Great instructional design starts with a thorough understanding of learner needs and challenges, particularly in adult education. Hands-on experience with learners informs a design approach that prioritizes the discovery phase, which is crucial for identifying root problems rather than surface symptoms. Many instructional design projects fail to truly center on learners by rushing to predetermined solutions and skipping the essential step of empathetic inquiry. Engaging directly with learners allows for a deeper insight that shapes effective and relevant learning experiences, ultimately leading to successful outcomes.
Instructional designers must begin with the problem by understanding learners' real-world challenges and needs, rather than jumping to predefined solutions or assumptions.
A successful design approach is rooted in a thoughtful discovery phase that emphasizes curiosity, empathy, and a clear understanding of learners' experiences.
Many projects claim to be learner-centered but often overlook the discovery phase, leading to solutions that may address symptoms rather than the actual problems.
Designing based on secondhand insights about learner needs can lead to ineffective solutions, as assumptions do not replace firsthand understanding of the challenges learners face.
Collection
[
|
...
]