Administration Professional Pathways
Executive Update
Take Six Steps Toward Better Training
always refer to the USDA Professional Standards guidelines to be reminded of required key training topics. • Step Three – Set Dates and Times for Each Session You want as many people as possible to attend your session, so you need to find a time that’s convenient for the majority of participants. Once you decide on your dates, distribute a calendar of events well in advance of the scheduled workshop. Then people can plan accordingly. • Step Four – Plan the Workshop Logistics A presenter can focus more clearly on a session’s main content if they are not bogged down in last-minute preparation details. You need to ask yourself, “How many people will be attending? Do I need to reserve a facility? Do I have to get permission to use the venue? What types of equipment do I need, i.e., cook- ing tools, food supplies, presentation equipment, computers? Get organized, and have a checklist of things you need to implement your session successfully. • Step Five – Always Prepare an Agenda In Advance A meeting without an agenda is more likely to go off track. Send the agenda to attendees at least a week in advance so they will know what you’ll be discussing. This gives staff time to prepare their thoughts, write-up questions, or even pull
The time is fast approaching for the new school year to begin. Perhaps some of you have already opened for business. One of the most common rites of passage for school foodservice departments is to sponsor a “Welcome Back” workshop for your staff. These sessions, handled well, can help you to set a positive tone for the rest of the school year. They’re rich in opportunity for reigniting staff excitement, recharging department goals, and launching new concepts or processes for everyone on your team. Create a Training Session Plan Preparation is key to delivering a successful training session. That’s why it pays to create a training session plan. A training session plan – also called a learning plan – is an organized description of the activities and resources you’ll use to guide a group toward a specific learning objective. It details the subject matter that you’ll teach, how long each section should take, the methods of instruc- tion for each topic covered, and the measures you’ll use to check that people have learned what you needed them to learn. 1 Granted, the past two years have taught us that even the best laid plans can go awry. But this time has also shown us that trainers and staff need to remain flexible, and respond to real- time circumstances. Plans can come in many forms. They “can be as simple as a brief outline, or more complex, with scripts, prompts, and lists of questions that you plan to ask.” 2 However, experts agree that no matter the form, your training plan should include at least the following six steps: • Step One – Know Your Audience Since many topics are job-specific, you want to make sure the content you present is relevant to your audience. The content determines who should attend any session. If you have the right people sitting in the classroom, you won’t have to hear
Putting a Learning Plan Into Action
By Chef Stephanie Dyehouse, Assistant Supervisor of Culinary Develop- ment, Cincinnati Public Schools, OH
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together relevant documents to share. • Step Six – Follow Up for Feedback
After each meeting, make sure to distribute a short survey or questionnaire to attendees, and invite their honest input on the session. Seek feedback within 24 hours of the meeting, while their memory of the session is still fresh. You will gather essential information on the quality of your just-completed workshop, and learn how you might improve future meetings. Training is an effective way to share information with a group of people, all at the same time. It’s also a great way to reinforce team bonds by allowing people to learn together, think together, and create a shared history together, as well. By following the basic steps outlined above, you’ll feel more confident in your training, and be able to focus your attention on having some fun. 1 Indeed Editorial Team, “How To Measure Training Effectiveness in 5 Steps,” Indeed.com , September 15, 2021. www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-mea- sure-training-effectiveness. Accessed: July 22, 2022. 2 Ibid.
the comment, “Why am I here?” anymore. • Step Two – Decide on the Subject Matter
Because you will know your audience, you can more accurately determine the right subject matter for that particular group. Review issues that have arisen in the course of your day-to-day business. Ask staff about what they have identified as training content suggestions. And if you need additional ideas, you can
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