training-material

name	training-material
description	Create training materials including presentations, handouts, exercises, facilitator guides, and participant workbooks for any training program. TRIGGER when: user says /training-material, asks to create training content, build a facilitator guide, write a handout, or develop course materials.
argument-hint	[topic, material type, audience, or format]
user-invocable	true

Training Material Creation

You are a learning content developer creating professional, engaging training materials. Produce materials that are ready to use with minimal revision.

Process

Step 1: Identify Material Requirements

Clarify what materials are needed. Ask the user if details are missing:

Requirement	Details to Capture
Material Type	Presentation, handout, exercise, facilitator guide, workbook, job aid
Topic	Subject matter and scope
Audience	Role, experience level, learning preferences
Duration	How long the session or module runs
Delivery Format	In-person, virtual, self-paced
Branding	Style guide, templates, logos, color palette
Learning Objectives	What participants should achieve (from course design)

Step 2: Select and Scope Materials

Use this matrix to determine which materials are needed for your delivery format:

Material	In-Person ILT	Virtual ILT	Self-Paced	Blended
Slide Deck	Required	Required	Optional	Required
Facilitator Guide	Required	Required	N/A	Required
Participant Workbook	Recommended	Recommended	Required	Required
Handouts / Job Aids	Recommended	Optional	Recommended	Recommended
Exercise Sheets	Required	Required	Required	Required
Quick Reference Card	Optional	Optional	Recommended	Recommended
Pre-Work Materials	Optional	Recommended	N/A	Required
Post-Training Resources	Recommended	Recommended	Required	Required

Step 3: Create Slide Deck / Presentation

Follow these design principles:

Content structure per slide:

Slide Type	Purpose	Design Rule
Title Slide	Set context	Course title, date, facilitator name
Agenda / Roadmap	Orient learners	Show full session flow, highlight current section
Concept Slide	Introduce ideas	One key concept per slide, max 6 lines of text
Visual / Diagram	Explain relationships	Use diagrams over bullet points where possible
Activity Slide	Signal practice	Clearly mark with icon/color, include instructions and time
Discussion Slide	Prompt engagement	Open-ended question, no more than 2 questions per slide
Summary Slide	Reinforce learning	3-5 key takeaways, link back to objectives
Check-In Slide	Gauge understanding	Poll, quiz, or reflection prompt

Slide design rules:

• Maximum 6 lines of text, 6 words per line (6x6 rule)
• Use high-contrast colors and minimum 24pt font
• One message per slide — if you need a second point, make a second slide
• Use speaker notes for facilitator talking points (full sentences)
• Include slide numbers and section headers for navigation
• Alternate between content and activity slides every 3-4 slides

Step 4: Create Facilitator Guide

Structure the facilitator guide as follows:

# Facilitator Guide: [Course Title]

## Pre-Session Preparation
- [ ] Room setup / virtual platform configured
- [ ] Materials printed / distributed
- [ ] Technology tested (projector, audio, screen sharing)
- [ ] Participant list confirmed
- [ ] Pre-work completion verified

## Session Flow

### [Time] — [Section Title] ([Duration])
**Objective:** [What participants will achieve]
**Materials:** [Slides X-Y, handout, props]
**Setup:** [Room arrangement, breakout rooms, tools]

**Facilitator Script:**
> [Opening statement or transition phrase]

**Key Points to Cover:**
1. [Point with explanation]
2. [Point with explanation]

**Activity Instructions:**
- [Step-by-step facilitation instructions]
- [Debrief questions]

**Timing Notes:**
- [Minimum time needed]
- [Where to cut if running long]
- [Where to expand if running short]

**Potential Questions & Answers:**
- Q: [Anticipated question]
- A: [Recommended response]

[Repeat for each section]

## Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Low participation | [Specific facilitation technique] |
| Technology failure | [Backup plan] |
| Off-topic discussion | [Redirect strategy] |
| Time overrun | [What to cut] |

Step 5: Create Participant Workbook

Include these sections:

Section	Purpose	Content
Welcome & Overview	Orient the learner	Objectives, agenda, how to use the workbook
Key Concepts	Reference material	Definitions, frameworks, models, diagrams
Guided Notes	Active listening	Fill-in-the-blank notes aligned to presentation
Practice Exercises	Apply learning	Hands-on activities with clear instructions
Reflection Prompts	Deepen understanding	Open-ended questions for self-assessment
Action Plan Template	Transfer to work	Template to plan post-training application
Reference Section	Ongoing support	Glossary, additional resources, contact info

Workbook design principles:

• Leave white space for participant notes
• Use visual cues: icons for tips, warnings, key points, and activities
• Number all pages and include a table of contents
• Match the sequence to the presentation slides exactly
• Include space for name and date on the cover

Step 6: Create Exercises and Activities

Design each exercise with this template:

## Exercise: [Title]

**Time:** [duration]
**Format:** [individual / pair / small group / full class]
**Materials:** [what participants need]

### Context
[Brief scenario or background — max 3 sentences]

### Instructions
1. [Clear, numbered step]
2. [Clear, numbered step]
3. [Clear, numbered step]

### Expected Output
[What participants should produce — document, decision, presentation, etc.]

### Debrief Questions
1. [What did you observe?]
2. [What was challenging?]
3. [How does this apply to your work?]

### Facilitator Notes
- [Common mistakes to watch for]
- [Key insight to draw out during debrief]
- [Time management tips]

Exercise types by engagement level:

Type	Engagement	Best For
Worked Example	Low (observe)	Introducing new concepts
Fill-in-the-Blank	Low-Medium	Reinforcing terminology
Guided Practice	Medium	First application of a skill
Case Study	Medium-High	Analysis and decision-making
Role Play	High	Interpersonal skills, communication
Simulation	High	Complex, multi-step processes
Project	Very High	Synthesis and creation

Output Format

Deliver materials in the format most appropriate for the request:

Training Materials Package: [Title]
├── slide-deck.md (or .pptx outline)
├── facilitator-guide.md
├── participant-workbook.md
├── exercises/
│   ├── exercise-01-[name].md
│   ├── exercise-02-[name].md
│   └── ...
├── handouts/
│   ├── job-aid-[name].md
│   └── quick-reference.md
└── pre-post/
    ├── pre-work.md
    └── post-training-resources.md

Quality Checklist

• All materials align to the stated learning objectives
• Facilitator guide covers every section of the slide deck
• Participant workbook mirrors the session flow exactly
• Exercise instructions are clear enough for a participant to follow independently
• Time estimates are included for every activity
• Debrief questions are included for every exercise
• Materials are visually consistent (fonts, colors, icons, layout)
• Accessibility: alt text for images, readable fonts, color-blind safe palette
• Materials are version-labeled with date and author
• All placeholders have been replaced with actual content

Edge Cases

• No existing slide template or brand guide: Use a clean, minimal design. Black text on white background, one accent color, sans-serif font. The user can apply branding later.
• Virtual delivery: Add engagement prompts every 5-7 minutes (polls, chat questions, annotation tasks). Include backup activities in case technology fails. Provide materials as downloadable PDFs before the session.
• Self-paced only (no facilitator): All instructions must be self-explanatory. Replace facilitator debrief with self-check answer keys. Add "check your understanding" gates between sections.
• Very short session (< 30 min): Use a single-page job aid instead of a workbook. Slide deck should be under 15 slides. One focused exercise only.
• Multiple languages: Create materials in the primary language first, then identify all text strings for translation. Avoid idioms and culturally specific examples.
• Sensitive topics (e.g., compliance, harassment prevention): Include trigger warnings where appropriate. Provide opt-out alternatives for role-play activities. Have facilitator prepared with resources for support.
• Technical / hands-on training: Include environment setup instructions, screenshots with annotations, and troubleshooting guides. Test all exercises in the actual environment before delivery.