Planning and organization of an e-learning training program on the analysis software in CMS

Analyzing physics data at LHC experiments is a complicated task involving multiple steps, sharing of expertise, cross checks and comparing different analyses. To maximize physics productivity, the CMS experiment at LHC has developed a collection of analysis tools called the PAT (Physics Analysis Toolkit). A comprehensive training program was designed and setup on using PAT software as an integral key part of the analysis of data from the CMS experiment. This note summarizes the requirements and the considerations that led to establish the PAT training program, the approach taken, the main organizational issues and the experience on its implementation and maintenance. The training and the feedback has proved to be very successful both for participants and the PAT development team.