How do you design a facilitator guide that aligns with your learning objectives?

1 Define your learning objectives

The first step in designing a session is to define what you want your participants to learn, do, or feel as a result. Learning objectives should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. They should be aligned with the overall goal and outcome of the session. For example, if the goal is to improve team communication, the learning objectives could include being able to identify and apply the four components of effective feedback, using active listening skills to demonstrate empathy and understanding, and resolving conflicts constructively using a five-step model by the end of the session.

2 Design your content and activities

The next step is to design content and activities that will help your participants achieve the learning objectives. Content includes information, concepts, theories, or models to share and activities are exercises, games, discussions, or simulations to engage and reinforce the content. You should use the ADDIE model to analyze the gaps and expectations of your participants, design a logical flow of content and activities, develop materials and resources needed, implement the session with confidence and flexibility, and evaluate its effectiveness and impact. Additionally, use the 4C model to start with a connection activity linking the session to prior knowledge and experience, introduce a concept using clear explanations and examples, provide concrete practice opportunities in realistic scenarios, and end with a conclusion activity summarizing key points. Lastly, follow the 70-20-10 rule where 70% of time is spent on experiential learning, 20% on social learning, and 10% on formal learning. This means that activities should prioritize learning by doing, interacting, and reflecting rather than lecturing or presenting.

3 Write your facilitator notes

The final step is to write your facilitator notes, which are the instructions, tips, reminders, or prompts that you write for yourself to ensure a successful delivery of content and activities. It should not be a script but rather an aid to stay on track, manage time, facilitate discussions, handle questions, and deal with challenges. When writing your facilitator notes, you should use bullet points, tables, charts, or diagrams to organize them and make them easy to read and follow. Different fonts, colors, or symbols can be used to highlight key information such as learning objectives, questions, transitions, or feedback. You can also use brackets, parentheses, or italics to indicate the type of note and abbreviations, acronyms, or keywords to save space and avoid repetition. Lastly, use clear and simple language to avoid confusion or ambiguity. A facilitator guide is a great tool that will help you design and deliver an effective learning session.

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?