Critical Thinking Workshop
Soft Skills Training for Employees
Company Setting
This was created for a training workshop for a company that provides training for companies in many industries. The aim of the course is to actively engage employees to use soft skills such as critical thinking skills in their workplace. The majority of the employees are new graduates who recently started working.
Project team
I completed this project as an independent instructional design contractor working under the direction of the company’s lead instructional designer and project manager.
Task overview
This project is for participants to understand critical thinking through real life issues. The course takes the learner through scenario based activities where they are able demonstrate the learning through active participation. Peer feedback is encouraged and incorporated into the learning experience.
Design Theory
This workshop was developed through Bloom’s taxonomy which allows us to choose cognitive verbs. We used these action verbs to design and develop the learning objectives of the training. It helps us to design interactive and collaborative activities as it is one way to evaluate participant’s learning.
Gagne’s 9 levels of instruction allows participants to draw from their prior knowledge and at the same time, the trainers are able to provide real stories that the participants can relate to. Such activities create a safe place for participants to learn, grow, and apply with others in a safe virtual environment.
Design and Development Process
I had to understand the needs of the company: What is the performance problem? What are we trying to solve? How can we best describe the company’s demographics and culture?
Having this knowledge, I provided guidance on scenarios that we can write to capture participants’ workplace environment.
I developed a storyboard using Microsoft PowerPoint so that it was a working prototype.
I also created a facilitator guide for the slide deck.