Training Designer

Overview

The Training Designer skill helps create high-quality training programs and workshops using evidence-based instructional frameworks. It guides the design of individual sessions using the TBR (Training from the Back of the Room) 4Cs framework and applies brain-friendly learning principles to maximize learner engagement and retention.

When to Use This Skill

Use Training Designer when:

• Designing individual workshop or training sessions
• Creating learning objectives and session flow
• Planning session timing and activities
• Applying the TBR 4Cs framework to training content
• Ensuring brain-friendly principles (10-1 rule, chunking, active learning)
• Structuring Connection, Concept, Practice, and Conclusion components

Core Design Principles

The 4Cs Framework (TBR)

Structure every training session using these four components:

1. Connection (10-15% of time): Activate prior knowledge, build relationships, create psychological safety
2. Concepts (30-40% of time): Deliver content in small chunks (10-15 min max) with processing activities between chunks
3. Concrete Practice (40-50% of time): Hands-on practice starting guided → collaborative → independent
4. Conclusion (5-10% of time): Learner-generated summary, commitments, celebration

Brain-Friendly Principles

• 10-1 Rule: 10 minutes of content delivery, 1 minute of processing/activity (minimum)
• Chunking: Break content into small, manageable pieces (7-15 minute chunks max)
• Active Learning: Learners must talk, teach, and do—not just listen
• Real Work: Practice on actual work scenarios, not simulated exercises
• Multiple Modalities: Mix lecture, discussion, hands-on, visual, kinesthetic

Workflow: Session Design Process

Follow this workflow to design training sessions:

Step 1: Define Session Objectives

• What will learners DO differently after this session?
• What specific skills or knowledge will they gain?
• How will this connect to their real work?

Step 2: Design Connection Activity (10-15 min)

• Activate relevant prior knowledge
• Build psychological safety and relationships
• Reference existing templates in references/connection-activities.md

Step 3: Design Concept Chunks (30-40% of total time)

• Break content into 10-15 minute chunks maximum
• Add processing activity after each chunk (reflection, discussion, Q&A)
• Reference concept chunk template in references/concept-chunks.md

Step 4: Design Concrete Practice (40-50% of total time)

• Start with guided practice (instructor provides direction)
• Progress to collaborative practice (small groups)
• End with independent practice (solo work)
• Ensure practice mirrors real work scenarios
• Reference practice progression template in references/practice-activities.md

Step 5: Design Conclusion (5-10% of time)

• Facilitate learner-generated summary (not your summary)
• Create commitment to action
• Celebrate progress and learning
• Reference conclusion template in references/conclusion-activities.md

Step 6: Plan Facilitator Notes

• Include exact timing for each section
• Add transition language and key discussion questions
• Include energy management techniques
• Note where flexibility exists for longer discussions

Concept Chunk Guidelines

When designing concept delivery:

Chunk Length: Maximum 10-15 minutes of content Processing After Each Chunk: Minimum 1-2 minutes Processing Activities:

• Think-Pair-Share discussions
• Quick reflective writing
• Small group discussion
• Q&A with group response
• Application to real work scenario

Content Selection:

• Focus on "just enough" (not comprehensive coverage)
• Identify essential concepts vs. nice-to-know
• Use real work examples
• Connect to prior knowledge

Practice Progression Framework

Design practice activities in progression:

Guided Practice (Learners with instructor support):

• Instructor models the skill or process
• Learners follow along with the model
• Instructor provides immediate feedback

Collaborative Practice (Learners in small groups):

• Groups apply skill to new scenario
• Peer learning and problem-solving
• Shared responsibility

Independent Practice (Learners solo):

• Learners apply skill to their own real work
• Minimal support (available if requested)
• Self-assessment and reflection

Time Allocation Example

For a 4-hour workshop:

• Connection: 20-30 minutes (5-7% of 4 hours is minimum; 10-15% is generous)
• Concepts: 60-90 minutes of content + processing (30-40% = ~70-90 min total)
• Concrete Practice: 90-120 minutes of hands-on work (40-50% = ~100-120 min total)
• Conclusion: 10-15 minutes (5-10% is adequate)
• Breaks: 30-40 minutes total

Resources

This skill includes templates and guidance for each phase of training design:

references/

• connection-activities.md - Activities to activate prior knowledge and build relationships
• concept-chunks.md - Template for designing concept delivery and processing
• practice-activities.md - Practice progression from guided → collaborative → independent
• conclusion-activities.md - Conclusion strategies and learner-generated summary techniques
• session-design-template.md - Complete template for full session design
• facilitator-notes-template.md - Template for creating facilitator guides

scripts/

• session_planner.py - Script to generate session timing and component breakdown
• activity_generator.py - Script to suggest activities for different content types

assets/

• timing-calculator.md - Quick reference for calculating time allocations

Integration with Learning Journeys

This skill focuses on individual session design. For complete learning ecosystem design:

• Use learning-journey-builder skill for 70:20:10 program design
• Use coaching-materials-creator for post-workshop support
• Use training-reviewer to validate session design

Key Reminders

✅ Do:

• Design 40-50% of session as hands-on practice
• Use real work scenarios, not simulated exercises
• Build processing time into every concept chunk
• Facilitate learner-generated conclusions (don't provide summary)
• Plan for different learning preferences

❌ Don't:

• Lecture for more than 15 minutes straight
• Skip Connection (it's critical for psychological safety)
• End with "Good luck applying this" (plan for follow-up)
• Make practice activities too simplified or artificial
• Forget to include timing in facilitator notes