A Good Combination
Typically we format training into some combination of explanation or tell followed by a knowledge check or practice. It’s helpful to incorporate a compelling story and perhaps a game to reinforce learning. I recently saw a cool example of a Supervisor Effectiveness course from Allan Interactions as part of the ASTD elearning certificate program. This course combined interesting story lines and gaming elements to teach desired behaviors. Yet it was unique as it skipped the up-front explanation.
I’ll start with the story. In other posts I’ve written about using story telling to create an emotional impact as a way to connect with learners and also to keep things interesting. In fact I once read that instructional designers should read fiction novels for inspiration on creating intrigue, conflict, rising action, and ultimately resolution. The content of the Supervisor Effectiveness course focuses on dealing with HR issues such as substance abuse. In this particular module you’re introduced to “your team” which is a pretty messed up team. Your job is to identify the team member who has been drinking at work. You read about these characters and the odd behaviors they’ve all demonstrated. It reads like a soap opera, it’s intriguing in the sense that you want to know who did it. Along the way you’re given questions to ask and choices to make.
Essentially the learning in this example occurs in the activity – whether or not you make the “best “choice. There isn’t an up-front explanation – you learn by doing. As a result the course teaches desired behaviors and corporate policy in a way that feels more like a game. It’s just a great example on how learning a dry topic such as compliance, yet a sensitive/serious topic such as dealing with employee concerns can be done in way that is not intimidating, is actually entertaining, and effective.
Perhaps you’ve seen this example through ASTD. Either way, have you found that you are able to skip some up-front explanation with a more dynamic activity? What are some ways that you’ve jazzed up a course and increased learning in the process?
Tags: Add new tag, adult learning, elearning, games, instructional design, story telling