Writing session plans

The session plan should contain these components:

1. TOPIC

2. TARGET GROUP

3. DURATION OF THE SESSION

4. BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVES

5. PROCEDURES

6. PRACTICAL EXERCISE

7. PREPARATION AND SUPPLIES

TOPIC AND TARGET GROUP: The topic of your session will depend on the needs of your target group. It is useful to document the nature of the target group for others who may use the session plan. It is also useful to indicate the ideal number of participants.

DURATION OF THE SESSION: In general, a topic should be contained a session that is two hours long or less. A broad topic area may be summarized or broken down into components to be covered in separate sessions. It is very important to REHEARSE and TIME the session based on the completed session plan and include blocks of time for discussion and for completing the practical exercise. It may help to write a time limit for each step in the procedure.

BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVES: The objectives help the facilitator and participants to focus on the intent of the session. The participants should ALWAYS be aware of the objectives of the training session. Therefore, the objectives should be read or explained at the beginning of the session.

GENERAL RULES for writing behavioral objectives are as follows:

1. The objective should contain an action verb and describe what the participant will be able to do at the end of a session.

2. The effect should always be measurable.

3. The participants are always the subject of the sentence .

INCORRECTLY WRITTEN: "The effects of accurate bookkeeping will be appreciated." (The participant is not the subject of the sentence. Appreciation is difficult or impossible to measure.}

CORRECTLY WRITTEN: ''The participants will be able to use a simple bookkeeping ledger designed for illiterates." (This sentence gives very specific information about what the participant will be able to do and success can be measured by observing the use of the ledger.)

PROCEDURES: One way of describing the procedures to be used in achieving the objectives is to list them as STEPS. The procedures are not always fully detailed but may serve more as a guide for the facilitator. If, for instance, a lecture is to be delivered, it may be written out on an attached page.

PRACTICAL EXERCISE: As discussed before, adults learn by practical experience and wish to put into practice what they learn as soon as possible. It IS very useful to incorporate a practical exercise in the session as a means to achieve an objective or to reinforce learning. The practical exercise should be a CREATIVE and, if possible, FUN part of the session. It should involve some type of diversion in which people get up and move, change their focus, and are encouraged to use their minds and participate .

PREPARATION AND SUPPLIES: of course, one cannot prepare for a session or collect supplies while the session is in progress. Therefore, for the session to go smoothly, ADVANCE PLANNING must take place. It is useful to write this information in the plan so that nothing is forgotten and so other facilitators who use the plan will anticipate these needs.