Selecting the Instructional Setting (Media) in Instructional Design
This step of the Analysis Phase selects the instructional setting (sometimes referred to as delivery method or media) for the learning platform, such as a performance aid, classroom, or elearning.
Learning methods and activities are normally selected first. Then the best media are chosen based on their ability to deliver the methods and activities effectively and efficiently (Clark, 2001). For example, an audio file can only be delivered by certain media devices, such as an iPod, tape, or a live classroom. Note that the times often dictate the media we are able to use. For example, 9/11 killed travel to classrooms in many corporations. Our present economy, that started its downward spiral in 1998, is also having an effect on how training will be delivered in that organizations are now looking for the cheapest methods to deliver training..
Thus, the instructional setting or major media are often selected at this point so that the design and development of the learning platform can be planned for accordantly.
The instructional setting chosen in this step will normally have several minor media within it that can be selected on the their ability to carry the smaller chunks of learning activities or methods — think Blended Learning. These various blends of media will be selected in the Development Phase, in the step Choose Delivery System, once the various learning methods and activities are selected. This activity is only concerned with the primary medium or media if it is blended solution.
When deciding the best learning platform, two guiding factors must be used — effective and efficient. Seek the best program within acceptable costs, while meeting the learning intents. Often it helps by dividing the tasks into three groups:
- Those that are to be included in a formal learning program, such as elearning or classroom training. Note that formal learning is a last resort as it is normally the most expensive method to develop and deliver.
- Those that are to be included in On-the-Job-Training (OJT).
- Those for which no formal or OJT is needed, but the learning of them must be supported, such as informal learning, job performance aids, or self study packets.
When selecting tasks to be trained, consider the following factors:
- Is the training mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Act?
- Could a job performance aid, informal learning method, or self study packet be used in place of formal training?
- Can people be hired that have already been trained?
- Is training needed to ensure their behavior does not compromise the company's legal position, i.e., Equal Employment Opportunity, labor relations laws, or state laws?
- What will happen if we do not train this task?
- What will be the benefits if we do train this task?
- If we don't train it, how will the employees learn it?
- How will the learning platform help to achieve our goals?
If you have successfully trained similar tasks in the past, then you probably have a pretty good idea of the required delivery system. If not, then there are several options to consider when selecting the delivery system:
- Feedback: Simple, yet effective, and often overlooked with today's high technology! Sometimes your job is not to train the workers who cannot perform the task, but to train their supervisors or managers in effective coaching and supervision methods.
- Lockstep: This is normally viewed as the traditional (classroom) type of training. It is best used when you have learning activities that must be performed in groups or team training when the teams need to practice and perform as a single entity. Its main disadvantage is that people do not normally learn at the same pace.
- Self-Paced: This allows the learners to proceed at their own pace but it requires more development time and coordination during the implementation or delivery.
- Job: This includes Job Performance Aids (JPA) such as decals and manuals and On-the-Job training (OJT). JPA are normally the cheapest method to implement while OJT can provide high quality, cost effective training. The disadvantages are the interruptions that take place in the workplace with OJT, while JPA provide no supervision or coaching.
- Blended: A Best-Of-Class Model (hybrid or modular) includes a combination of various media that provides the learners with the best type of instruction - this should be the goal of any training program.
One of the fallacies that many trainers fall into is to build every training program the same way. For example, at one company I worked with, their favorite training model was to create a learning guide and then have the learners take turns reading the guides in a lockstep training session. While a friend of mine reported that her organization would not consider doing a training program unless they could turn it into a full scale multimedia computer training production. Designers often fall into these training traps, they have a number of successes with a certain medium, so they do not consider other options in the future.
Although most learning objectives, concepts, and methods can be taught using almost any media, most have an ideal or best medium in a given learning situation. To help with the major media selection process, it often helps to run it through a flowchart:
Click image to open in a larger window
The above Training Media Selection Flowchart is a tool to aid you in selecting the best medium for a training program. The flowchart should not be thought of as the final word in media selection, but rather a guide that shows the various options for communicating and transferring your learning objectives to others. It does not attempt to take it through every avenue of approach, as that would lead to a highly convoluted chart; but rather its goal is to lead you through the major media directions and choices.
When selecting training media, you have to consider your learners' needs, resources, experience, and training goals. Also, do not take a complete training program through the chart, but rather each module of your training program. The goal of a good training effort is to build a viable and efficient program, which normally beans a blended learning solution. That is, it should provide the best learning environment at the lowest possible cost. Selecting the best medium for each module and incorporating it into your course allows you to build a Best-Of-Class program.
The guidelines for selecting the instructional setting are simple — you want the learners to master the new or existing technology in a professional, effective, and efficient manner.
Next Steps
Go to the next section: Estimating Training Time and Costs
Return to the Table of Contents
For a comprehensive list of media, go to the Media Dictionary
Analysis Templates (contains several analysis templates)
References
Clark, Richard (2001). Learning from Media: Arguments, Analysis, and Evidence. Greenwich, Connecticut: Information Age Publishing.