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If you are frustrated with the limited models available for instructional design, then you’ll be interested in this conversation with Cathy Moore. She is the creator of Action Mapping and author of Map It, a model of training design that focuses on improving workplace performance. Cathy is a training designer, teacher, speaker and author. Her advice and designs have been used by many organizations and the U.S. government. She also teaches online workshops on scenario design.
Cathy has made it her mission to save the world from boring instruction. In this conversation, we discuss her book, Map It!. We also talk about the changing role of learning experience designers, measuring the effects of training, how to tell whether training is the solution to a performance problem, tracking practice activities (or not), creating prototypes and much more.
WE DISCUSS:
- Providing effective solutions that go beyond training
- Action Mapping process
- Using business metrics to measure performance improvement and behavior change
- How action mapping has evolved and changed over the years
- Criteria to determine whether a performance problem can be solved with training
- Action mapping as a method for practicing instructional design
- When to use and not use action mapping
- How to choose the tasks that require practice activities
- Advantages of branching scenarios
- Technical implementation of practice activities
- Prototyping guidelines
RATE: Rate this podcast in iTunes
TIME: 24 minutes
TRANSCRIPT: Download the ELC 047 Transcript
RESOURCES:
- Map It by Cathy Moore
- Cathy’s website
- Is training the answer? Use this flowchart
- Will Action Mapping work for my project? (interactive flowchart)
- Action Mapping
- Cathy’s Scenario Design Course
- Balsamiq (mockup tool)
- Twine (for telling branching stories)
Thanks so much Laura. I listened again too and was shocked at the audio quality. I’m improving the quality for everyone’s listening enjoyment. Will be uploading a better version soon.
Connie
Connie. I will reiterate the thanks others have expressed for this podcast topic and an introduction to Cathy Moore. I looked up the podcast because of your reference to her and her work in your Mastering Instructional Design course. There is a real need for this approach. Thanks for all you do.
Hi Tony,
I’m glad you found this episode so useful. Sometimes I feel that we need ID Support Groups 🙂 It sounds like you are doing the best you can within the constraints you face and I applaud you for that. Funny about Balsamiq. I find it’s ease of use and the way it looks hand-drawn to be so appealing. I’m sure there are some who prefer a more mechanical look. I use it more for app and website design than eLearning, but I’m not sure why. It would be good for eLearning too. Thanks for sharing.
Connie
Hi Connie- Great Podcast! I’m a former Technical Writer and, for the past several years an Instructional Designer/Developer. For the past 3-!/2 years, I’ve been designing safety trainings for my client. Many of the trainings are already created, and I’m asked to “update this old PowerPoint version from 10 years ago.” It’s a struggle because of government regulations and requirements around training. I’m slowly trying to move away from the “tell them information” style of design and more into getting to the root-cause to change their behavior. I loved how the two of you discussed various pain points in our industry and ways to change them. I’m currently reading Cathy’s “Map It” and your “Visual Design Solutions” book. I have sooo much to learn. I must say, one of my favorite parts of the Podcast was when you discussed prototyping tools. In my head, I was saying, “Please say Balsamiq, please!” LOL, I’ve used that tool since inception and LOVE it for low-fidelity prototyping simply because you can add the links so the client can see outcomes.
I don’t know the capabilities of specific apps, but I’m guessing their websites have that information or contacting support. Also, a search for “Teaching Using [Appname]” might help. I’m guessing you can at least text short lessons, perhaps ask questions and get replies, and link to podcasts. Good luck!!
Thank you so much. I’m a professor. My students have limited access to Internet and mobile phone.I need some suggestions regarding my online teaching. What all resources can I use to teach students using whats up.( Apart from using ms word,pdf, you tube videos, sound files,etc) Can we share podcasts through whatsup ?
Hi Angela,
Glad you found it useful!
Connie
Great podcast. Thank you for sharing, Connie!
Hi Sridhar,
Great story. Thanks for telling us what it was like for you in 2006! Shows that a great method is going to work in many situations.
Best,
Connie
Connie, Thanks for this insightful podcast (ELC 047). The reverse ID method (in Action Planning) as Cathy mentions is many a times a ‘make or break’ factor in the creation of a learning intervention. From being a Trainer in soft skills, i ventured in creating ‘Training – content’ (Facilitator led sessions) for my then Training Organization, way back in 2006!! …I was raw (not certified)..but my products were impactful, they were different and challenged the status-quo!! And i attribute the success to such reverse technique that i tried. (just commonsense..i guess!!)… Customers/ Organization may have a wish list of topics to be downloaded on unsuspecting victims (calling them participants would be wrong).. As Cathy said, sometimes there is little analysis that Customer’s management / HR/ L&D, may have done.. simply because they love their perception prisons. Which only a rank outsider can notice and highlight!!… I’d check this Book! Appreciate your efforts and podcasts.