Posted: May 21

In order to do better, maybe we need to do less, not more. If we focus on the learning initiatives that are linked to important corporate initiatives and leverage good design principles, like doing the proper amount of analysis before we jump into content, maybe we could just do things better. While it may not be possible to only develop learning for important corporate initiatives, if we can successfully reframe some of those requests that don’t really require training, we will have more time to do the right things right. Once we have identified only those projects that can benefit from learning, we can also use our instructional design skills wisely. The “art” of instructional design is in knowing which techniques to employ and to what degree of rigor based on the needs of each new situation. Instructional design used correctly doesn’t cost time and money, it saves time and money.

Posted: May 6

I believe instructional design is part art and part science. I have always liked both science and art, so maybe that’s why I’m still fascinated by how instructional design works after using it for 35 years.

Let’s take a look at the science part of instructional design first. Instructional design, as I learned it, is based on the field of behavioral science. B. F. Skinner’s principle of Operant Conditioning explains a lot about learning and motivation. The principle says that animals and humans are motivated by and learn from a stimulus from their environment followed by a response from the learner. One of my professors illustrated this point beautifully by asking us if we knew the key to the universe. Now there’s a question that will get your attention. We didn’t know, but he did. He explained that the field of cybernetics, invented by Norbert Weiner in 1948, was in his opinion, the key to the universe. I believe he is right about at least one thing. It is the key to how people learn.

Posted: April 30

Certainly, the highlight of this year’s ISPI conference for me was the awards luncheon at which Dana and Jim Robinson received the Thomas F. Gilbert Distinguished Professional Achievement Award. The Robinsons have received many awards, from organizations including ASTD, SHRM and ISA. It was especially nice for me to see them receive this award from ISPI to recognize their achievements and contributions to performance improvement.

Posted: April 25

Please take a few minutes and review our new company website. The website offers some great new project case studies about real training and results!

Let us know what you think and what else you would like to see or have access to on our website. Our team stands ready to work with you on your design and development, performance consulting, or custom technology needs!    

www.handshaw.com

Posted: April 2

It’s time again for THE Performance Improvement Conference from April 12 – 14 in Reno, NV. My schedule this year will be very similar to last year. I’ll be conducting a full day pre-conference workshop on Saturday the 13th called, “Analyzing Performance gaps – The Gaps Map. This workshop is based on the work of Dana and Jim Robinson. I will explain how to complete the various portions of the gaps map in order to analyze performance gaps in an organization and prescribe appropriate solutions to achieve business goals. The workshop will feature a video role play of a sample meeting with a client to gather information to complete a gaps map. Following the video, I will have other sample scenarios for participants to complete their own gaps maps while meeting with me as their client in the prepared scenario.