Meeting the needs of today's learners is a challenge all learning and development professionals face. Given the ongoing changes in technology and learning preferences, catering to everyone’s needs while meeting organisational requirements and demands can be a daunting task.
Fortunately learning (or instructional design) methodologies play a crucial role in meeting the diverse needs of learners by providing structured frameworks and strategies that enhance the learning experience.
Advantages of using Learning Methodologies
Structured Approach
Learning methodologies offer a systematic and organised approach to instructional design. They provide a clear roadmap for instructional designers and developers to follow, ensuring that learning objectives are identified, and content is delivered in a logical sequence.
Efficient Planning
By incorporating learning methodologies, educators can efficiently plan and design instructional materials. This involves analysing the needs of learners, setting clear objectives, and determining the most effective methods for delivering content.
Adaptability
Many learning methodologies, especially those that are iterative and agile, allow for adaptability. They can be adjusted based on ongoing feedback and changes in the learning environment, ensuring that education remains relevant and responsive to evolving needs.
Engagement and Motivation
Effective learning methodologies often incorporate engaging and interactive elements. This can enhance learner motivation and participation, creating a more stimulating and enjoyable learning experience.
Customisation
Learning methodologies can be tailored to accommodate different learning styles, preferences, and pace. This customisation ensures that learners with varied needs and backgrounds can effectively engage with the material.
Assessment and Feedback
Learning methodologies often include mechanisms for assessment and feedback. Regular assessments help gauge learner progress, while feedback mechanisms allow for continuous improvement and refinement of the educational process.
Technology Integration
In the modern era, many learning methodologies leverage technology to enhance the learning experience. This includes the use of online resources, interactive platforms, and multimedia elements, providing a more dynamic and contemporary approach to education.
Outcome Evaluation
Learning methodologies often incorporate evaluation components, allowing educators to assess the effectiveness of instructional strategies. This facilitates data-driven decision-making and improvements in subsequent iterations.
Consistency
Learning methodologies contribute to consistency in educational delivery. They help maintain a standardised approach to content creation, ensuring that all learners receive a comparable level of instruction regardless of the context.
Which Learning Methodology works for today’s learners?
There are many methodologies embraced by instructional designers and learning professionals. A commonly used model is ADDIE. This is a structured approach which was established by the U.S. Defence Force. We will look at this and compare to a model we think is better suited to the modern business environment, the SAM model.
ADDIE Model
ADDIE, standing for Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. It provides a systematic and structured framework for the creation of effective learning experiences. Originating in the 1970s, ADDIE has since been widely adopted across various sectors, becoming a standard approach for instructional designers and educators alike.
ADDIE follows a sequential and linear process, characterised by its comprehensive planning and structured phases. It places a significant emphasis on thorough analysis during the initial stages to identify precise learning needs and objectives.
The 5 key phases of ADDIE
Analysis: Identify the learning needs, audience, and goals. This phase involves gathering information to understand the problem and define objectives.
Design: Outline the structure of the learning experience, including content, assessments, delivery methods, and learning outcomes. This phase focuses on creating a blueprint for the course.
Development: Create and assemble the learning materials based on the design. This includes developing content, resources, and any necessary technology.
Implementation: Deliver the training to the learners. This phase involves conducting the course, whether online, in-person, or blended, and managing logistics.
Evaluation: Assess the effectiveness of the training by measuring learner performance and gathering feedback. This phase occurs throughout and after the program to ensure continuous improvement.
Each phase is interconnected, ensuring that learning programs are well-structured, targeted, and measurable.
The downside to ADDIE
While the ADDIE model is a reliable and measured approach to instructional design, today’s learning initiatives are often very fast paced and look very different to those in the 70’s when ADDIE was conceived.
Modern day approaches to learning including micro-learning, gamification, learning pathways, skills collation, AI content generation and other emerging trends require a more agile and fast-paced approach. A methodology that encourages incremental stages and quick adoption of feedback is better suited.
The SAM model is better suited for modern approaches
As educational requirements become more intricate and technology continues to reshape the way we learn, there is a growing imperative for agile and iterative methods of development.
We have found that the SAM method is more suited to an agile and cyclical approach.
SAM stands for Successive Approximation Method and like ADDIE, is an established Instructional Design and eLearning development model. Unlike ADDIE, it’s geared towards an iterative process, producing shorter development and design cycles and getting feedback faster and more regularly.
It’s more suited to a modern development approach, with fewer phases and a focus on agility.
SAM Stages
Preparation:
Define the learning objectives and goals.
Identify the target audience and their characteristics.
Gather relevant content and resources.
Iterative Design:
Develop a prototype or a sample version of the instructional materials.
Collect feedback from stakeholders, including learners, instructors, and subject matter experts.
Revise and refine the prototype based on the feedback received.
Iterative Development:
Use the feedback to make necessary adjustments and improvements to the instructional materials.
Develop a more polished version of the learning content.
Benefits of using SAM over ADDIE when aiming for impact
A key step in effectively using the SAM model is the ability to gather data and feedback in continuing cycles. When designing a strategy to prove impact and demonstrate measurable outcomes, having sufficient data points and user feedback is incredibly important. SAM allows designers to embed this approach in their learning design through ongoing feedback and iterative development. This provides learning teams and stakeholders with real-time, accurate and detailed data to inform decision-making and highlight where interventions may be required.
When considering which methodology you choose to adopt, both ADDIE and SAM are recommended. Use ADDIE if you have fairly straightforward or legacy-style existing learning, or pick SAM when you’re trying to achieve more and demonstrate the impact of learning.
