EPFA 429/529 Principles of Training & Development (3 credits)

Prerequisite for Training and Development Program.

An examination of the principles of training and development with emphasis on applying adult learning theory to the training function. Essential principles include those related to developing training objectives, selecting training methods and resources, sequencing the learning experiences, and evaluating the training. Designed for trainers from a variety of work settings with a strong background in a content area who have little background in adult learning theory and its application to training and development practices.

Learn to:

• Describe the role of needs assessment in program development
• Formulate and assess clear training objectives
• Select training methods appropriate to your training style, your learners, and the goals of your program
• Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of specific training strategies
• Understand the role of culture in training
• Identify and confirm your own set of ethics based on professional standard
  

EPFA 430/530 Course Design and Evaluation (4 credits)

Prerequisite: Principles of Training and Development.

An examination of the field of instructional design for adult learners within the training and development field in educational and noneducational organizational settings. The focus is on learning to design and manage instructional activities in response to training needs and skills analyses. Students assess training needs, develop training solutions, gather content information, build a design document, manage materials and media development of a training or instructional design document that demonstrates a student’s ability to align and integrate effectively all aspects of the design process and to incorporate adult learning theory.

Learn to:

• Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of various models of Instructional Systems Design
• Plan training based on skill or job performance deficiencies
• Estimate the scope and effort of the project and obtain needed support
• Develop a relevant training solution by assessing your target audience, skills needed, and appropriate training required
• Understand different levels of evaluation, and differences between experimental and quasi-experimental designs
• Be able to design and justify a project evaluation plan

EPFA 431/531 Contemporary Issues in Training and Development (3 credits)

Prerequisites: Principles of Training and Development and at least three other courses in the series

Building on competencies developed during previous courses in the Training and Development series, this course provides a culminating experience to the series. The seminar provides an opportunity for students to examine national and local trends in training and organizational development and to prepare for ongoing professional growth in the context of contemporary issues in the field.

Learn to:

• Analyze the social responsibilities and opportunities of a human resource development professional in modern organizations and society
• Analyze the impact of cultural diversity on the training context
  
• Understand the impact of corporate transitions on their profession and clients
  
• Become familiar with resources, professional associations, and current issues in the field
  
• Research a professional development topic relevant to your current career path
  
• Synthesize and apply learning from previous courses in the series using a “theory into practice” model Developing
  

EPFA 439/539 Developing Training Materials (3 credits)

Prerequisite: Principles of Training and Development

Create training materials that support and help you achieve your training objectives and learn how to design and use attention-grabbing visual media.

Learn to:

• Identify key training points that can be enhanced using effective materials
  
• Select written and audio/visual mediums appropriate for specific learning objectives, audiences, and situations
  
• Identify and apply four design principles and at least seven design tools in developing effective training materials
  
• Prepare written materials effectively contributing to adult learning
  Operate audio/visual equipment commonly used in the training setting

EPFA 432/532 Training Methods (3 credits)

Prerequisite: Principles of Training and Development

This course focuses on instructional strategies and effective delivery of training programs necessary for enhancing adult learning and professional development. Students will examine individual learning preferences and multiple types of active pedagogy for increasing transfer of learning. In addition, various techniques and tools for linking learning outcomes with organizational goals will be addressed.

EPFA 434/534 Leadership of the Training Function (3 credits)

Prerequisite: Principles of Training and Development

This course focuses upon research-based, practical approaches for leading, managing and evaluating the training and development function in organizations. It explores the role of training and development in achieving individual and organizational goals, as well as strategies and resources used in effective personnel development. Students analyze how to: develop, manage and evaluate the training function; identify strategies and resources for effective training management; and diagnose how the organization's culture and needs affect the selection and success of training management efforts.

EPFA 435/535 Organizational Transformation through Training and Development (3 credits)

Prerequiste: Principles of Training and Development

Designed for managers of the training and development function in organizations, this course focuses on the role of training and development in organization transformation, improvement, and change. The course provides opportunities to bring real workplace examples into the classroom and to apply organization development and systems theory in the development strategies for organization improvement through the training and development function.

EPFA 444/544 Instructional Design for Online-Based Training (3 credits)

Prerequisites: Principles of Training and Development and Course Design and Evaluation

What sets multimedia apart from other creative technologies? The user’s ability to interact with the medium and control the content and flow of information is what sets multimedia apart. Strong, creative interactive designs are a foundation of successful multimedia and web-based training applications. Examine the instructional strategies, interactive techniques, information architecture, and user-interface design principles used in multimedia and web-based training.

After the course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the basic steps in creating interactive multimedia and web-based training
• Assess the strengths, limitations, and requirements of different technology-based training methods
• Analyze audience learning and experience preferences, training requirements, and content objectives. Use that information to choose appropriate training strategies and methods
• Identify levels and types of interactivity and explain how to select types that are appropriate for a training project
• List the principles of good interface design and evaluate a product to determine if it meets these criteria
• Create user-interface designs using Adobe Photoshop Create flowcharts and interface design specifications that describe the user-interface and interactivity
• Write storyboard or script
• Create a basic web site using a web authoring tool
  

Note: This class is a WEB supported classes. This means that the student will need access to the Internet and be familiar with both e-mail and the WEB in order to fully participate in the class.

EPFA 445/545 Building Online Based Training (4 credits)

Prerequisites: Principles of Training and Development and Course Design and Evaluation

How do you transform a completed design into a finished multimedia or web-based training application? Knowledge of development processes, technical skills, and project management can make the difference between a successful project and a disaster. Examine development methodologies, principles of task identification risk mitigation, technical architecture, and creative tools used in multimedia and web-based training.

In this course, students will:

• Learn basic Web authoring and layout
  
• Learn the basic features of image and sound editing tools
  
• Build Flash animations to support learning and interest retention
  
• Learn project management techniques
  
• Work collaboratively to produce Web-based multimedia training projects, applying learning theory and project management principles
  

Note: This class is a WEB supported classes. This means that the student will need access to the Internet and be familiar with both e-mail and the WEB in order to fully participate in the class.

EPFA 410/510 Developing Intercultural Competence for Trainers (3 credits)

Prerequisites: Principles of Training and Development

For the professional trainer, daily interactions consistently involve adaptation to different cultural styles. Most of us can no longer enter our training rooms confident that our participants will share our worldview, our cultural norms, or even our own language.

Whether we are designing or delivering training, culturally influenced styles present both barriers and opportunities for our work. By understanding how others communicate, think, and learn, we can capitalize on those opportunities, and limit those barriers.

This course will explore essential frameworks for training any subject across cultures:

• Communication Styles: How we express ourselves based on cultural norms
  
• Learning Styles: How we prefer to learn and teach
  
• Cognitive Styles: How we construct, organize, and apply knowledge
  
• Cultural Value Differences: How core beliefs manifest in the classroom
  
• Nonverbal Communication Patterns: How we embellish our words with nonverbal messages
  
• Conflict Resolution: How we bridge stressful intercultural situations
• Race, Privilege, and Prejudice: How we bring our racial and ethnic identities to the learning context

Learn to:

• Recognize the many layered multicultural selves individuals bring to the classroom
  
• Assess the impact of diversity on teaching and learning
  
• Identify their own cultural patterns
  
• Analyze the range of cultural norms and values in the classroom
  
• Apply culturally related conflict resolution strategies
  
• Assess their learning styles and teaching styles with application to cultural contexts
  
• Identify issues relevant to training any subject across cultures
  
• Apply frameworks of intercultural analysis to instructional design

EPFA 410/510 Methods and Models for Intercultural Training (2 credits)

Prerequisites: Principles of Training and Development

Students will explore methods and models of Intercultural Training while attending a 3-day Intensive course at the Summer Institute for Intercultural Communication (SIIC). SIIC is a professional development program which explores the skills, techniques, theories and applications of intercultural communication in a variety of professional contexts. Through an intensive, enrollment-limited workshop with well-known leaders in the field, participants have the opportunity to explore educational and training applications of intercultural relations in organizations, as well as gather resources and network with other professionals in a stimulating and supportive environment.

Students may choose from the following list of 3-day courses to complete their Intercultural Training Certificate of Completion:

• Methods of Intercultural Training
  
• Leveraging Differences in Groups
  
• Intercultural Teaching and Training Strategies for Asians
  
• Foundations of Diversity Training
  
• Facilitating Difficult Dialogues
  
• The Places of Culture: Creating Space for Effective Communication