“We want to digitize our in-person training through e-learning or online sessions, but we’re facing strong pushback from management and frontline teams.” “People are worried that going digital means learners will be left on their own—or that it will look like we’re taking shortcuts.” These are common concerns among L&D professionals and team leaders. However,…

Last week, during our monthly online gathering of instructional designers (IDs), someone posed what felt like the ultimate three-way dilemma: When designing and delivering training, who should be your top priority? The Learner The Stakeholder (SME) The Leader It’s the kind of question that can generate very different answers depending on your perspective, so there’s…

Recent advancements in AI have been remarkable, and it has begun to take over many tasks that were previously performed by humans. While many people feel that “my work has become easier,” there are likely many others who harbor concerns such as, “Will AI eventually take my job too?” The world of Instructional Design (ID)…

When designing training, we often create Job Aids—those handy reference materials meant for a quick, on-the-job glance. In an ideal world, a Job Aid should be instantly understandable. But let’s be honest: that’s much harder than it sounds (we’ve all been there). We get this nagging feeling that every detail is crucial, and before we…

Role-playing is a staple of corporate training. However, many still believe that “it only works face-to-face” or “feedback is meaningless unless it’s given on the spot.” While real-time energy has its place, the logistical effort of coordinating schedules and securing space can be staggering. In reality, with thoughtful Instructional Design (ID), you can achieve high-quality,…

“For now, just read through this SOP. Let me know if you have any questions.” When onboarding someone to a new task, do you find yourself saying this? To the person on the receiving end—staring at a dense, overwhelming file—it often feels like being abandoned. They end up in a passive, negative headspace: “I’ve been…

“We can only spare five minutes for training—ideally, just two.” “People these days won’t even look at the manuals we give them…” Sounds familiar? One of the most pressing challenges in modern training is the depletion of learners’ resources—specifically, their time and attention spans. It’s not simply about being busy. In an era of short-form…

“We should probably start converting our training to e-learning…” Even though you think that, you hesitate when it comes time to act. Or you face fierce resistance from advocates of in-person (analog) training, who argue things like “It’s meaningless without real social interaction” or “You can’t convey the passion through a screen.” Sound familiar? In…

Instructional Design (ID) helps organize the entry points and storage locations of learning.In other words, it’s about designing a system where learners never have to wonder who should learn what, when, or where. “Department XX, please watch this training video.” “Department △△, please attend training at XX.” “Department □□ has introduced new e-learning. Please complete…

In the previous article, I discussed the tragedy where the “fun” of gamification overshadows learning objectives. So, does that mean “as long as gamification is fun, it’s fine”? Hold on. Is it fun for EVERYONE? In this article, let’s explore another deep pitfall: the clash between “engagement” and “accessibility.” The Trial Called “Intuitive Operation” An…