Instructional Design involves:

1. Conducting a Learning Needs Analysis (LNA) to define the learning needs and establishing an appropriate learning solution.
2. Designing the learning solution that will support learners in achieving the learning objectives effectively and efficiently.
3. Developing the program’s learning materials – session plans, workbooks, handouts, PowerPoint presentations, eLearning etc.
4. Delivering the program.
5. Evaluating the program to determine its success and identify areas for improvement.

Instructional design considerations when designing learning programs

What should you consider when designing learning programs? Below are some key questions to ask yourself when designing learning solutions.

Learning outcomes

• What are the capability gaps?
• What knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours do learners need to develop to perform their role efficiently and effectively?
• What learning experiences will help learners to develop these knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours?
• Is the assessment aligned to the learning outcomes?

Resources

• What training facilities do you have access to, and for how long?
• What tools and equipment do you have/need?
• Do you have access to the relevant software/training sandpit?
• What is your budget, and how will you stick to it?
• Who are your SMEs? How can you utilise their strengths?

Audience

• Where are they located?
• How will they complete the training (e.g. face-to-face, online, blended)?
• When will training occur?
• Are you designing for one audience, or a range of audiences? (If the learning needs vary (e.g. Employees vs Managers), you are designing for more than one audience)
• What learning needs are the same/different across audiences? What learning experiences can be applied to both audiences, and what needs to vary?

Adult learning principles

• How do people learn best?
• What learning experiences will help to achieve the desired learning outcomes?

Embedding activities/learning transfer

• How will learning transfer be supported?
• What embedding activities will encourage learners to apply their learning?
• How will learning be applied, strengthened and extended after the session/s?
• How can Leaders support their team members?
• What tools (e.g. QRGs, job aids) will you develop to assist learners in applying their learning in the workplace?

Evaluation strategy

• How will the success of the program be measured?
• How will you know what worked and what needs to change?

Where can I learn more about instructional design?

You can find more information about instructional design by following these links:

• What is Instructional Design?
• What Do Instructional Designers Do?
• How to Become an Instructional Designer
• Do You Need an Instructional Design Degree Qualification?
• Merrill’s Instructional Design Principles
• What is the ADDIE Model of Instructional Design Anyway?!
• Instructional Designer
• What you need to know before contracting an instructional designer
• Online Learning eLearning