Small Medium or Large

How many of us have gone to a fast food restaurant and been asked if we want to super-size our menu choice? Because we know how much we can eat now and if we want to save some items for later or even to share, we know if this is a good option for us.  What if an organization offered the same options for learning?

“Give me a venti module”: This option would go into content depth, be longer length, and include complete details of procedures. There might be multi-levels of content to assist in the workplace.

“Can I have a grande lesson”: This option would be smaller than the “venti module” and rely more on what knowledge the learner already possesses.

“A shot of content, please”: This option is for a just-in-time learning experience and includes bite-size information, procedures, and references. This could be used for a new employee to get a snap shot of their job or for a worker of more experience to review content.

“Sprinkle that module with user content”: Sometimes a worker already knows the information as it relates to their job but not how it impacts someone else’s job. It might be critical to know how each phase of the work is done. This option allows for a bize-size “shot” and adds video content from others in diverse work settings to help workers understand the big picture.

A company deciding to offer options to employees should consult their educational content managers. Sometimes short is the better option.

Content obtained from “Make Learning Small, Medium and Large” by Elliott Masie, Chief Learning Officer: Solutions for Enterprise Productivity.