Selecting the Instructional Setting (Media) in Instructional Design
This step selects the appropriate delivery method (sometimes referred to as instructional setting or media) where the learning will take place. What has to be decided is where the training will take place. The instructional setting is the major medium of the learning process, for example, a Job Performance Aid (JPA) for operating a piece of equipment, classroom training, or elearning.
The instructional setting will normally have several minor media within it. Minor media are the learning strategies for delivering a learning activity that instructs the learning points or steps. For example a JPA (Job Performance Aid) might have two – a decal for starting the equipment and a manual for performing the various operations. A classroom setting could have fishbowls for teaching observation, in-baskets for teaching time management, and lectures for introducing new information. eLearning might use video, self-tests, and simulations. These various blends of media will be selected in the Development Phase, Choose Delivery System, once the various learning activities are selected. This activity is only concerned with the primary medium or media if it is blended.
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 lectures or team training. 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. 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 book 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 success with a certain medium, so they do not consider other options in the future.
Although most learning objectives and concepts can be taught using almost any media, most have an ideal medium in a given learning situation. To help with the major media selection process, it often helps to run it through a flowchart:
When widow opens, click to enlarge
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 learner 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. 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.
Heraclitus of Ephesus was one of the early Greek philosophers. He emphasized that the world is constantly changing. He said, "No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man." The saying "There is nothing permanent except change" is based upon his philosophy. Estimating training is no exception. . . it also will change and vary depending upon who is building the training programming and what type of training they are creating.
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)