PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Rescue Training Associates employs specialized personnel to design, develop and execute technical and operational training. The RTA TEAM uses the Instructional Systems Design (ISD) and Systems Approach to Training (SAT) methodologies to design all of our training programs and support documents.

The ISD and SAT process provides the best means for sound decision making to determine the who, what, when, where, why, and how of training. The concept of ISD is based on obtaining an overall view of the training process. It is characterized by an orderly process for gathering and analyzing collective and individual performance requirements, and by the ability to respond to customer identified training needs. The application of a systems approach to training ensures that training programs and the required support materials are continually developed in an effective and efficient manner to match the variety of needs in an ever rapidly changing WMD environment.

There are several phases involved in developing effective training programs:

1. Analyzing what is required by the organization
2. Designing the system to meet the needs of the organization
3. Developing the system using the outputs of the analysis and design phase
4. Implementing the program, and
5. Evaluating the project throughout its creation and implementation.

Training Material Analysis
Upon notification to commence the development of a new training program or module, a Front End Analysis (FEA) will be performed. The data obtained during the FEA will form the basis for curriculum being developed. The following items are considered during the FEA.

• Job Analysis: Determination of the tasks that are needed to complete the job.
• Task Criteria: A behavior performed on the job.
• Duty Areas: Tasks that can be grouped together due to similarity.
• Verification: Completed task list with duty areas to coordination with program points of contact to verify that the tasks completed meet the required objectives.
• Task Analysis: Completion of tasks after verification.

Training Material Design
Designs a plan of how the instruction is developed. This phase translates tasks into behaviors that are to be performed in the instructional environment. The curriculum developers must ensure complete transfer of learning by taking into consideration the task behavior, student abilities, delivery systems (methods/media) and resource constraints.

Below is a summary of the items taken into account during the design phase.

Target Population Description

• Conduct learning analysis
• Target population description
• Recording the first performance step
• Generation of Knowledges and Skills
• Combining Knowledges and Skills
• Writing the Terminal learning objectives
• Writing the Enabling learning objectives
• Sequence Groupings
• Writing Test Items
• Determine Types of Tests
• Preparing Written Tests
• Selecting Delivery System
• Sequencing Terminal Learning Objectives