Starting the Journey: A Lesson from the Driver's Seat
"Okay, deep breath," I said as my daughter gripped the steering wheel. "You've got this." I tried to keep the anxious pride out of my voice as she put the car into drive and eased out of the driveway.
In my mind, this was just a casual run to the grocery store - a nice, easy trail run before tackling harder driving challenges. The neighborhood roads were flat and straight, with very little traffic on this sunny Saturday morning. But I quickly realized her perspective was totally different.
She sat ramrod straight, leaning forward and gripping the steering wheel tightly with both hands as she stared ahead with laser focus. As she eased out onto the highway, her inexperienced eyes darted frantically between the rear and side mirrors. Changing lanes or making turns incited a flurry of shoulder checks and white knuckles. What I considered an easy jaunt was completely unnerving for her.
By the time we returned home a short while later, she was physically and mentally drained from the effort of juggling all the new skills at once - working the pedals, staying in her lane, constantly scanning her surroundings. It struck me how wildly our viewpoints differed on the very same experience. Over the years, these things had become automatic for me, no longer occupying space in my mind when I sat behind the wheel.
As she pulled back into the driveway, I saw the mix of accomplishment and exhaustion on her face and I was reminded of why it's so crucial to actively involve learners in the training creation process.I am not new to the idea that incorporating the learner's perspective is crucial for effective training. But this driving lesson provided a powerful reality check on just how vastly that viewpoint can differ from the instructor's mindset.
Usually, companies bring in Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to create training content based solely on their expertise. Now, don't get me wrong. Having that deep knowledge is vital for helping prioritize content and ensuring accuracy. But if we don't also tap into the learner's perspective, we miss out on capturing the full educational potential. It's easy for SMEs to assume a certain baseline of existing skills and just run with the complexity of the material. But that can totally derail the learning process if the new concepts are way over the learners' heads from the start.
The Secret Sauce: Blending expert knowledge with learner insights
Just like I had to meet my daughter where she was at on that first driving lesson, effective course design has to blend the subject matter expertise with true insights into the learners' experience. And the best way to gain those insights? You guessed it - feedback, feedback, feedback!
Incorporating learner feedback shouldn't just be an optional nice-to-have; it's make-or-break for developing training that actually sticks. Think of it like getting directions from someone. If they just rattle off turn-by-turn instructions without checking if you're following along, you'll inevitably get lost. But if they pause periodically to say "Does this make sense so far?" and adjust based on your response, you'll arrive at the destination feeling confident.
That's why I'm such a big advocate of making feedback an ongoing cycle throughout the entire course development process. It ensures the learning path stays aligned with where the students truly are, not where we think they should be.
Harnessing Feedback: The Key to Effective Learning
So how do we tap into that invaluable learner perspective? There are lots of methods, but a few of my favorites are:
- Surveys and focus groups - Whether through anonymous polls or group discussions, this lets you take the temperature on things like comprehension levels, areas of confusion, and even just overall sentiment toward the training content and approach.
- One-on-one interviews - Sometimes you need that personal connection to really unpack the nuanced feedback. Talking to learners individually can unveil blind spots you'd never anticipate.
- Observation and performance data - Of course, the ultimate test is how well the training translates into real-world application on the job. Seeing it in action speaks volumes.
The key is using a mix of these methods at multiple points - before, during, and after delivery. That iterative cycle of feedback allows you to constantly tweak and enhance the course material to stay in lockstep with the learners' evolving needs.
Just like those first driving lessons with my daughter, each round of feedback helped me adjust my teaching approach to meet her at her current level. As her skills grew, so did the complexity of my instruction. With more practice, we were able to venture out farther and incorporate more driving challenges into the mix.
At the end of the day, effective course design is all about paving the smoothest possible road to make the learning journey enjoyable and impactful. With a sensitivity to the learner's perspective, we can develop training that is effective and stays with the learner on their journey towards mastery.
