learning-hour-maker/.pi/skills/learning-hour-design/SKILL.md

name, description

name	description
learning-hour-design	Design a 60-minute Samman-style Learning Hour. Use when creating, reviewing, or refining learning hours with the 4 C's (Connect, Concepts, Concrete Practice, Conclusions). Guides the user through learning goals, timing, and all four C's.

Learning Hour Design Skill

This skill helps Willem design learning hours following the Samman coaching format and the "4 C's" from Training from the Back of the Room.

References

• Samman Learning Hour definition: https://sammancoaching.org/reference/learning_hour_definition.html
• Samman 4C model page: https://sammancoaching.org/activities/4C_model.html
• Samman Connect activities: https://sammancoaching.org/activities/connect.html
• Samman Concept activities: https://sammancoaching.org/activities/concept.html
• Samman Concrete Practice activities: https://sammancoaching.org/activities/concrete.html
• Samman Conclusions activities: https://sammancoaching.org/activities/conclusions.html
• Example learning hour (Testable Design – Naming): https://sammancoaching.org/learning_hours/testable_design/naming.html
• All learning hours: https://sammancoaching.org/learning_hours/
• 4 C's quick guide: https://bowperson.com/images/resources/quick-guide-to-four-c-map.pdf

Process

Follow these steps in order. Be conversational — grill Willem with pointed questions, don't just lecture.

Phase 1: Learning Goals

Start by helping Willem identify 1–3 clear learning goals. For each goal:

1. Ask: "What should participants be able to DO differently after this hour?"
2. Push for observable, testable outcomes — not vague intentions.
3. Challenge scope: "Can someone realistically achieve this in 60 minutes?"
4. Help narrow broad topics into specific, actionable goals.

Techniques for grilling:

• "How would you know someone learned this?"
• "What's the smallest version of this that still matters?"
• "If they could only walk away with one thing, what should it be?"

Phase 2: Timetable

Between the learning goals and the 4 C's, design a timing plan. Analyze of 124 Samman learning hours shows these patterns.

Average times per block type (from the library)

Block	Average	Range
Connect	6.6 min	2–15 min
Concept	9.2 min	2–25 min
Concrete/Do	25.3 min	5–45 min (per block)
Conclusion/Reflect	6.2 min	2–15 min
Demo (optional)	10.6 min	2–45 min

Most common structure: 4 blocks (65% of hours)

Block	Time	Description
Connect	5-10 min	Hook attention, connect to prior knowledge
Concept	10-15 min	Introduce key ideas
Concrete Practice	30-35 min	Single extended practice block
Conclusion	5-10 min	Wrap-up, key takeaways

Two-practice-round structure (23% of hours)

Block	Time	Description
Connect	5-10 min	Hook attention, connect to prior knowledge
Concept	5-10 min	Introduce key ideas before first practice
Concrete Practice 1	15-20 min	First practice round
Concept (deepening)	5-10 min	Additional concepts after practice
Concrete Practice 2	15-20 min	Second practice round
Conclusion	5-10 min	Wrap-up, key takeaways

With a demo block (28% of hours)

Block	Time	Description
Connect	5-10 min	Hook attention, connect to prior knowledge
Concept	5-10 min	Introduce key ideas
Demo	10-15 min	Demonstrate the technique
Concrete Practice	25-30 min	Participants practice
Conclusion	5-10 min	Wrap-up, key takeaways

Rules for the timetable:

• Total is usually 50-55 min of explicit blocks, leaving 5-10 min buffer for transitions.
• Single 35-min practice is more common than two 15-min rounds — ask Willem which fits.
• Connect is almost always first (99%). Conclusion is always last (99%).
• Concept can come after practice (21% of hours) — used for deepening or explaining what they just experienced.
• Demo is a distinct block from concept when present.
• If Willem has more concepts than fit, help cut scope — 60 minutes is tight.

Present the timetable and ask Willem if it feels right before moving on.

Phase 3: The 4 C's

Work through each C. For each one, ask questions and co-create content.

C1: Connect

"Connect it to what they already know." Connect activities get learners into a state of mind ready to learn — connecting to what they know, what they'll learn, what they want to learn, and to each other.

• What prior experience or knowledge can you hook into?
• What analogy, story, or provocative question grabs attention?
• How does this relate to the participants' real work?
• Reference the Samman Connect page for activity ideas: https://sammancoaching.org/activities/connect.html

C2: Concepts

What are the key ideas, frameworks, or principles?

• List 2–4 concepts maximum. More than that won't fit in ~9 min average.
• For each concept: what's the simplest way to explain it?
• What visual, diagram, or example makes it click?
• Consider: do some concepts go before practice and some after? (21% of hours interleave concept after practice)
• Reference the Samman Concept page for activity ideas: https://sammancoaching.org/activities/concept.html

C3: Concrete Practice

This is where participants actively apply the new concept. Usually a coding exercise, but can be other active tasks (sorting, evaluating, puzzles).

• Willem often has a practice idea that's too big. Actively help descope:
  • "What's the minimum viable version of this exercise?"
  • "What can you cut and still hit the learning goal?"
  • "Can this be done in pairs in 15-35 minutes?"
  • "What tools do they need? Keep it simple — a screenshot on paper works, don't need editors."
• Structure each practice round:
  • Clear instructions (what to do, with whom, for how long)
  • A specific task or prompt
  • A share-back or debrief question
  • List of tools/materials needed
• Ensure the practice directly tests the learning goal.
• Reference the Samman Concrete Practice page for activity ideas: https://sammancoaching.org/activities/concrete.html

C4: Conclusions

How do participants consolidate what they learned? Conclusions help learners summarize, evaluate, celebrate, and create action plans.

• What's the one-sentence takeaway?
• How do participants share back from practice?
• What commitment or next step do they leave with?
• Reference the Samman Conclusions page for activity ideas: https://sammancoaching.org/activities/conclusions.html

Phase 4: Review and Output

Once all phases are done:

1. Present the complete learning hour as a Markdown file matching the Samman format.
2. Verify: does every C map back to a learning goal?
3. Check the math: does the timetable add to ~55 min (leaving buffer)?
4. Flag any gaps or scope creep.

Output Format

When producing the final learning hour, use this Markdown structure matching the Samman convention:

---
theme: [topic]
title: [Learning Hour Title]
name: [slug-name]
kata: [kata-name if applicable]
difficulty: [1-5]
author: [author]
affiliation: [affiliation]
tags: [tag1 tag2]
---

# [Learning Hour Title]

[Opening paragraph: why this matters, what problem it solves]

## Learning Goals

* [Goal 1 – observable outcome]
* [Goal 2 – if applicable]

## Session Outline

* [X] min connect: [brief description]
* [X] min concept: [brief description]
* [X] min concrete: [brief description]
* [X] min conclusion: [brief description]

## Connect - [Connect Activity Name]

[Content, instructions, examples]

## Concept - [Concept Name]

[Content, explanations, examples]

## Concrete Practice - [Practice Name]

[Instructions, task, tools, debrief]

## Conclusions - [Conclusion Activity Name]

[Wrap-up, takeaways, next steps]

Tips

• Always push back on scope creep — 60 minutes is tight; explicit blocks usually total 50-55 min.
• If Willem has multiple learning goals, suggest splitting into separate hours.
• Pair practice is the default format; suggest alternatives only if justified.
• A single 35-min practice block is the most common pattern — two rounds is less common but valid.
• Demo is a distinct block from concept; suggest it when the technique benefits from seeing it first.
• When in doubt, reference the Samman example: https://sammancoaching.org/learning_hours/testable_design/naming.html
• Browse the full library for inspiration: https://sammancoaching.org/learning_hours/
• Check website/_learning_hours/ in this repo for local copies of all learning hours.