As mentioned in my last post, my favorite training focuses on the behavioral change required based on policy or procedures changes or “missed” performance markers. In effect, what should the learner to better or do differently after he/she/they complete the training?
I also understand why it is important to include policy text in a lesson. When there are new guidelines or rules, you want to take every chance possible to review that information, but let’s face it- how many times do people pay attention to text heavy, lengthy policy slides? That’s why it is important to build engaging and interactive training to help the learn grasp and practice processing new information. (My background is in Human Resources. More than once, I have handed an employee policy to review and acknowledge and then watched as they sign the form without thoroughly reading the document.)
In the past, I’ve offered the following example to project stakeholders and subject matter experts when discussing how to include policy.
- Include a few slides that give a high-level review of the policy- why it is in place or why it is updated, what the person should do new or differently, and what may happen if the person fails to abide by the policy.
- The fourth slide in my example features a scrolling panel with the entire policy text and an acknowledgement button.
- Be sure your lesson includes scenarios, simulated
conversations, decision-making, true/false slides or other interactions to help
the learner apply and practice the new skills.
- Your lesson design could route as follows: Introduction, DOs/DON’Ts, acknowledgement, interactive content, conclusion/review.
- Your lesson design could also route: Introduction, DOs/DON’Ts, interactive content, conclusion/review, acknowledgement.
- Regardless of where you place the acknowledgement in your design, hopefully your LMS is capable of tracking the user’s interaction with the button.
- You could also add a second button- “I need more practice regarding how to apply this policy”. When clicked, the user would repeat the more interactive content.
With many projects, a designer’s biggest challenge is balancing the subject matter experts content needs and expectations with solid instructional practices. I think this example does exactly that!
Click here to see the example!