Instructional Design
A comprehensive approach typically includes the following phases and deliverables. We can work with your team to complete all phases, or selected phases:
Analysis: Identify training needs and solutions
The first step of Instructional Design is to define the goal or desired outcome of a learning event. Your stakeholders may define the training need in broad business terms. We work with your team to analyze the request in order to define performance goals. These goals are converted to skills, knowledge, attitudes, and/or action steps that the learner will demonstrate as a result of training. We provide a solutions report which includes preliminary data on job performance of target audience, available source material, recommended training delivery format, budget estimate, and timeline. The information gathered during the Analysis phase will be used in the next phase, Design.
Design: Create “blueprint”
In the Design phase, we work with your training team to define observable, measurable, performance-based learning objectives. Learning objectives will help:
- Confirm the purpose of the training program
- Set expectations for the results of training with clients, stakeholders, trainers, and participants
- Provide trainees with a guideline against which to measure performance
- Focus our efforts during course design
- Form a clear understanding of our destination
During the Design phase, we work with your team to create the “blueprint” for the training program. We determine the course delivery method (instructor-led, eLearning, field practice, etc.) and plan our instructional strategy. We also leverage source materials, and establish content review cycles.
Development: Create training materials
The Development phase builds on the Analysis and Design phases. During this phase, designers and developers create the training materials and all supporting media resources. Depending on the training solution, materials can include storyboards, live eLearning/webinar files, eLearning files (such as Flash or Lectora Publisher), participant guides, facilitator guides, job aids, field coaching handbooks, etc. We work with your team to manage the review and validation process. For eLearning solutions, the review and validation process addresses prototype, alpha and beta course testing, including Learning Management System (LMS) functionality.
Implementation: Deliver the training program
During this phase, we launch the course! We work with your team to manage the launch of new eLearning courses, prepare virtual classroom instructors for online delivery, and train-the-classroom trainer. See Coaching Sessions for more details on preparing instructors for the virtual classroom.
Evaluation: Evaluate effectiveness of training
Using Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels of Evaluation, we evaluate the effectiveness of the training solution, and participants’ ability to transfer learning to on-the-job performance. During this phase, we identify evaluation criteria, collect evaluation data, and produce a detailed report.