Developing Your Learning Plan

A Coachs Guide
As a coach you have a two-fold role in establishing a learning plan: Understand the team members goals and purposes as represented by the learning plan. Ensure that all targeted learning events are realistic, purposeful, and achievable. Verify that the learning plan can be completed as outlined. Review the core values, core competencies, and company strategies and ensure they have been properly incorporated into the learning plan. Your emphasis here is to make sure that company interests are properly represented and that you contribute targeted learning events that are challenging, meaningful, and relevant.

Typical Learning Events by Category

The Yale University Library developed a table representing a continuum of learning methods to consider when developing a learning plan: Informal - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Formal Book Article Magazine CD DVD Video Audio Web On-Line Computer - Based Training Committee Team Project Mentoring Coaching CrossTraining Tutoring Lecture Talk Conference Workshop Seminar Formal Training Other

Book, Article, Magazine, White Paper. These resources work like the Reserve desk at a University libraryyou specify the resources that you want your team members to be accountable for. You assign the text, make an assignment regarding how the learner will apply the content to a business problem, and then note the completion of the assignment and make sure we develop an assessment that can be graded to show satisfactory completion of the assignment. sList the hard copy books, articles, or white papers that you recommend for this learning plan. Example: Read the Zappos book Delivering Happiness and write a 5 page summary of how we can incorporate some of the highlighted principles at One on One. Discuss with your manager. Read Clayton Christensens Reflections on Disruption (Copies in Library) and write a onepage paper of how we can apply this at One on One. Discuss with your manager.

Where do we store company-wide or department-wide resources? What is procedure for purchasing them? Do we reimburse for e-book copies loaded to a PDA or reader? CD, DVD, Video, Audio. Audio/Visual (A/V). A/V resources enhance learning by incorporating additional sensory involvement. The typical application is to provide an A/V file, with an assignment and a completion deadline. The coach notes the completion of the assignment and verifies assessment of content. List the CDs, DVDs, or A/V files that you want to make a part of this learning plan. Example: Have Joe watch the cd-rom Keep the Cattle Moving Have Joe listen to the library audio tapes Improving Your Self Esteem by W. Crayton. Write 2 page summary of lessons learned and plans to incorporate what he learned.

Web, Online, Computer-based Training. Online Web-based Trainings (WBTs) and Computerbased Trainings (CBTs) deliver learning through computer- and Internet-based resources. There is a growing body of no-cost and low-cost training available through the Internet (for example, Microsoft, Adobe, and YouTube videos). The LMS provides 300+ self-paced trainings on a range of subjects. We also have software that animates PowerPoint presentations and coverts them in a web-based Flash format (Articulate). Work with the Training department to identify good candidate courses that can be delivered in WBTs as self-paced trainings available on demand. Other formal learning can be purchased and is delivered as WBT or CBT. List any web-based, computer-based, or online learning that you recommend for this learning plan. Example: Have Joe take this Excel training: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpCaVZCURZQ. Meeting Essentials WBT on ODome Committee, Project Team. Think Tank. Committees, group or team assignments, and think tanks are formal ways to get people together to solve common problems. When necessary, the coach facilitates the formation of a committee, project team, or think tank to attack a specific problem. List any committee assignments, projects, special teams, or think tanks that you recommend for this team member as part of their learning plan. Example: Have Joe organize a think tank on the topic Long tail keyword strategies that will improve our overall conversion rates. Invite Mary M., Ted L., Brock T., and Calib P. Meet for an hour each week for the next two months. Prepare a 3-page white paper on findings and recommendations.

Mentoring, Coaching, Cross-training, Tutoring. This form of learning is more formal and includes pairing someone of less experience (or of different perspective) with someone of greater experience in a given area with the purpose of accelerating or synergizing learning. The coach facilitates these relationships with a stated purpose and a measurable outcome. Define any mentoring, coaching, cross-training, or tutoring relationships you recommend become a part of this learning plan. Be sure to specify the purpose of the relationship, its assignment or anticipated outcome, and how success will be measured. Examples: Spend 1 hour a week in peer-programming with Joe to help him accelerate his PHP development. Have Bill S. work with Joe for a half day once a month to develop new traffic sources. Lecture, Talk. A lecture or a talk is a learning opportunity to attend an event in which an industry or content expert provides information and/or methodology deemed to benefit participants. List any lectures or talks you would like this team member to attend; or, list any talks or lectures you would like this team member to prepare for others. Examples: Ask Joe to develop a 30,000 foot view of the data warehouse that non IT departments come to. Find a webinar or threaded discussion on advanced SEM tactics and report on it to the team. Conference, Workshop, Seminar, Formal Training (Instructor-led). These learning events typically represent investments made by the company in an individual. By attending one of these specialty events, the team member obtains special information, techniques, or understanding that will add value to themselves and to the company. List any conferences, workshops, seminars, or formal training events that you recommend become a part of this learning plan. Examples: Send Joe to the annual EPSE Convention in Las Vegas, Nov. 13-15, 2012. Have him attend courses ABC and find out information about XYZ. Prepare white paper for Exec Team. Find a seminar (preferably SLC) on Business Development. Attend and report back to the team. Departments will need budgeted resources for Learning Plan targets. Will the company reimburse a portion of targeted school expenses?