Section outline

  • Design and develop learning activities and resources

    Training resources available in this section focus on the use of active learning strategies and tactics that can help you to create engaging learning activities. The importance of the visual design of learning resources is also explained in documents available in this section, with a good deal of suggestions, templates and examples presented to you.


    • Download all resource files in Competency IV

    • Readings

    • Common Learning Activities

      Learning activities are the specific actions or procedures one can apply to achieve learning goals. Sixteen learning activites are briefly described in this resource.

    • Interaction Modes

      Without interaction with other people, a domain of knowledge, or the tools of a profession, no learning can occur. Interaction modes are the forms in which an internal response to external influence results in learning. The brief analysis of interaction modes below is representative, not exhaustive.

    • Learning Action Maps

      The use of Learning Action Maps (LAM) can aid the planing of training focused on active learning. This resource presents four simple steps to prepare a LAM, helping to move courses from a content-driven to an active, learning outcome-based approach.

    • Case Study Development Guide

      Case studies provide perfect opportunities for learning at many different levels, including recall, understanding, applying and analysing, and in some cases, even synthesis. This Guide focuses on developing interactive case studies, which can be particularly effective in fostering deep and lasting learning. The guide was produced by The COMET Program.

    • Why use simulators for training?

      Well-designed learning simulations provide engaging and effective learning experiences, whether in-person or in e-learning. This resource offers advice for designing good simulations.

    • EUMETSAT Meteorological Simulator & User Guide


      		 This link provides access to and a short guide on how to use the EUMETSAT Simulator Creator for building your own Weather Simulators. The simulators are simple user interfaces where the user can work on a weather case, using an interface resembling a weather forecasting environment.

    • Using simulators for training

      This resource describes the value and use of simulations in weather forecasting training and assessment as used at KNMI. It makes a strong case for using simulations in all phases of learning, as well as for assessment.

    • Simulations: Why simulate weather forecasting? - External Resource

      This site provides a detailed overview of simulations, including a basic definition, the difference between instructional and other forms of simulations, how to use them for training, their benefits, and some models and tools. Many valuable links are provided.

    • Guidelines for Text and Document Design

      The guidelines in this document provide some general principles to consider when writing material for training, both for online and for print. It includes aspects such as choosing fonts and typefaces, as well as text structure and spacing. Principles included here are mostly derived from a review of research.

    • Guidelines for producing Short Videos and Podcasts for Online Training

      This resource was adapted from guidelines for facilitators of CALMet Online, 2014. While focused on short videos, it contains guidelines useful for any instructional video production.

    • Planning Presentations

      Planning presentations before starting to create slides can save you time and help to achieve more effective results. This resource provides guidance to prepare slides for training sessions, but contains advice that can help you to prepare any form of presentation.

    • Visual Design Principles

      This resource explores five major principles of visual design and applies them to the process of creating slides for training. These principles can greatly help to enhance the clarity of presentation material.

    • Microsoft Guidance on Slide Presentation Design

      This Microsoft site offers some tips specific to using Powerpoint, but also much good advice for desiging presentations using any tool.

    • Sharing content

      Why is it important to share content?  This resource explores the motivations of  individuals and organisations for making their educational materials free and openly licensed. It also actions each one of us could take to join the effort of increasing the availability of OERs in meteorology, hydrology and related subjects.

    • Writing for future adaptation and translation

    • Free or Low-cost Instructional Development and Delivery Applications

      This resource contains a list of instructional development and delivery applications available online for free or low-cost. The list was written in collaboration with many trainers, who provided the links to the tools they most often use.

    • Ten Key Principles for Planning Distance Learning


      		 This presentation summarizes ten important principles to improve your distance learning.

    • Finding Reusable Learning Resources

      This Moodle resource links to some of the largest collections of learning resources made available freely for reuse by others. See copyrights information for the specific restrictions for reuse of any resource.

    • Templates

    • Training Development Workplan - Templates

      This spreadsheet aids you in planning a training initiative by aligning learning outcomes with delivery modes, learning strategies, learning activities, and assessment. 

    • Blended Learning Storyboard - Templates

      This Powerpoint template allows you to build a storyboard for a course or training iniative. Within Units, Weeks, Days, or Learning Outcomes, you can design the course based on (1) Learning Solutions and Delivery Modes, (2) Learning Strategies, and finally, (3) Learning Activities. 

    • Learning Action Maps - Templates

      Four templates are presented in this resource. They can help you to get started using the learning action mapping technique for planning your training.

    • Worksheet for Designing Learning Activities

      This worksheet can help you when planning learning activities for your training. It includes all the major aspects you should consider when designing for active learning, helping you to keep a record of your design decisions.

    • Session Development Plan Template

      This resource is for Trainers or Part-Time Trainers to gather the information they need to contribute a single session to a larger training event. Similar to the Worksheet for Designing Learning Activities, this template will help you to identify your needs and constraints and keep record of your plans and decisions. 

    • Examples

    • Learning Action Maps - Examples 

      A collection of examples is presented in this document showing Learning Action Maps applied to various topics. These examples are real LAMs that were created by trainers attending the WMO Course for Trainers in past years.

    • Examples of Simulators - External Resource

      Fifteen simulation cases are available in this website to use online or download. Note: This link will bring you to an external website. The content of this external website is Proprietary (not subject to Creative Commons Licence). Acknowledgment is made to Ian Mills for permission to link the material to this Portal.