Topic 5: the process of developing exercises
Overview
You are now ready to tackle the final Topic of this subject, namely the development of Exercises.
You will remember that in Topic 3 we examined the training cycle and its components, one of which was the validation of training. One way in which we can validate training is to conduct an exercise. Validation, and hence exercises, are an essential component of any training program and are essential to test the plans and procedures we develop. The ability to develop and conduct exercises is therefore one skill that emergency managers should develop.
We need to understand the types of exercise that can be conducted, the best setting and use for each type of exercise and finally how can we organise, run and then finally review exercises.
Topic 5 will provide you with the knowledge and skills to obtain answers to these questions and the ability to develop an exercise to test your Plan and SOP. We will consider the concept and structure of exercises, the exercise planning process as a whole and examine the development of exercise aims and objectives. We will also consider in detail the processes, documentation, activities and organisational requirements involved in preparing an exercise. Finally, there is an Assignment guide which will provide an exercise documentation format for you to use and lead you into your Topic 5 assignment work. Your written responses to the questions and tasks found in this topic will serve as a basis for your exercise planning and writing outlined in the Assignment Guide contained at the end of this Topic and also within the Assignment 2 guidelines contained within your Subject Outline.
Learning Outcomes
When you have completed your study for this Topic you should be able to:
- explain the exercise management process including the authority for the exercise writing team and the selection of aims and objectives;
- detail the processes involved in writing an exercise, and describe the documentation requirements and organisational needs and activities associated with exercise planning;
- prepare an exercise to test your plan and SOP, including the production of all associated documentation.
On completion of this Topic you will have produced a draft exercise instruction based on your plan produced in EMG103 and the standard operating procedures you produced during Topic 2 of this subject