NCJ Number
201730
Journal
Law Enforcement Trainer Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: May/June 2001 Pages: 22-25,37
Date Published
May 2001
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article discusses curriculum development ideas for police training.
Abstract
Trainers are responsible for assessing an agency’s training needs, researching information, and developing curriculum to correct deficiencies and/or modify behavior. Training managers are also responsible for ensuring that these tasks are completed by staff in an efficient manner. An “ABC” curriculum development check off sheet can be created with task completion dates following each activity. Creating a list provides needed focus. The curriculum development process begins by identifying and/or differentiating between a training need and a training want. The first step is to analyze the specific tasks associated with the subject matter and prioritize tasks to be taught in the lesson plan. The next part of this task identification is to create a matrix that highlights “critical or essential” tasks. The second step is to build the lesson plan. Drafting actual lesson plans begin by writing training objectives that support the tasks. Identifying the tasks beforehand make the development of objectives much easier. Once objectives are clearly in place, the next development task involves conducting a literature search or review. Resources include the Internet, magazine articles, books, older lesson plans, and academic journals. The training supervisor must ensure trainers are teaching the most up-to-date tactic or information possible. Synthesizing and determining which sources provide the best and most accurate information related to training objectives is the next step. All collected sources should be listed in the chronological order they will be taught and then trainers can begin drafting the lesson plan. The last duty concerning curriculum development is ensuring that trainers create an instructor version of the lesson plan that includes notes indicating when to use specific audiovisuals and/or PowerPoint slides.