Have a Plan!

Becoming an Effective HVACR Instructor Series
Have a Plan!
Written by: Andy Erbach

When developing a training session, having a written plan is the key to running a successful class. If you’re thinking, “I’ve done this many times, I can just wing it,” let me be the first to tell you, that this is a sure plan for disaster. Even training for simple tasks requires, at a minimum, that the trainer know what the learner should be able to do at the end of the training session.

We have all been in the position of trainer when dealing with our customers.  For example, when teaching a homeowner how to change an air filter in a forced air system you:

• explained the procedure and its importance.
•  showed the customer the air filter.
• demonstrated how to access the filter frame.
• demonstrated how to place the filter in the frame and in the correct direction.
• secured the access cover for the filter.
• removed the filter you just installed and had the customer install it.
•  reviewed the procedure and the schedule for filter changes throughout the year.

When teaching fellow technicians, the need for planning is even greater due to the complexity of the equipment that you will be training on. If the learner is experienced in the field, the plan should be designed to acknowledge the technician’s existing knowledge and skills while specifically focusing on the new knowledge that is being presented.

The fundamental sequence, as demonstrated above, can be summarized as:  Explanation, Demonstration, Performance, and Review. This sequence works well in training and education settings.

Writing a brief training plan and sharing it with all participants is a terrific way to start any learning session.  By sharing the plan, everyone in the learning environment understands what is expected of them (and you), what they are expected to learn, and how they will know if they have successfully learned the material. In other words, everyone knows what the outcomes of the training will be and how the skills will be assessed.

Start by explaining the desired outcomes and the assessment methods that will be used when conducting any training. (Will you be asking students to demonstrate the skill you just taught, or will they take an examination to review the concepts that were taught?)  This can be presented in list form when the training is lengthy or complex in nature. If you are conducting a three-hour class on a technical topic, there will of course be a series of various outcomes and assessments for the learners.

And, for those of you newer to the education world, this written plan that communicates the goals and outcomes of a class is also referred to as a syllabus.

 

Tips for This Topic

Always plan your training session.

• In writing
• Share with everyone in the learning environment.

Use the sequence Explain, Demonstrate, Perform, and Review.

• Share the expected learning outcomes.
  
• Share assessment methods to be used at the end of the training.
  
  

Andy Erbach is a retired Professor from Elgin Community College with 15 years full time teaching and 20 years of field experience as an HVAC technician. He holds professional licenses as a HVAC system contractor, Commercial Industrial Electrical Contractor, and as a Stationary Engineer.