Savvy adult learners are always mindful of what they learn and how they learn it. Old-school and outdated learning approaches just won’t cut it anymore! For instance, if you try teaching with overhead projector slides today, or structure your learning as “click next” modules, chances are you’ll lose 100% of your audience – very quickly! As L&D professionals, therefore, understanding and embracing instructional design trends matter. Why trends matter The Merriam-Webster online dictionary describes “trend” as “…a prevailing tendency or inclination”. Psychologists will tell you that these two character traits, tendencies, and inclinations, also motivate many individuals to commit to certain courses of action. And if, as trainers, you wish to influence learning outcomes, then you need to embrace trending instructional design practices. Trends, by definition, continually evolve and change. But embracing the latest – i.e. currently prevailing - ID trends isn’t just about doing things … [Read more...] about 4 Ways to Leverage Instructional Design Trends: How to make eLearning more appealing to the masses
Instructional Design and ELearning
Here is How to Quickly and Easily Leverage MLearning to Make the Most of Blended Training!
With a large percentage of global workforces in lockdown mode, “normal course” business is a thing of the past. And that includes employee learning and corporate training programs. Even once lockdown restrictions eventually end, it’s likely that this new reality of working (and learning!) from home will continue into the foreseeable future. So, how can corporate L&D teams make remote learning more relevant, without compromising training objectives? The answer: Incorporate more mobile learning (mLearning) into corporate blended training programs. Understanding blended training Over the years, in-class, instructor-delivered training has given way to different learning models, including fully self-directed online learning. Where in-person instruction played a leading role in prior training models, 100% self-directed learning today does not rely on any trainer interaction. However, over time, a middle-of-the-road training model, called blended training, has evolved. This model is a … [Read more...] about Here is How to Quickly and Easily Leverage MLearning to Make the Most of Blended Training!
4 Steps to Creating ELearning Storyboards: Step-by-step guide to effective storyboarding!
Consider this situation: You hire an architect to build you your dream house. After discussing the broad strokes of your vision for the home, he/she shows up onsite the next day and starts building! I’m pretty sure you (the paying client) won’t be impressed at all! You were likely looking for a blueprint or some type of vision document before shovels hit the ground. It’s the same with instructional design (ID) projects. You need to provide clients with a vision artifact first, before commencing detailed course design and development. And that document is typically the Storyboard. Storyboarding 101 In his book “The eLearning Designer’s Handbook”, noted eLearning designer Tim Slade, describes Storyboards as “…a document that outlines the learning content, slide-by-slide or screen-by-screen.” According to Slade, Storyboards are great for: enabling SMEs and stakeholders to preview the content and flow of a course providing opportunities for early inputs for design changes The … [Read more...] about 4 Steps to Creating ELearning Storyboards: Step-by-step guide to effective storyboarding!
Designing Training Solutions With Myers-Briggs In Mind
Renowned management consultant, author, educator, and business-thought leader, Peter Drucker, once said: “Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results, not attributes.” As a founding father of modern leadership theory, Mr. Drucker had a deep understanding of what makes a good leader. Yet, many of today’s leadership training curriculum show scant appreciation of the fact that to produce good results, leaders must be trained. And that training should directly reflect the attributes of the environments in which they are expected to lead. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator And Tips To Designing Training Solutions The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) is a personality evaluation tool, developed by Isabel Briggs Myers and her mother Katharine Briggs. The tool is based on the original work of psychologist C.G Jung. MBTI is used in a number of situations, where it is important to understand how to tailor interactions (interviews, tests, … [Read more...] about Designing Training Solutions With Myers-Briggs In Mind
Blooms Taxonomy: Tried and tested recipe for effective eLearning
Bloom’s Taxonomy was created in 1956, by educational psychologist Dr. Benjamin Bloom, and subsequently updated in 2001 to its current form. It is based on hierarchical ordering of learner’s cognitive skills, which then facilitates learning professionals (L&D) and Instructional Designers (ID) in helping learners learn better. To help instructors and course developers understand how to achieve their learning objectives, the taxonomy breaks down human thinking skills into six categories, ascending as a pyramid from lower to higher-orders of thinking. Using Bloom's Taxonomy Understanding Bloom’s Taxonomy can play a vital role in helping eLearning professionals create highly effective learning objectives; organize learning into logical structures to help make learning a seamless process; inject focused interactivity into courses; and design course assessments that truly evaluate whether learners have mastered desired learning objectives. Here are some strategies and tips to help … [Read more...] about Blooms Taxonomy: Tried and tested recipe for effective eLearning
Why You Should Never Skip the Needs Analysis Phase
It seems that, as the demand for eLearning continues to grow, the need for conducting Training Needs Analysis (TNA) continues to take a back seat through the course development process. To be fair, most Instructional Systems Design (ISD) professionals understand very well what needs analysis is all about. Yet, somehow, circumstances often compel many to ignore this very important step. News Flash: Skipping TNA is a bad idea! We’ll take a closer look at why that’s so; and we’ll also review some strategies to help stakeholders in eLearning projects – sponsors, SMEs, clients, supervisors understand why TNA is a very important phase. THE IMPORTANCE OF TNA An eLearning course designed without a TNA is like planning a trip without a destination in mind. How will you know when you’ve arrived? And needs analysis isn’t unique to eLearning. Project proponents must ground a project, regardless of size, budget or duration, around a need for it. Otherwise, once completed, how are stakeholders … [Read more...] about Why You Should Never Skip the Needs Analysis Phase