Eighteen years ago, Gray Training laid the ground work for its unique approach to materials design, by developing a robust competency analysis process.

Our philosophy was very simple: Be very clear and accurate about what you have to train - then the training materials will look after themselves.

This staunchly analytic approach was the foundation for what we now have – a clear materials design protocol which takes us through the following stages:

• Analyse the clients’ needs
• Analyse relevant competency elements
• Identify and analyse relevant unit stands
• Structure the curriculum content
• Design the learning blueprint
• Develop the learning and assessment materials
• Quality assure the materials
• Evaluate the learning programme
• Fine-tune as needed.

Analysis:

We have a selection of state-of-the-art tools to unlock the complex information in a unit standard, in product knowledge and in a competency element. These tools guarantee that we start any project with the correct information, and end with a relevant curriculum.

The analysis report is a key deliverable, forming the basis for the agreement of the scope of the project. The client’s signature tells us that we have defined the correct building blocks to start the design and development process.

Design:

We use a rigorous process for developing a learning blueprint which ensures that the learning is outcomes-based and is relevant and exciting for adult learners. Best learning and optimum transfer to the workplace demands that learning is hands-on, experiential and creative – and the design blueprint allows us to plan all of these qualities into the learning material.

The design blueprint is another key deliverable. It specifies exactly how each learning module will be developed, specifies the Fog Index levels, stipulates the training deliverables, and presents templates for reviews and agreement. The blueprint prevents costly development blunders and reworking of material.

Development

The analysis and design provide the materials for the development prices. We work fast and efficiently, developing materials such as:
• Interactive facilitator guides
• Learner guides
• Self-paced manuals
• Learning aids (flashcards, slides, flipcharts etc)
• Learning games, in-box exercises and simulations
• Assessment tools and evaluation protocols etc

Quality Assurance

We have a rigorous QA process that places every item under the QA microscope before it leaves Gray Training. At the very least this process involves a QA by an in-house Subject Matter Expert, Gray Training language and learning specialists and a graphics and formatting expert.

Evaluation

The proof of the pudding, they say, is in the eating, so a careful pilot testing process is an important part of our protocol. We prefer to co-facilitate a new programme with in-house trainers so that their practical response to the training material can be included in the evaluation. And of course, we carefully analyse the learners’ responses to the material, the exercises, the assessments etc, and picking up any areas of inaccuracy or ambiguity that may have crept in.

Projects

We have been privileged to be involved in countless projects for clients over the past 19 years. Here are just a few of our recent developments:

ABSA
Analysis of competency elements within the Contact Centre, and the close analysis of a host of relevant unit standards. Each standard has been mapped to existing learning material, identifying gaps and overlaps.

BANKSETA
Development of guides for:
• Employers wishing to run learnerships
• Learners needing to understand how learnerships work, and the implications for them.

Transunion ITC
Development of a basic and an advanced learning programme for clients, their customers and the general public, on how to use money wisely. The material included facilitator guides, learning guides and aids.
Plascon Development of a learning guide for sales consultants on the technicalities behind a paint solution. This guide was designed to be either facilitated or self-paced, and the project included the development of a facilitator’s guide.

Inter-bank
Compliance project Development of learning guides and facilitator guides for two major projects:
• The FAIS learning programme which focused upon the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (FAIS)
• And the Anti-money laundering programme which made sense of the FICA Money Laundering Control Regulations.

Capital Alliance
Close analysis of a host of relevant unit standards. Each standard was mapped to existing learning material, identifying gaps and overlaps, and design blueprints drawn up for the development of new material.

BANKSETA
Development of three complete learning programmes for the Micro Finance Skills project:
• Unit standard-based programme to grow skills and understanding in the Microfinance environment
• Experiential learning programme for people wishing to establish small businesses
• Innovative multi-media programme to teach the general public how to use money wisely.