How to Design a Training and Reference Manual for Community Groups

Community groups form when people who have a common interest gather together. Typically, group leaders of an organization represent people in the larger community to influence decision makers, such as government officials, corporations or institutions, to foster reforms. Community groups require policies and procedures to operate effectively. Designing an effective training and reference manual involves analyzing the community's needs, organizing content, writing steps for common tasks, defining how you plan to distribute your manual and evaluating the usefulness of your manual with members of the community group.

Instructions

1. Analyze your community group needs. Your guide should be a lasting resource for your group to plan, design, implement and assess its activities. Conduct a survey or run focus groups to gather input from your members on their training needs. For example, develop a guide to help volunteers provide services in their community and provide details on cultural considerations. Identify specific community requirements, such as languages for which the guide needs to be translated into to reach the widest audience.

2. Define your goals and objectives. State your learning objectives using action verbs. Objectives should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. Define terms in a glossary if necessary. Include exercises and tests to help users check their knowledge.

3. Develop your manual. Typically, reference manuals contain detailed text on processes, policies and procedures. For example, create a step-by-step guide for developing service projects. Provide resources and examples. Break lengthy procedures down into shorter topics so that procedures have no more than 12 steps. Include visuals such as charts and pictures that reflect your community group's charter and mission. Prepare document templates such as checklists so that each community group adheres to standards but can customize information for its own needs. Generate a table of contents and a detailed index so users can easily find information. Check your spelling and grammar before you complete your development.

4. Publish your manual by printing and distributing it or uploading it to the community group website. Schedule training sessions to explain how to use the manual as a reference tool when conducting community group activities, such as scheduling events, conducting fundraisers or coordinating volunteer activities. Supplement your manual by using social media technology such as wikis, blogs and forums.

5. Evaluate your training and reference manuals by soliciting opinions from your community group. Revise your manual on a regular basis to ensure it reflects current policies and procedures. For example, church community group membership activities may change from year to year depending on the population, which might include teenagers, senior citizens or families with young children.

References

• New Mexico State University: Design Center Volunteer Consultant Training and Reference Manual
• Peace Corp: Community Development

Resources

• Boston College: Resume Action Verbs