As you all would know, I have been around the Learning and Development arena for a while now. A lot of clients I work with ask me what process I use etc.
I use an approach that most ID/Learning Designers do, the ADDIE Lifecycle. So instead of repeating this over and over, I decided to write a blog article on this.
Analysis Phase
In this phase, the following activities involved are:
- Identifying goals and objectives;
- Taking stock of the existing assets, training, and source material etc.;
- Conducting various analyses; and
- Closing the discussion by
- identifying the solution,
- allocating the team,
- deciding the training modality, and
- defining the project plan and deliverables.
- What trainings are required to up skill the workforce?
- What trainings are available in-house?
- What training are to be created/updated?
- What is the training effectiveness measure?
Deliverables of Analysis Phase
The deliverables of this phase are:
- Approach Document
- Training Need Analysis Report
- Content analysis
- Required Skill matrix (Existing and Gaps)
- Performance gaps and training requirements
- Terminal objectives and enabling objectives
- Training methodology and resources
- Documents including the following information:
- Understanding the requirements based on the identified training needs
- Proposed training solution
- Proposed instructional strategies
- Cost estimates for the solution
- Turnaround time
Design Phase
As the Analysis phase ends, typically a lot of clarity from the stakeholders is achieved on the training goals and objectives. These inputs help in defining the following:
- Learning modalities and materials needed to produce
- Course structure – sequenced, chunked, linear, modular
- Learning activities – interactions and activities with the expected outcomes
From this, a design document is created and shared with the stakeholders. I normally have a walk through workshop to explain the flow and the ideas.
Design Documents I create typically include:
- Learning objectives
- Delivery methodology
- Instructional strategies
- Learning activities design linked to the objectives
- Evaluation strategies
Deliverables of this phase
This phase is like creating a blueprint of the building before actual construction begins. The learning design is finalised and approved before the actual course construction begins. The design phase delivers:
- Enhanced Content Outline (ECO)
- Table Of Contents (TOC)
- Objectives statements
- Modifications and additions to the content
- Additional Evaluation content
- Style Guides (Curriculum, Visual, Interactive)
- Graphic User Interface Design elements
Development Phase
This phase is the actual building of the course. All the knowledge from previous phases is shaped into a relevant course for the learners. The main activities of this phase include, but are not limited to:
Storyboarding
A storyboard for eLearning includes the following information:
- Storyboard based on the design document using the appropriate instructional strategies
- Script of the audio and dialogues
- Layout, themes and user interface elements used
- Navigation strategies for an eLearning course
- Interactive component actions
The storyboard is a visual representation of the course. It contains a description of each screen of the course using textual descriptions. A storyboard covers all content and navigation of the course and indicates the media elements such as graphics and animations.
Media Creation and construction
Upon completion of the storyboard, multimedia elements such as graphics/illustrations and interactions are created or sourced and the course is developed in HTML5 formats using various authoring tools or frameworks (all of which is a whole different topic). In the construction phase elements, such as text and media are put together and compiled to create the first version of the course – called the first cut or alpha version.
Voice/Video Recordings
Voice and video talent is selected for the course and is recorded and edited. These act as a supplement to the text and graphics appearing on screens of each module in the course.
Deliverables of this phase
- Detailed Storyboard with scripts and/or trainer notes
- Media Files, CBT, audio and video files to be integrated with the course
- First Cut for Internal Quality check, followed by stakeholder check and feedback
Implementation Phase
This the rollout phase where the course is ready to be delivered to the target audience. The main activities in this phase include, but are not limited to:
- Develop a Launch Plan Timeline
- Train the Trainer Workshops
- Integration on LMS/LXP
- Communication plan
- Register Participants
- Launch Course
There are different steps for:
- A classroom course
- Course Material – Will it be locally printed, shipped or soft copy used?
- Instructors – Is the training in-house or trainers hired? Will the trainers require to travel?
- Schedule – Location, date, time, schedule planned and communicated
- Travel, Registration, Logistics – Is the team planning these aspects?
- An eLearning program (WBT or CBT)
- Testing, Hosting, and Integration – Is the course tested in the alpha phase to eliminate bugs?
- Were the LMS and platform reviews completed and audio files and videos integrated into the learning tutorials?
- Was it tested before the Beta version sent to the client for review?
- Learner Access – Will there be an enrollment/auto enrolled?
- Security and Support Desk – Are the resources planned for maintaining IT security and support desk?
Deliverables of this phase
- Alpha
- Beta
- Final or Gold Master
Evaluation Phase
Evaluation is done throughout the process at each stage although you need to implement functional reviews before the course goes to the media for development.
Typically, I give a learner evaluation during the learning phase. Assessments and activities are important to learning as they determine the learning effectiveness and evaluate and confirm if the learning objectives have been met. Assessments or exercises form an important part of any course. Strategically placed and interactive assessments test the user’s learning of concepts.
There usually are two types of assessments – formative and summative.
Formative assessments are carried out during the course and appear as inline questions/self-checks or practice items.
Summative assessment, at the end of the course, ascertains the level of internalization of learning by the learner.
In the Evaluation phase, the team needs to evaluate the effectiveness of the training by taking feedback from the learners. Evaluation is done using Kirkpatrick’s Evaluation model, most often Level 1 and 2 only.
Future learning aids for continual development is provided at this phase, which could include job aids, setup of peer to peer interaction units for thought sharing, setup of mentor and guidance facilities etc.
Then finally after completion of the whole project, I would create a Post Implementation Report. And that is a whole another topic in itself as well.
Campbell Craig 