Templates for Training Facilitation

Facilitator Guide

A Facilitator Guide is like a detailed lesson plan for a training session. Like a lesson plan, it includes things like learning objectives, timing guidelines, and step-by-step instructions for the instructor. Unlike a traditional lesson plan, this template includes several features that are designed to optimize the design and delivery of live, online training. In IT Learning & Development, we use the template to design all of the hands-on workshops we deliver via Zoom. As instructors and producers, we also reference the complete facilitator guide for a given session every time we deliver it.

Notable Features:

• Built-in headers at the start of each section make it easy to find what you’re looking for.
• Timing guidelines and brief descriptions are right up front, making it easier to onboard to the material for the first time and to stay on track with your timing every time you teach.
• Dedicated sections for the instructor and the producer (or co-teacher) help keep you both in sync throughout the training.
• A simplified approach to navigation information (the Slide/Website column) lets you describe what should be on-screen at any given moment instead of embedding the usual slide images or screenshots; this significantly reduces maintenance overhead and increases the likelihood that guides will be kept up-to-date.
• Content is often organized with “DO” and “SAY” labels to easily differentiate between scripted content and steps or other notes for the instructor and producer.
• Each part of the lesson ends with a color-coded transition section to remind designers and trainers of the critical importance of those transitional moments that are so often rushed in live training.

Session Outline

For training sessions delivered by a single instructor (no moderator), webinars (minimal hands-on work), and face-to-face sessions, we use a slightly simplified Session Outline template in lieu of the full facilitator guide. The outline contains many of the same elements as the facilitator guide, but the elimination of the boxed layout makes it a bit easier to write and maintain, and it generally results in a significantly shorter document.

Notable Features:

• Custom styles make it easy to include activities, technical instructions, notes, and other elements of the session.
• Organizational features like boxed headers help you navigate through the document easily, whether you use a digital or printed copy.
• Variations in color and border styles draw the eye and differentiate between different types of content in an accessible way.
• Flexible format can be easily adapted to suit the individual instructor’s preferences.