How to Create a Simple and Compliant Session Plan

A Simple and Compliant Session Plan provides a clear structure so that, whether you’re delivering training in a classroom, workshop, or workplace setting, your lessons are both effective and compliant with accredited training standards. This not only supports your students in achieving their learning outcomes but also helps your organisation meet regulatory requirements.

In this blog, we’ll guide you through the process of creating a simple and compliant session plan that aligns with training packages, assessment tools, and ensures a positive learning experience for all involved.

How to Create a Simple and Compliant Session Plan

Creating a simple and compliant session plan for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) is a critical part of their day-to-day operations. RTOs have an obligation to provide quality education and training in compliance with the national standards set by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). This can be achieved by ensuring that all session plans are based on an accurate understanding of the training requirements, meeting national competency standards, and accurately reflecting learning objectives. An effective session plan should include clear objectives, activities to achieve these objectives, resources required for successful delivery, and appropriate assessment strategies.

Firstly, RTOs should research materials available relevant to their course content, such as state or national curriculum documents, textbooks, course manuals, books, or diaries from trainers in this field, staff competency profiles, and experience feedback from past students, etc. Secondly, they need to prepare and deliver learning sessions that achieve specified nationally recognised learning outcomes using sound pedagogical practices, including the selection of appropriate activities. In addition to teaching proper content delivery methods, such as lectures, demos, role plays, or group activities, trainers should also use a mix of informal assessment techniques throughout each session to check that students’ understanding is progressing.

Thirdly, RTOs need to ensure they are using suitable resources and materials that meet the required standards as set by ASQA. This may include reference materials, audio/visual equipment, and other technological aids such as online learning tools. Fourthly, RTOs must ensure their assessment strategies are consistent with their teaching methodology and reflect the expected learning outcomes for each session.

How to Prepare a Simple and Compliant Session Plan

• Step 1: Defining the Objectives of Your Training Session
• Step 2: Outline Your Delivery Structure
• Step 3: Plan Your Session Content
• Step 4: Consider Different Types of Assessments
• Step 5: Invest Time & Resources in Evaluation Processes

Step 1: Start by Defining the Objectives of Your Training Session

Before anything else, first, you need to define what the objectives of your training session are going to be. Do you want to provide learners with additional skills in a specific area? Or perhaps you want to introduce new policies or procedures. Be as specific as possible in the session plan draft. It will help the users to clearly understand what they will learn from the session.

Step 2: Outline Your Delivery Structure

Your delivery structure needs to consider different learning styles and preferences—visual, auditory, or hands-on activities—and any resources and materials needed for presentation or discussion. If this is an online learning initiative, identify technical requirements such as hardware and software that participants might need to participate effectively throughout the training session.

You can find session plans for training template examples and session plan templates for training from any reputed RTO resource provider to help you structure your sessions effectively.

Step 3: Plan Your Session Content

Most of your preparation will centre on developing content for your training sessions. Break down each topic into smaller chunks within which specific activities can be planned and discussed.

Assign a timeline for each subtopic where feasible and ensure employees have ample time for questions at critical points throughout the session. Additionally, avoid overwhelming participants with too much information by keeping relevant topics simple yet thorough enough to cover all essential aspects.

Step 4: Consider Different Types of Assessments

Developing assessment tools explicitly tailored to gauge learner understanding of core training topics helps to ensure that learners have gained something useful after completing their sessions. Whether in groups or individually assessed, tests can help verify their progress while supplementing overall qualitative feedback on participant engagement as well as performance ratings after each session.

Additionally, in your assessment plan, include periodic assessments along major parts of instructions to ensure greater accountability throughout the entire program structure, such as projects (quizzes), etc.

Step 5: Invest Time & Resources in Evaluation Processes

When you want to ensure success when implementing any program, it is important to make sure that you have adequate and detailed session plans. Investing time and resources into evaluation processes is essential to creating a successful program and will help you determine which activities are working well and which need improvement.

Three Key Elements of a Well-Planned Session Plan

The three things that a well-planned session plan should include are as follows:

a. Learning Outcomes

A well-planned session plan should always start with clear and measurable learning outcomes. These outcomes should be specific, achievable, and relevant to the course or training program. Trainers should align the session with the overall program objectives and the learners’ needs. By clearly defining the learning outcomes, trainers ensure that the session remains focused and that learners understand what is expected of them. It can also help trainers to assess the effectiveness of the session.

b. Activities and Resources

Once the learning outcomes have been identified, trainers need to plan the activities and resources that will help learners achieve those outcomes. These activities should be engaging, interactive, and relevant to the learners’ needs. They should also be designed to cater to different learning styles and abilities. Trainers should consider using a mix of activities, such as group discussions, case studies, simulations, and practical exercises, to keep learners engaged and motivated. In addition, trainers should ensure that they have all the necessary resources, such as handouts, presentations, and equipment, to support the activities.

c. Assessment Strategies

Finally, a simple and compliant session plan should include assessment strategies that align with the learning outcomes and activities. These strategies should be designed to measure the learners’ understanding and application of the concepts covered in the session. Trainers should consider using a variety of assessment methods, such as quizzes, role-plays, and demonstrations, to cater to different learning styles and abilities. They should also provide feedback to learners on their performance and offer opportunities for them to improve.

Structuring Training Sessions for Maximum Engagement Using a Session Plan Template

The EDAS (Explain, Demonstrate, Apply, Summarise) model is a highly effective framework for structuring your training sessions, and can easily be incorporated into a session plan. Here’s how it works:

• Explain (Incorporate into Session Plan): Begin your session plan by outlining the learning objectives and key concepts you will explain. Use clear language, relevant examples, and visuals to ensure learners grasp the fundamental ideas.
• Demonstrate (Incorporate into Session Plan): Follow up the explanation in your components of the session plan with a detailed outline of the practical demonstration you will provide. Show learners how the concept or skill is applied in a real-world context. If possible, involve learners in the demonstration to enhance their understanding.
• Apply (Incorporate into Session Plan): Dedicate a section in your session plan to outline the hands-on activities, group exercises, role-plays, or simulations that learners will participate in. These activities should allow learners to practice and receive feedback in a safe and supportive environment.
• Summarise (Incorporate into Session Plan): Conclude your session plan with a summary of the key points covered. Briefly recap the learning objectives and highlight the main takeaways. Allocate time for learners to ask questions and clarify any doubts they may have.

If you have any questions related to session planning, please click here and complete the form. As discussed above, please click here to get a free training session plan template.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a session plan, and why do we need to develop this document?

A session plan is a structured document that includes sequences of information, activities, and information linked with your training and assessment resources. This document helps trainers to get a delivery structure, and it also helps RTOs to get consistency in the delivery.

RTO needs to develop this document for each unit/cluster to get consistency in the training and assessments.

2. What information do I need to include in the session plan?

The session plan should include the following information:

3. How do I create a sequence in the session plan?

I have read this GLOSS OFF process from Fortress learning and found it useful.

GLOSS stands for:

G	Gain the learner’s attention, interest, and involvement
L	Link the learning to the learner’s previous experience
O	Outcomes of the session are identified
S	The structure of the session is previewed
S	Stimulate the learner’s motivation

OFF stands for:

O	Outcomes are reviewed
F	Feedback to individuals and the group provides encouragement and motivation for future learning
F	Future outcomes and where the learning is leading learners.

4. Do we need a different session plan if we have different delivery modes?

Yes, you need to contextualise your session plan according to the delivery mode and hours of delivery. For different delivery modes, you will have different structures and delivery hours. For example structure for classroom delivery will be different compared to workplace delivery, and you may have a small number of hours in the workplace delivery.

5. How detailed a session plan do we need to create?

I hear this question more often because there are no specific guidelines from ASQA related to the session plan. If you cover your structure, sequencing of the information, and cover the training package requirements, and include the above-mentioned information, then it will be sufficient.

6. Do I need to add assessment information and simulated practical information in the session plan?

Yes, the session plan outlines your unit structure and allocates time for assessments, activities, role play, presentations, and practical assessments. It is crucial not only for compliance but also for enhancing education quality and consistency in training and assessment.