Learning Path and Curriculum Map Builder

Put courses, on-the-job training, practice and checks in the right order for a role, and use a curriculum map to make sure every goal is introduced, practiced and checked.

Who it is for

• Training and HR professionals and instructional designers building onboarding and role curricula.

• Managers and supervisors who onboard new people and want every trainer to teach the same things in the same order.

• Business owners who want new hires productive sooner, with nothing important left out.

• Multi-role teams that want a shared core and role-specific paths instead of separate, repeated training.

The problem it solves

Most new hires learn whatever happens to come up that week. Day 1 is packed with slides, the most frequent tasks are taught late, hard skills are tested but never practiced, and nobody can say when the person should be able to work alone. This guide covers eight steps: define the end point, list what must be learned, write checkable goals, choose the right format for each, put everything in a sensible order by phase, set milestones and checks, check coverage with a curriculum map, and pilot and maintain the path.

What is inside

Learning Path and Curriculum Map Builder (PDF, 29 pages)

• Copyright and License, contents and how to use the guide (2 pages)

• Learning paths and curriculum maps, with words used (1 page)

• When to build one, and what good looks like (1 page)

• Eight steps to a finished learning path (1 page)

• Steps 1 and 2: Define the end point and build the content inventory (1 page)

• Step 3: Write learning goals with Do, With, To (1 page)

• Step 4: Choose how each goal is learned, with eight formats compared (1 page)

• Step 5: Put the learning in order with seven sequencing rules, then build the phases with a sample first week (2 pages)

• Step 6: Set milestones and checks (1 page)

• Step 7: Check coverage with a curriculum map (1 page)

• Curricula for several roles: shared core, role paths, refreshers (1 page)

• Step 8: Pilot, publish and maintain, with a milestone review agenda (1 page)

• Variations for retail, clinics, restaurants, trades, offices and warehouses (1 page)

• Common mistakes and questions (1 page)

• First 30 days, the files and the final check (1 page)

• Templates with prompts: role and content inventory, learning goal writer, learning path planner, curriculum map, learner path tracker (5 pages)

• Filled-in example for a Service Advisor at an auto repair shop, every template completed (6 pages)

Excel workbook: goals, learning path with automatic hours by phase, curriculum map that counts marks and flags goals never practiced or never checked, learner tracker that fills in item names, and the filled-in example.

Word templates (12 pages): all five templates with prompts and the filled-in example.

How to use it

1. Write the end point and list what the role needs.

2. Turn every Must topic into a checkable learning goal.

3. Choose formats, order the items by phase and name the trainers.

4. Build the curriculum map and fix every gap.

5. Pilot the path with the next new hire and track progress.

Formats and file types

• PDF (US Letter, print or screen), 29 pages

• Excel workbook (.xlsx) with drop-down lists, formulas and coverage flags

• Word document (.docx), 12 pages

• Licensed for use within your organization

• Required training rules differ by location and industry. Check the rules for your location and company policy; this product is not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions