Pausing the Learning Innovation Race!

Let's hit pause and take an intermission from the learning innovation race.  If you are like me, you are faced with a barrage of learning tools, technology, platforms, systems, assessments, and [insert latest buzzword here] that you need to research, absorb and be ready to answer questions about. Learning professionals are in a co-dependent love affair with learning technology. This co-dependence has created blinders that keep us from remembering why we are here and what we are supposed to be doing. 

Case in Point

One of our long-term clients asked us to put together a strategic plan for building leadership skills within a group of managers. The learner needs analysis was still in process so we started broad with some input from the project sponsor. This input was received more like a creative brainstorming and included words like: blended, simulation, experiential, gamification, micro-learning...you get the idea. Being the good consultants that we are, we listened intently, took copious notes and set out to start drafting a blended learning program strategy.  We were excited by the lack of constraints (still no learning needs analysis) and start BIG! I mean pie in the sky kind of BIG! Micro learning delivery, podcasts, mobile apps, you name it we put it on the board.  After a couple of days of back and forth with the client we thought we had the best leadership and business development program strategy EVER! Then we got the learning needs analysis and quickly realized that all the cool, new and cutting edge learning delivery tools we were going to use would be absolutely lost on this audience. So we scrapped it all (only a couple of days work) and started again. 

NEW does NOT equal NEED!

I get it and am just as guilty as the rest. "Learning Innovator" is front and center on my bio. We as learning professionals are beholden to our learners to innovate and evolve while seeking the next great medium, tool or technology that will reach even our more disengaged learners. In our race to be learning innovators are we.... 

Ignoring the methodology? - Changing the order of operations?

Forgetting to analyze and design for the need? - Modifying the need to fit the latest tool? 

Going back to ADDIE

Analyze the learning need

Design a solution that meets the need

Develop engaging content

Implement in the right media

Evaluate whether it met or exceeded (ideally) the objectives

How to Win the Learning Innovation Race

We all want to win the learning innovation race and it won't be easy, but let's be honest? Did we get into this field because it would be easy? To win the learning innovation race we need to start well, stay the course and finish strong. We need to think first about the people first and the technology second. We need to combine what we know about learning (engaging people) with the best medium (technology) for the need.

Analyze the learner needs while assessing the technology aptitude and tolerance.
Design toward your goal and objectives without technology as a driving factor.
Develop and implement the right content for the need not content built for the technology.
Evaluate with the objectives, content and medium (technology) in mind.
Technology as Enabler NOT Leader
Going back to basics does not mean abandoning technology. We need to shift our collective learning professional minds:

You can now resume your consumption of the latest tools, technologies and trends, as long as we remember why we are here.