Written by Harish Suri
harish.suri@westminsterconsulting.ca
As Learning and Development (L&D) professionals, one of the key responsibilities that accentuates our role is to ensure we help in unlocking the brilliance of the learner in any situation. Yes, fellow associates, we are also Learning Experience practitioners – creating optimal learning experiences every time we design and develop learner centered course-ware; blended or otherwise.
Brilliance by design is ideally achieved when, as L&D experts, we create a learning structure that supports optimal learning – learners get the opportunity to explore preexisting knowledge and combine it with new knowledge, branching out to areas that awaken their purpose for learning and encourage unique thoughts – an opportunity to internally assimilate content which has been well crafted and laid out perfectly every step of their chosen learning path.
A well-crafted object results from the synergy of the artist and all stakeholders, and exhibits innovative ideas that go into creating such an awesome object. Likewise, a brilliance learning experience starts with learners and every stakeholder who are part of this endeavor, creating synergistic relationships; bringing their individual strengths and talents forward to help crystallize and empower knowledge and skills in the minds and practices of their learners.
In other words, to unleash brilliance learning experiences it is vital that the talents, skills and knowledge of every stakeholder are channeled towards establishing the valuable relationship of collaboration between learner and the stakeholders – an essential ingredient to everyone’s success.
Often, people may resist learning even though they crave the opportunity to bring out their brilliance by unleashing their talents and obtaining powerful information and learning new skills, however, hurdles sometimes stand in the way. We, being the complex individuals that we are, have distinctive life experiences and learning preferences, daily worries and expectations which may have led to learning experiences that just turned us off. These are bag loads of the ‘I & Me’ brand which we carry with us always and bring to a learning experience.
To ease the learner into that optimal learning seat, it is essential to highlight the learning material is not a waste of time and is a caring effort to help the individual stimulate their smart lobe and be successful, not just in the learning process, but in life as well. And tell them it’s not yet another mistake. Communicating the positive intention helps in creating a beautiful domino effect; positive learner participation translates into unique learning knowledge paths resulting in beneficial outcomes of each individual and finally, making a successful impact to the overall business goals.
The goal is to present a learning design model (strategies and tools) that engages the learner and nurtures them to thrive in a high performing environment. Inviting learners to experience the digestible nuggets of content by addressing the cause and generating meaning from it helps build success in the learner development world. Timely feedback is key in guiding learners to accomplish their purpose.
ROI need not be ephemeral when one replaces learner seat time that involves gawk page turner moments with seat times of learners that provide focused and brilliant learning moments…extend learning and add value to the real world.
In the context of Learning and Development, I was confused while thinking of a suitable title for this blog. I have come across situations where designing a great user experience course-ware is, by default, understood as a signed and sealed package for delivery. Is designing a learning deliverable with great user experience the answer to unleashing learner brilliance? Well, I think it is one of the many factors that comprise a brilliance learning experience. In other words, a great user experience is not necessarily a brilliance learning experience, but is an essential component to help shape the path to a brilliance learning experience.
It’s about finding the sweet spot that will enhance learning experiences – a world where brilliance experiences really matter.