Learn. Show. Repeat.

18 Feb

The Use Framework for performance solutions

Recently, I’ve been thinking about the work that we do within in the field of L&D. Usually, we add up all the 'things' we've produced and tell others within our organisations about all the work we’ve done. Unfortunately, many L&D teams talk in terms of outputs instead of outcomes. But what’s the point of making more 'things' if they don’t make a difference in terms of performance? A big part of the problem is that the starting point and consequently the focus of our activities is on content. There must be a better way. In my previous two posts (One...
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30 Jan

One more ‘Use’ word for L&D

Posted by Matt Guyan | Reflections |

Not long after publishing my previous post Three ‘Use’ words for L&D, it occurred to me that while these words relate to the learning solutions itself, there’s a fourth ‘use’ word that I neglected to include. User. It’s by understanding the context of the user that we can create something useful. Something that has a purpose and solves a problem for them. It’s by testing with users that we can determine the usability (and make changes from feedback). We can discover if it can be located when needed and if it’s uncomplicated to use. It’s by collecting and analysing data...
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25 Jan

Three ‘Use’ words for L&D

Posted by Matt Guyan | Reflections |

I’m currently completing an online course on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) via the Interaction Design Foundation. In one lesson, Prof Alan Dix talks about three ‘use’ words within the design side of HCI. It got me thinking that these three words could also apply to learning and development. If we are to make a difference in our organisations, we need to design and create solutions that are: Useful It helps people do something they need to do, when they need to do it. It’s functional and serves a purpose. It produces results for the user and ultimately the organisation. Ask yourself:...
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09 Sep

From Instruction to Experience

Posted by Matt Guyan | Reflections, User Experience |

Recently, I’ve noticed a shift happening within the learning field. The role of Instructional Designer (ID) is evolving into a Learning Experience Designer (LXD). So, what’s the difference? Ceren Korkmaz1 offers a distinction between the two terms that resonates with me: “instructional design emphasizes the source of knowledge – in other words the planning of the teaching activities. However, learning experience design concentrates more on the destination of knowledge, or the learner.” Having worked as an ID in the eLearning space for several years, much of the focus of my work has been on the design of content – the...
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05 Aug

Outcomes over outputs

Posted by Matt Guyan | Reflections |

In learning and development, we’re eager to tell others what it is we do, the services we provide, how we’re unique and who we serve. We do a good job of describing and counting our activities and the number of people who use them. We speak in terms of outputs. Outputs are what we produce. But our organisations are less interested in these things. What’s more valuable to them is the impact of our activities. They want outcomes. Outcomes are the differences we make. How can we measure the outcomes of our activities? How do we know we’ve made a...
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Learn. Show. Repeat.

The Use Framework for performance solutions

One more ‘Use’ word for L&D

Three ‘Use’ words for L&D

From Instruction to Experience

Outcomes over outputs

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