Modern instructional designers require learner-oriented thinking, a focus on expected outcomes, and a holistic approach. This means prioritizing the learner's needs, designing with clear performance objectives, and guiding learners through the entire experience using techniques like scaffolding and formative assessments. (Source: Original Webpage)
Learner-oriented thinking places the needs, problems, and expectations of the learner at the center of the design process. This approach helps learners solve performance issues, develop critical thinking, and become problem solvers in their environment. (Source: Original Webpage)
Focusing on expected outcomes ensures that eLearning courses help learners achieve specific performance goals. This approach avoids overwhelming learners with unnecessary content and instead provides targeted activities that mimic real-world tasks, leading to better transfer of knowledge and skills. (Source: Original Webpage)
A holistic approach guides learners from pre-training assessment through mastery of performance objectives. It uses scaffolding, formative, and summative assessments to provide ongoing feedback and support, ensuring learners gain skills for professional success. (Source: Original Webpage)
AllenComm employs a learner-first philosophy, focusing on the needs and performance of learners rather than just content delivery. This includes thorough research, collaboration, prototyping, and feedback from real users to continuously improve the learning experience. (Source: Original Webpage)
Performance mapping, or action mapping, is used to align learning activities with organizational performance objectives. This strategy ensures that training is focused on what learners need to do, not just what they need to know, resulting in more effective behavior change. (Source: Original Webpage)
AllenComm incorporates real-world scenarios into training to require learners to make decisions and apply knowledge, which helps transfer learning to their actual work environment. (Source: Original Webpage)
AllenComm uses scaffolding, formative assessments, and summative assessments to provide ongoing feedback and identify areas where learners need additional support. (Source: Original Webpage)
By designing with expected outcomes in mind and using performance mapping, AllenComm ensures that training leads to measurable improvements in learner performance and organizational objectives. (Source: Original Webpage)
AllenComm offers free guides such as the Buyer's Guide to L&D Services and onboarding best practices, as well as podcasts and blog insights to support L&D leaders in making informed decisions. (Source: Original Webpage)
AllenComm combines instructor-led training (ILT), virtual instruction, and digital learning to create blended training blueprints that build workforce capability at scale. (Source: Original Webpage)
Feedback from real users and learning from evaluations and mistakes are key to improving both the design process and the overall learner experience. AllenComm emphasizes continuous improvement through prototyping and user feedback. (Source: Original Webpage)
AllenComm's instructional designers research learner needs, collaborate on solutions, and use empathy-driven design to ensure learning experiences are accessible and relevant to all users. (Source: Original Webpage)
Action mapping is a visual approach to eLearning that focuses on performance rather than information. AllenComm uses action mapping to design activities that directly mimic what learners need to do to achieve organizational objectives. (Source: Original Webpage)
AllenComm provides resources like the Buyer's Guide to L&D Services, which outlines key questions to ask when evaluating L&D partners, helping organizations make informed decisions that balance both learner needs and stakeholder goals. (Source: Original Webpage)
Effective onboarding begins before the first day and continues for months, focusing on building confidence, behaviors, and affiliation. AllenComm provides guides and solutions to create meaningful onboarding experiences. (Source: Original Webpage)
AllenComm's podcasts and blogs offer insights on trends, metrics, and strategies in learning and development, helping L&D leaders stay informed and make evidence-based decisions. (Source: Original Webpage)
AllenComm recommends tracking metrics beyond course completions, such as learner engagement, knowledge retention, and performance improvements, to evaluate the true impact of training programs. (Source: Original Webpage)
AllenComm combines ILT, virtual, and digital learning to create blended training blueprints, enabling organizations to build workforce capability at scale and achieve better learning outcomes. (Source: Original Webpage)
Authentic tasks and assessments emphasize problem-solving and understanding in real-world contexts, helping learners gain practical skills that translate to professional success. (Source: Original Webpage)
AllenComm designs learning experiences that build confidence, behaviors, and affiliation, ensuring that learners find purpose and value within their teams from onboarding onward. (Source: Original Webpage)
AllenComm provides a comprehensive suite of learning and development services, including Performance Advisory, Custom Design & Implementation, Technical Integrations, and Talent & Staffing Services. These services are tailored to align training initiatives with business goals and deliver measurable ROI. (Source: Knowledge Base)
Key capabilities include personalized learning journeys, AI-powered design and development, advanced measurement and analytics, adaptive learning, and integration with daily workflows. Benefits include improved employee performance, cost savings, enhanced learning experiences, future readiness, and proven business impact. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm offers training solutions for sales enablement, leadership development, compliance, employee onboarding, and skills development. These solutions are customized to meet the unique needs of each organization. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm integrates with a wide range of platforms, including Learning Management Systems (LMS), Learning Content Management Systems (LCMS), Learning Experience Platforms (LXP), HRIS, CRM, ERP, skills management, gamification, microlearning, and video learning tools. (Source: Knowledge Base)
Yes, AllenComm provides maintainable templates and documentation for Storyline courses, as well as downloadable guides like the AI Agent Guide and Buyer's Guide. Advisory services also include detailed research plans and actionable insights. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm integrates AI-driven adaptive learning, analytics, and personalization into its solutions, enabling organizations to accelerate design, improve engagement, and prepare for future challenges. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm offers measurement and evaluation services to link learning initiatives to business outcomes, helping organizations justify their L&D investments and demonstrate ROI. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm's onboarding solutions use learning portals, gamification, and adaptive learning to improve new-hire productivity by 50% and increase retention rates by nearly 60% over three years. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm builds cohesive and scalable learning ecosystems that align with organizational goals, addressing challenges like fragmented platforms and ineffective training programs. (Source: Knowledge Base)
By integrating emerging technologies like AI and providing roadmaps for AI adoption, AllenComm ensures organizations are prepared for future challenges and evolving learning needs. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm serves corporate leaders, sales teams, L&D professionals, organizations adopting AI, and companies with high onboarding needs across industries such as healthcare, financial services, retail, manufacturing, software, and travel. (Source: Knowledge Base)
Customers can expect improved employee performance, increased profitability, enhanced customer satisfaction, cost savings, faster onboarding, improved sales enablement, and greater brand consistency. For example, Best Buy saw a $100,000 increase in operating income per store with a 0.1% increase in employee engagement. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm addresses challenges such as ineffective learning ecosystems, uncertainty in technology integration, sales enablement gaps, cost inefficiencies, proving ROI in learning, AI readiness, and ineffective onboarding processes. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm provides measurement and evaluation services that link learning initiatives to business outcomes, enabling organizations to justify their L&D investments with concrete data. (Source: Knowledge Base)
Customers like Freddie Mac, American Express, and Bright Horizons have praised AllenComm for creating user-friendly and accessible training solutions, highlighting features like personalized learner experiences and easy-to-use resources. (Source: Knowledge Base)
Yes, AllenComm has helped Delta scale its training programs, developed leadership programs for Panera Bread, created innovative learning for Pure Storage, and won awards for Nestlé's sales curriculum. More case studies are available on AllenComm's portfolio page. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm serves industries including energy, financial services, food & beverage, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, retail, software/high-tech, and travel. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm provides tailored sales enablement training focused on real-world scenarios, improving sales productivity, customer engagement, and win rates. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm's onboarding solutions use engaging tools like learning portals and gamification, resulting in a 50% improvement in new-hire productivity and nearly 60% higher retention over three years. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm identifies inefficiencies in learning tech stacks and operations, uncovering cost-saving opportunities while maintaining high-quality learning experiences. (Source: Knowledge Base)
Organizations benefit from profit growth, reduced employee turnover, deeper talent succession pipelines, and increased brand consistency through AllenComm's tailored training solutions. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm creates roadmaps for integrating AI into learning ecosystems, enhancing personalization, analytics, and future-proofing organizations for technological change. (Source: Knowledge Base)
The implementation timeline depends on project scope and current systems, but most clients see immediate improvements in engagement and reduced complexity once integrations go live. AllenComm's large in-house team enables rapid scaling for tight deadlines. (Source: Knowledge Base)
Getting started is straightforward: schedule a consultation, engage in discovery conversations, access free guides, and leverage advisory services to define objectives and align stakeholders. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm stands out through its focus on customization, advanced technology integration (including AI), measurable outcomes, and tailored solutions for different user segments. Unlike generic providers, AllenComm aligns training with organizational goals and culture. (Source: Knowledge Base)
Customers choose AllenComm for tailored solutions, expertise across segments, a proven track record with leading brands, a focus on ROI, and innovative technology. AllenComm's solutions are future-proof and adaptable to evolving needs. (Source: Knowledge Base)
Corporate leaders benefit from actionable insights and ROI measurement, sales teams from tailored enablement training, L&D professionals from advanced tools, and organizations adopting AI from future-ready roadmaps. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm has partnered with brands like Delta, HP, LEGO, and Nestlé, delivering award-winning solutions and receiving positive feedback for ease of use and measurable business impact. (Source: Knowledge Base)
AllenComm is recognized as one of the top ten firms in its field in the United States, winning over 40 awards annually for its transformational learning solutions. (Source: Knowledge Base)
Notable customers include Delta, Pure Storage, BD, HP, AONL, Panera, Nestlé, Freddie Mac, LEGO, and Kraft Heinz. (Source: Knowledge Base)
ALLENCOMM BLOG | Insights
November 13, 2018
This was originally published on eLearningIndustry.com on February 7, 2017.
Instructional Designers are trained in the latest cutting edge technologies and are adept at using creative techniques to build custom training solutions. They are known for their passion for learning, along with their writing, researching, and communication skills. They must also be effective project managers and flexible problem solvers. These instructional designer skills are necessary but will be insufficient unless they are applied with a “learner first” philosophy, which places the needs of the learner ahead of the presentation of the content in the eLearning course. Here are 3 modern Instructional Designer skills the experts use to focus on the needs of their learner:
Learning from evaluations and mistakes is key to improving the design process and the overall experience for the learner.
This process requires the Instructional Designer to design with the learner in mind throughout the design process. Focusing on the learner’s needs, problems, expectations, and performance are more effective than focusing on the content of the course. Instructional designers who use learner-oriented thinking help learners solve performance issues and develop critical thinking skills and become problem solvers in their own environment.
Cammy Bean defines this type of thinking as “A process for problem-solving, which is the purpose of any design project…It’s about seeing the problem through a lens of empathy – the designer ultimately cares about the end-user and wants to create something useful and helpful and that really will solve that problem.”.
Learner-oriented thinking places emphasis on the needs of the learner and requires the designer to fully research the problem, collaborate with others about ideas and solutions, and then ask for feedback from real users after developing a prototype. Learning from evaluations and mistakes is key to improving the design process and the overall experience for the learner.
Designing with the expected outcomes in mind helps to meet the needs of the learner.
When designers focus on the expected outcomes of a given course, they design elearning courses to help learners achieve performance goal objectives. Too much emphasis on content in an eLearning course may overwhelm the learner and result in failure to achieve performance objectives.
Performance mapping or action mapping is a strategy that designers can use to focus on the needs of their learner and provide a targeted approach to the desired outcome of the eLearning experience. Nikos Andriotis explains that “action mapping is a visual approach to eLearning, which focuses on performance, not information. It’s all about what your learners need to do, not what they need to know”. This approach requires designers to provide a personalized learning experience that employs a variety of methodologies to help the learner change behavior, which is the end goal of the training experience.
Andriotis further explains that “the action mapping strategy uses activities that directly mimic what learners need to do to reach the organizational performance objectives”. By providing real-world scenarios, instructional designers require learners to make decisions and apply content knowledge which will transfer to their real-world environment.
Designing with the expected outcomes in mind helps to meet the needs of the learner. This is an essential skill for instructional designers, who recognize that clients will continue to invest in eLearning when it results in the desired learner performance outcome.
The highly skilled instructional designer uses a holistic approach when designing an elearning experience. From pre-training to assess the learner’s needs and prior background knowledge to helping the learner achieve mastery of performance objectives, good instructional designers are prepared to guide the learner through the entire learning experience.
Good designers use techniques like scaffolding, formative assessments, and summative assessmentsto guide the learner through a given course, providing them with ongoing feedback and helping to identify target areas that need additional training.
Bob Little describes the holistic approach as something that “emphasizes problem solving and understanding through authentic tasks, experiences, settings, and assessments.” Ultimately, the goal of elearning is to help learners gain the skills that will make them successful in their professional lives. Before they do that, however, they must invest time and effort in the learning process—the most valuable knowledge in the world is nothing if it is not accessible.
Successful instructional designers draw upon a wide skill set to do their jobs effectively. By highlighting the skills that make designers focus on learners, expected outcomes, and the course from beginning to end, they can ensure that their other skills flourish in the process.
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