You worked through the analysis process with your client and collected volumes of information. You’ve determined the best learner experience for the need. What do you do next? You create a learner journey.
The learner journey is a vital tool within each training initiative as it outlines your findings and solution recommendations. Sharing this information enables:
- The client to understand how your recommendations assist them in achieving their goals.
- Gaining client approval on the scope of work prior to beginning work.
In this blog post, we review the components of the learner journey and why each is important.
What is included in the learner journey? Here are the four main components of the learner journey:
- Current state of affairsÂ
- Learner’s roadmap to enlightenment
- High-level design
- Measurement strategy
Current State of Affairs
It’s important to understand the current state of affairs to fully understand the scope of your project — and be able to consult learning solutions! By completing an initial analysis, you will be able to identify the learning needs of your target audience, and therefore, create a current state of affairs.Â
How do you gather this information?
- Ask questions to uncover the current business challenges and goals.
- Meet with your target learning audience and ask questions to determine learning needs and preferences.
- Use the Mini Analysis Form Template to document the basic information needed to ensure you design the right solution.
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Use the following mini analysis template form when assessing the needs, goals, and expectations of your next project!
After completing your analysis draft the Current State of Affairs. See example below:
Learner’s Roadmap to Enlightenment
Next, is a learner’s roadmap! This is a critical component of the learner journey as it allows the client to visualize the learning experience by providing a quick, clear, and concise view of the recommended learning experience. A learner’s roadmap to enlightenment outlines:
- Target learner audiences
- Courses to complete
How do you create a Learner’s Roadmap to Enlightenment? Any way you like! Use a roadmap with engaging visuals and text so that your client is excited to learn about the learning solution recommendation. See example below!
High-Level Design
Now it is time to create a high-level design which provides another visual for your client as to the structure of the courses within your recommendation. The high-level design allows you and your client to agree on the learning objectives and content components prior to beginning work. This is important as you don’t want to invest time and money on a product that will not meet the needs of the client.
What do you include in the high-level design? Include the following for each course:
- Course names
- Learning goals
- Content and activities descriptions
- Deliverables
- Audience
- Estimated timing
Measurement Strategy
Lastly, create a measurement strategy! The measurement strategy documents the learner’s:
- Overall experience with the content (specifically, was it engaging and enjoyable!)
- Retention of information learned from the courses
- Application of information learned on the job
To obtain this information, it is important to include any of the following in your training:
- Post-training assessments
- Surveys
- Graded case studies
- Performance impact measurements
The more data you collect on measurable outcomes, the easier it is for your client to quantify the company’s return on investment. Download the free Training ROI Calculator below as another helpful tool to measure the ROI of your training!
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Download our FREE “Training ROI Calculator” and calculate your learning and development ROI with ease!
You now understand why the learner journey is a vital tool within each training initiative. To recap, a learner journey helps the client to understand how your recommendations assist them in achieving their goals and helps you gain their approval on the scope of the project prior to beginning work. Remember, the most effective learner journey will clearly outline your findings and solution recommendations with the four key components: current states of affairs, learner’s roadmap of enlightenment, high-level design, and measurement strategy.Â
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