Delaware Department of Transportation wants standardized training for their utility coordinators so that their project delivery is consistent and reliable. They need materials updated/developed for the 90 minute soft skills session of their training conference for utility coordinators. I am working with a SME/Instructor to modify existing ILT materials from a similar module taught in the past through a different state DOT.

The materials from the previous state project did not include an instructor’s guide; I am creating an instructor’s guide so that there is more flexibility for different instructors to teach this module. I am also creating an updated participant guide. I have proposed a guide design with much more detail so that it can double as a job aid for employees after the training. Research has found that spaced retrieval aids learner retention of content. By accessing materials after the live instruction, participants have a greater chance of material entering their long-term memory.

In a similar vein, I’m creating updated session slides with much less text and no busy charts. I have included core text, charts, and supplemental visuals in the participant guide. Research has found that learners get overwhelmed with busy slides; our brains cannot focus on auditory and visual input at the same time; instead, the brain must rapidly switch between inputs. In an effort to increase learner retention, I’m proposing minimal text on the slides; text can be supplemented with visuals.