One-scene mini-scenarios are great for covering a lot of topics. So when is it worthwhile to design a branching scenario? Example scenarios included! Read more.
Search Results for: information
Three simple but powerful ways to get love from your leaders
Business leaders love their L&D departments! Well, maybe 20 percent of them do, according to surveys. Here are three ways to get real business results and win the love you deserve. Read more.
Learning & development people unite!
We, the downtrodden and ignored learning and development professionals of the world, hereby shake off the shackles of convention and obedience and proclaim the arrival of a new order! Read more.
How to Become an Instructional Designer in 2025
You’ve landed here because you’re interested in developing instructional design skills. Strap in because there’s a lot to learn!
What to do if they just want “awareness”
“We just need everyone to be aware of the policy,” your client says. In response, you could obediently crank out a 97-slide information dump — or you could ask a few powerful questions. Read more.
How to rewrite a quiz question as scenario-based training
“Why do you want to use scenarios?” your client asks. “Why can’t we use the quizzes that we’ve always used?” Sometimes the best way to convince a client is to show them. Let’s look at an example. Read more
How action mapping can change your design process
Happy action mapping users say that the model helps them create lively elearning. But would it fit into your design workflow? Here’s a look at the process from start to finish. Read more
Are learners idiots?
Are you under pressure to treat your learners like clueless children? Here are some ways to manage a stakeholder or that voice in your head that wants to lead learners by the nose. Read more
Elearning scenario example: Have learners use the job aid
Often we’re told, “Put this information into a course.” But what happens if we put the information into a job aid instead, and then give learners mini-scenarios that help themuse the job aid? Read more
Do they just know it, or can they USE it?
It’s easy to write activities that test whether learners know something. How can we make learners use their knowledge as well? Let’s compare two types of activities. Read more
Our job is to design an experience
How did you learn to ride a bike? Did you watch an “Essential bicycling techniques” presentation and take a quiz? Or did you get on the bike and learn from your bruises and scrapes? Let’s create a safe place for…
Technical training: What do they need to DO?
If you don’t identify what people do with the software and design your training around that, you could create an information dump that helps no one. Focus on what they need to do, not what they need to know. Read more
Checklist for strong learning design
Action-packed elearning or boring information dump? This provocative checklist will help you evaluate and discuss your elearning materials. Read more
Learning styles: Worth our time?
We’re wasting our time talking about appealing to learning styles when research has identified far more powerful techniques. This post summarizes two meta-analyses about learning styles. Read more
Why you need to set limits
What happens if you don’t set any boundaries in your relationships? You wear yourself out doing everything for everybody. Here are some ways to say “no” to unreasonable requests. Read more.
The big mistake in elearning
We’re obsessed with designing information when instead we should be designing experiences. We need to focus on what people need to do, not what they need to know. Read more