase II. Design Training. The contractor shall develop a Course Outline to be submitted for approval. The Course Outline shall be in the format shown in Attachment I, including as a minimum the following information: (1) Purpose of training (2) General goal statement (3-) Scope of the training (4) Performance objectives (5) Recommended instructional delivery option. Upon approval of the Course Outline, the contractor shall develop the curriculum outline consistent with the attached format. The curriculum outline shall contain three levels of objectives: General (course) objectives, Performance (unit) objectives, and Enabling (lesson) objectives. The course objectives shall appear on the cover page of the course outline and shall consist of a general statement of who is to be trained to perform what, to what degree of qualification, where, and under what general conditions. Each performance objective must be observable and measurable and directly related to a specific task selected for training. Enabling objectives listed may contain either skill or knowledge behaviors and must be measureable. Each objective shall be composed of three components: The behavior the trainee must perform The conditions under which the behavior will be performed t The standards the trainee will be expected to attain. E-2 ------- 9018.00 -2 The performance and enabling objectives become the basis for the generation of all test items developed for the training. The curriculum outline shall be approved by the Project Officer prior to. any development work being initiated. c. Phase III. Develop Training. The contractor shall develop an instructional'management plan for all instructional material developed which shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: Resources necessary to develop the. instruction. t Resources required to deliver the training in the proposed format. f A description of proposed documentation to be developed. A description of equipment and other materials required to develop the training material. All instructional material developed should be designed so that a content expert, with suitable instructional experience, can present the material with-a minimum of additional development work. The contractor shall prepare the following documentation for all training courses: Instructor Guide. Instructor Guides will be developed after the training course outline is approved. The instructor guides are designed to serve as the instructor's primary guides for topic sequencing, objective accomplishment, and presentation detail during the conduct of the course. They will be used by Government personnel to plan and conduct required follow-on training. Instructor Guides for a training course shall include all topics and subtopics of the approved training course outline with all the information necessary to support that topic or subtopic.- E-3 ------- 9018.00 -2 Sufficient detail shall be provided to lead the instructor smoothly and comprehensively through all portions of each planned presentation without the possibility of any regressions or omissions of any planned information. A sample topic shall be developed and submitted for review and approval prior to development of the complete Instructor Guide. A complete draft of the instructor guide shall be available of review and verification by the Project Officer at a minimum of 30 days prior to the start of the training courses. The draft manuscript shall be annotated, corrected, and revised as necessary.during the presentation course, as instructional experience dictates. The necessary modifications shall be incorporated prior to publication and distribution of the final Instructor Guide. The Instructor Guide shall be in a format that is consistent with Attachment II. t Student Manual. The Student Manual shall be developed consistent with the format in Attachment III. The Student Manual shall be developed to provide each student with clear, concise study materials required to accomplish performance objectives in the minimum time. The Student Manual is used for reference purposes by the student in training and following completion of training. A complete draft manuscript of the Student Manual shall be available for review and verification by the Project Officer a minimum of 30 days prior to the start of the training course. The draft manuscript shall be annotated, corrected, and revised as necessary during the presentation of the course as instructional experience dictates. The necessary modifications shall be incorporated prior to publication and distribution of the final Instructor Guide. t Audiovisual Aids. Master Reproducibles for Training Equipment and Training Courses. The contractor shall provide E-4 ------- 9018.00 -2 master-reproducible and projection-ready copies of each audiovisual aid procured or developed for the training course. The contractor shall provide the quantities required for distribution of the training materials plus three copies to the Project Officer. Index for Audiovisual Aids, Equipment and Instructional Materials. The contractor shall provide an index which lists all material required to conduct the training. The index should be organized by lesson and provide the instructor with all information concerning the logistical support required to conduct the training. d. Phase IV. Course Pilot Test, Validation and Revision. The contractor shall be required to pilot test all training materials and submit a validation plan prior to the pilot test. All training materials shall be revised based upon the pilot test prior to being distributed for use. E-5 ------- 9018.00 -2 ATTACHMENT I COURSE/CURRICULUM OUTLINE FORM AND INSTRUCTIONS Course Outline The Course Outline is a complete source document describing the training requirement in sufficient detail to enable initiation of course development activities. This document outlines the scope, content, duration and schedule for courses. The content outlines are used to organize the course of instruction to ensure that all requested topics are included and adequately covered"within the course. The Course Outline includes sections detailing: t The rationale, purpose, course objective and any special requirements for the planned course Detailed outlines of the units of instruction to be included in the course scope A time plan representing the projected time required to adequately cover the material to be presented t Plans for training evaluation activities v. Proposed methods for delivery of the training to the target audience. The Course Outline shall be prepared in the following format: 1. Title Page. This page shall contain the complete title of the course, with no abbreviations, the name and address of the contractor or office, the contract number (if appropriate), the course length in hours or days, and the date prepared. 1-1 ------- 9018.00 -2 2. Forward. This shall be a statement of the purpose and rationale for the training. Rationale shall be related to the course itself, not simply the course content. 3. Course Data Page. This page shall include the following: Course Objective - A general statement of who is to be trained to perform what, to what degree of qualifications, where, and under what general conditions. Special Requirements - Recommended physical requirements, such as facilities for simulation exercise, laboratory or other highly specialized equipment or setting. - t Qualifications - Describe any limitations to attendance including recommended prerequisite training. , Instructional Materials - Listing of proposed instructional materials such as Instructor/Lesson Guides, Student's Guide, training aids, and reference materials. 4. Summary, Outline of Instruction. The Outline of Instruction summary shall contain an outline of each major unit of instruction within the training course. It shall list the amount of classroom and practical application time,' and the total time allocated for each major unit of instruction. It shall further list the total hours planned for the classroom, the total hours planned for practical application, and the total course hours. Training course complexity, content, and length shall be determining factors as to the length and number of units listed in the end product. 5. Units of Instruction. The description of the units of instruction should include a comprehensive listing of the content items to be included in the training activity. Each unit of instruction will list, in detail, 1-2 ------- 9018.00 -2 The major topics to be covered, the time allocation for the unit, and the general instructional methodology to be used. In the development of the general instruction methodology, attention should be given to the principles of adult education, especially the element of trainee participation. 6. A Scheduled Order of Presentation. The schedule shall be a planned hour-by-hour program for each day and week of the training course. This schedule shall serve as a milestone chart of the course progression and as a guide for instructor, training monitor, and training development personnel in planning the daily schedule. To facilitate planning, this schedule shall list separately all classroom and practical application sessions. The schedule shall indicate the course day, lesson title, hours planned for the lesson, subject matter, and assigned instructor, if known. 7. Delivery. This statement will identify proposed methods of delivering the training activity to the target audience. This will normally be through the Environmental Response Branch Training Centers or the OSWER dedicated training support contract for courses sponsored by OSWER. Curriculum Outline of Instruction The curriculum outline shall be sequenced in the order in which the instruction is to be given, and should include the planned time allotments for each unit and topic of instruction. The training analysis shall serve as the basis for generation of this document. The performance objectives supported by each unit shall be listed under the unit title. The enabling (lesson) objectives shall be listed under the topic title. A unit of instruction shall support one or more performance objectives; and several units of instruction may support part of the same overall course objective. 1-3 ------- 9018.00 -2 ATTACHMENT II INSTRUCTOR GUIDE Instructor/Lesson Guides provide the detailed course technical data and information to assist the instructor in the presentation of each individual lesson included in the course. The Instructor/Lesson Guides are used to organize the instructor's presentation and to insure that all required topics, subtopics, and related reference material are included in the presentation of procured training courses. One instructor/lesson guide shall be developed for each main topic in the course/curriculum outline. -A cover sheet for each instructor/lesson guide shall conform to the format of Figure.1.1 and contain the following information: Course Title t Instructor/Lesson Guide Number t Topic t Time allotted Instructional materials - all materials which the instructor may utilize for preparation or during the presentation, including all equipment and audiovisual aids necessary to conduct the lesson. Lesson Objectives - these are three part objectives related to the skills and knowledge addressed by the lesson which describe the behavioral actions, the performance conditions, and the attainment standards expected of the student upon completion of the lesson. II-l ------- 9018.00 -2 0 Homework - this shall Identify any written assignments, such as student activity guides, to be completed by the student. The body of each Instructor Lesson Guide shall utilize the three-column format depicted in Figure 1.2. This format enables the instructor to view all class activities, including his own, in terms of what he wishes the students to gain from the lesson. Outline of Instruction column - shall cover the planned lesson discussion content for each of the six steps specified below. The outline shall be developed in sufficient detail to be used as the instructor's primary teaching document. No further guide or lesson plan shall be necessary. The paragraphs and" subparagraphs shown in Figure 1 are only illustrative. The number of paragraphs and subparagraphs shall be as required by each lesson: t The Introduction - this step shall be developed to promote student interest, to motivate each student with a desire to gain an understanding of the lesson topic, and to cause each student to recognize lesson objectives and their relationship to job requirements. The Presentation - all lesson material shall be covered in this step. The main or key points of the step shall correlate with the lesson objective. These points shall be presented in sufficient detail to insure thorough and complete coverage of the subtopic. Additionally, the Instructor Activity column shall list all diagrams, text materials, audiovisual aids, and other materials to be used in the presentation. These materials shall be identified adjacent to each point in the outline where they are to be utilized, for each time their utilization is planned. Indicate time spent in this step. II-2 ------- 9018.00 -2 /- t The Summary - the objectives shall be listed as well as all key points of the presentation which support each lesson objective. The Application - this step shall be presented in a manner to cause each student to apply the lesson information to solve one or more realistic problems. This may require either mental or physical student activity. t The Evaluation - this shall be designed to check student progress and determine the extent to which the student has accomplished the lesson objectives. This step shall consist of either a list -of thought-provoking questions, with answers, covering the Instructor/Lesson Guide objectives, or instructions to administer a progress test. The Assignment - this step shall provide the objective of the assignment, if any, and motivate the student by emphasizing key points in the subject matter, aid him in developing sound study methods, and provide good, sound reasons for accomplishing the assignment. The Instructor Activity column - shall contain a listing of all planned instructor activities designed to enable him to present that instruction outlined in the column headed "Outline of Instruction." These listed activities shall provide sufficient guidance to enable the instructor to establish student contact and motivation, and to present instruction outlined using appropriate training materials. It shall also be structured to enable the instructor to maintain maximum student interest and participation, adequately measure student comprehension of the subject, and provide planned summaries at strategic points within the presentation. II-3 ------- 9018.00 -2 All audiovisual aids, reference documents, and other aids such as teaching machines and programmed learning equipment for which utilization is planned to support instruction shall be listed. They shall be listed adjacent to each point in the outline for which utilization is planned. If an aid supports instruction at different points within the outline, that aid shall be listed at each point where use is planned. II-4 ------- 9018.00 -2 Figure 1.1 Cover Sheet for Instructor/Lesson Guide COURSE TITLE; INSTRUCTOR/LESSON GUIDE NO. TOPIC: TIME ALLOTED; INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS; LESSON OBJECTIVES; HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS: II-5 ------- 9018.00 -2 Figure 1.2 Outline of Body of Instructor/Lesson Guide Outline of Instruction Instructor Activity I. INTRODUCTION A. Establish contact B. State lesson objectives C. Establishing readiness 1. Motivating statements 2. Lesson overview II. PRESENTATION A. 1. 2. a. b. B. 1. a. ' b. 2. 3. III. SUMMARY A. B. IV. APPLICATION A. 1. 2. B. V. EVALUATION VI. ASSIGNMENT II-6 ------- 9018.00 -2 ATTACHMENT III STUDENT MANUAL The Student's Manual is composed of a series of instruction sheets which collectively provide the student with the objectives and self help materials such as reading assignments, study questions, problems, practical application job steps, self-test items, diagram sheets and other supplementary information to assist him in achieving the objectives during a training course. The manual may include additional training publications and/or text material such as handbooks, guidance documents or technical manuals which contain information considered helpful to students. The Manual shall correlate with the training course/curriculum outlines and related Instructor/Lesson Guides. The following elements shall be included as required: § Information sheets t Student Activity sheets t Assignment sheets Note-taking sheets t Supplementary information. The guide shall contain front matter that consists of: Table of contents Guidelines and instructions for use of each section of the Student's Manual. Each type of instruction aid, whether it be an information sheet, assignment sheet, or note-taking sheet, shall be numbered in such a manner that it easily identifies the specific Instructor/Lesson Guide for which it was designed to support.- The level of comprehension of all written material in the Student's Manual shall be consistent with the requirements of the job, unless otherwise specified by the procuring activity. III-l ------- 9018.00 -2 Information Sheet Structure. Student information sheets shall be in contractor format and shall consist of narrative descriptions, diagrams, sketches, charts, graphs, pictures, or other audio-visual material, as necessary, for student reference to support the information presented in the course. They may be excerpts from other documents not readily available to the students or original material prepared by the contractor. A dry-process, commerical quality paper reproduction of each audio-visual aid used in the course shall be included in the student information sheets for each student participating in the course regardless of their inclusion in other documentation or data required by the course. Student Activity Guide. The Student Activity Guide is a complete listing of all questions the student is to answer, or projects he is to complete, in order to provide the student a means of applying principles learned during classroom instruction without requiring the use of actual equipment. Student Activity Guides contained in the Student Workbook may be completed in the classroom, or they may become homework assignments. Examples are theoretical calculations the student is to make, predicted waveforms at designated points, predicted meter readings or measurements at designated points, projected movements at designated points, etc., designed to cause the student to apply those principles learned during classroom instruction in a pencil-and-paper situation. The guides shall be designed to require the student to apply the knowledge gained during the training course. Completion of the question(s) and projects shall require only reference material available to the student and application of newly acquired knowledge. Assignment Sheet Structure. Assignment sheets in support of each Instructor/Lesson Guide shall contain the following essential parts: Introduction - a statement of the purpose and scope of the assignment. III-2 ------- 9018.00 -2 t Objective(s) - the objective(s) to be accomplished by the student through completion of the assignment. t Study Assignment - specific study instructions, identifying paragraphs, pages, and publications. If there is a best sequence to study scattered portions of the text, this sequence shall be provided. Study Questions - thought-provoking questions relative to the assignment. Preference shall be given to the type of questions that require mental decisions similar to those the student would make while working, and those types which measure the student's accomplishment of objectives. Note-taking Sheet Structure. Note-taking sheets may be needed for lessons that provide important information to which the student must refer from time to time or recall from memory. These sheets .shall contain the following essential parts: References - complete identification of publications pertinent to the topic. Note-taking Outline - a topical outline of the associated Instructor/Lesson . Guide. Adequate space should be provided for the student to add personal notes. The outline may contain fill-ins (optional) and should normally express complete ideas. Supplementary Information. Any additional information such as guidance documents, technical manuals, or relevant publications applicable to the objectives of the training may be included as appendices or separate documents. III-3 ------- 9018.00 -2 APPENDIX F TRAINEE SELECTION GUIDELINES ------- 9018.00 -2 GUIDELINES FOR SELECTING ATTENDEES FOR OSWER TRAINING COURSES Assurance of successful training delivery rests in large part on the selection of participants whose background and job experience are congruent with the level at which a course is presented. Provided below are suggested criteria to be addressed in the selection of EPA training participants. It should be noted the following list represents a wide range of items for consideration from which those that seem most feasible and politically viable may be chosen. First-come-f irst-served basis. To date, OSWER courses are generally offered .on a first-come-first-served basis to applicants whose job responsibilities are consistent with the intended target audience. This present policy should be continued since the waiting list for some courses is often over a'year. Necessary educational background. It should be ascertained that participants have had sufficient educational exposure to understand the material in terms of both subject area and level. For some types of courses, however, on-the-job training weighs more heavily than educational level. t Appropriate work experience. Consideration should first be given to the number of years of work experience it would take for course content to be meaningful to a participant in general before particular individuals are selected. Change in job responsibilities. Consideration should be given to the possibility of a course applicant who, in fact, requires the course information for a change in job responsibilities requiring new skills or knowledge. F-l ------- 9018.00 -2 Relevance to present job. Before selecting a trainee, pertinent questions should be addressed such as: - Will the participant's job peformance be enhanced by taking the course? What particular performance standards will be enhanced? - How will the participant use the course information on a daily basis? - Does the participant's individual development plan relate to material covered by the training courses? - Does the participant's position description require knowledge, skills and abilities that are relevant to the material covered in the training course? Completion of course prerequisites. Some OSWER courses are offered in a series ranging from introductory level to advanced. Attendees should not be permitted to take an advanced level course without having taken its prerequisite unless they are able to demonstrate equivalent exposure to the subject area from other sources. t Applicants with scheduling constraints. Applicants who indicate that they cannot stay for the entire duration of the course should be discouraged from attending until their schedule allows. "Train the Trainers". If an applicant demonstrates an ability and an opportunity to deliver the training he or she receives to others at the workplace or in the field, special consideration may be given in selection. F-2 ------- 9018.00 -2 APPENDIX G PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION FORM ------- 9018.00 -2 REGISTRATION FORM /^L% Course Date _ Location Name: Organization: Address: City, State, Zip: : _ INSTRUCTIONS: The following information is requested to enable the course instructors to become more familiar with the attendees and thereby target their presentations more directly to your needs. Responses to all questions are optional and confidential, and will be used only for this purpose. 1. My job position is: 2. My job responsibilities include: 3. My job is primarily: D Management D Technical D Enforcement 4. How long have you been in your current job position? D Less than one year D One to five years D Six to ten years D Eleven to fifteen years D Over fifteen years 5. Formal educational background: D Less than 12 years D High school diploma D Some college D Bachelor's degree G Master's degree or some graduate work D Doctoral degree 6. Major subject area(s) 7. Have you attended other hazardous materials training in the subject area of this course offered by your state, professional association, or other organization? If yes, please provide course titles and sponsors. Course Title Sponsor ------- 9018.00 -2 APPENDIX H OSWER TRAINING DELIVERY QUARTERLY REPORT ------- 9018.00 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING OSWER TRAINING DELIVERY QUARTERLY REPORT The Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) Training Delivery Quarterly Report is designed for recording and monitoring basic data on OSWER training deliveries. Each Training Coordinator should complete an OSWER Training Delivery Quarterly Report and forward it to Headquarters within 30 days of the end of each fiscal quarter (January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30). For each OSWER course delivered, please enter the course title or description, the name of the sponsoring organization, the number of deliveries of that course by that sponsor, the number of participants in each, class, the location of each course delivery; and instructor, instructor travel, per diem, materials, and other costs. A total cost for each course delivery should be summed and entered on the last column. Use as many pages as necessary to record alT OSWER training for the reporting quarter. The total costs of all course deliveries should also be totaled and entered in the lower right hand corner of the last page. Forward your completed forms to: OSWER Training Coordinator (WH-562A) Office of Emergency and Remedial Response Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20460 H-l ------- Training Coordinator . Organization: Fiscal Year ' Quarter (1-4): Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response TRAINING DELIVERY QUARTERLY REPORT TITLE OR DESCRIPTION 1 SPONSORING ORGANIZATION NO. OF DELIV. NO. OF PARTI- CIPANTS DELIV. DATES DELIVERY LOCATION DELIVERY COSTS INSTRUCTOR COSTS TRAVEL COSTS PER DIEM INSTRUC. MATERIALS COST OTHER COSTS (SPECIFY) TOTAL DEL. COST S 8 ro ------- 9018.00 -2 APPENDIX I EVALUATION FORMS ------- 9018.00 -2 NAME: WILING ADDRESS: DATE: COURSE LOCATION: COURSE: PARTICIPANT COURSE ASSESSMENT INSTRUCTIONS; Please circle the response closest to your opinion. COURSE CONTENT £ 1. Knowledge and skills covered In this course are relevant to my Job. 2. Information presented MS up to date. 3. Information presented MS technically accurate. 4. Information presented MS unbiased. 5. Knowledge and skills covered 1n this course are used frequently In my job. 6. Knowledge and skills covered 1n this course are needed to achieve a high priority goal In my work unit. 7. The difficulty level of course content MS appropriate for me. If not, content MS: ( ) too basic ( ) too advanced /// ^ ^ JP -6 £ /> / / ^ 1 2 3 4 5 NA 1 2 3 4 5 NA 1 2 3 4 5 NA 1 2 3 4 5 NA 1 2 3 4 5 NA 1 2 3 4 5 NA 8. The course objectives Mre achieved. 1 2 3 4 5 NA ------- 9018.00 -2 Participant Courst Asstssatnt (Cont'd) COURSE DELIVERY 1. Tht Instructor(s) MS knovltdgtablt 1 2 3 4 5 NA on tht courst subjtct arta. 2. Tht Instructors) had an tfftctlvt 1 2 3 4 5 NA prtstntatlon stylt. 3. Tht Instructor(s) facilitated tht 1 2 3 4 5 NA achltvtMnt of objtctlvts. 4. Tht Instructor(i) had good rapport 1 2 3 4 S NA with tht studtnts. S. Tht Instructor(s) aanagod tht courst 1 2 3 4 5 NA logistics Mil. . Tht Instructional fadlltlts Mrt a 1 2 3 4 5 NA flnt 1 taming tnvlronatnt. 7. Materials and tqulpatnt Mrt avallablt 1 2 3 4 5 NA as nttdtd. 8. Courst Mterlals Mrt Mil productd 1 2 3 4 5 NA (Includt all audiovisual*, Instructor and studtnt lattrlals). 9. Tht class slxt MS appropriate. 1 2 3 4 5 NA COURSE DESIGN 1. Courst actlvl tits supported count 1 2 3 4 5 NA objtctlvts. 2. Tht courst provldtd opportunity to 1 2 3 4 5 NA practlct skills or apply knovltdgt. 3. Courst txtrclsts Mrt rta11st1c. 1 2 3 4 5 NA ------- 9018.00 -2 Participant Count Asstssavnt (Cont'd) 4. Ltcturt Mttrlal MS rtlnforctd with 1 2 3 4 5 NA appropriate Illustrations, act1v1t1ts, and visual aids. 5. Adtquatt tlM MS allotted to covtr 1 2 3 4 5 NA courst content. 6. Count Materials wtrt stqutnctd 1 2 3 4 5 NA logically. 7. Count Materials Wrt Mil organlztd. 1 2 3 4 5 NA COURSE USEFULNESS I.I rtcoMMnd this count to othtrs. ( ) Yts ( ) Mo If yts, who? Pitast dtscrlbt tht job position, txptrttnct, or skills of thost to whoa you rtcowtnd tht count. If no, why not? 2. Would this courst bt «ort ustful to a ptrson ntw to your job position, or ont who hu ttnrtd 1n that position for sow t1«t? Mhy? ------- 9018.00 -2 Participant Course Assessment (Cont'd) 3. Please eonMtnt on course highlights and low points. How could the course^ be Improved? ------- 9018.00 -2 NAME: DATE: COURSE TITLE: COURSE LOCATION: COURSE FOLLOWUP ASSESSMENT INSTRUCTIONS; Please circle the response closest to your opinion and provide explanations as requested. 1. I have used the skills or applied the knowledge taught in this course on the job. ( ) Yes ( ) No If yes, how? If no, why not? 2. The knowledge and - skills taught in this course were relevant to my job. ( ) Yes ( ) No 3. Were the emphases on different areas of course content appropriate? ( ) Yes . ( ) No If not, how would you redistribute the course focus? 4. Please describe knowledge and skills not covered in this course that now would be useful to you. ------- 9018.00 -2 Course Followup Assessment (Continued) 5. I highly recommend this course to others. ( ) Yes ( ) No If yes, who? Please describe the job position, experience or skills of those to whom you would recommend this course. If no, why not? 6. Has your work environment been supportive of your use of new knowledge and skills? ( ). Yes ( ) No Please describe existing areas of support and areas that inhibit or prevent the use of new skills or knowledge such as finances* resource personnel, attitudes, or habit. 7. I am able to do my job better as a result of training. ( ) Yes ( ) No Please explain. 8. Use the space below for any additional course-related comments. ------- |