Why a Good Structure is So Important

Before we get started, let's quickly remind ourselves why a good structure is so important.

A good, solid structure that is clearly signalled will help:

• ensure everything necessary is included 
• reduce the risk of confusion
• you, the administrator, to prioritise content
• you, the administrator, to cover the subject in the planned time-frame
• your learners follow a clear learning process
• reassure them that they will see a return on the effort they put in
• make obvious when and where contributions are expected from the performance hub

Remember, you're unlikely to promote effective learning without a clear, well worked out and solid structure.

Solid structuring depends on many things:

• how long you expect your program will last
• whether it's a one-off or whether learners will come back to it, perhaps as just-in-time reference
• whether they're on their own, working with peers or with their performance hub
• how long they can devote to the learning over how many sessions
• how you expect to divide your program into bite-sized chunks

For traditional training programs, a simple three stage structure could be used:

1. Introduction - what you are going to cover – the objectives, how you are going to cover it - a brief overview of the program and why you’re going to cover it – the benefits of the learning
2. Learning content (main body) - we break down the content in the form of activities. Here we will need to make decisions about media, interactivity and, ideally, finding ways of validating that the learners have understood the main learning points discussed
3. Application/test - provide learners with the opportunity to demonstrate, to both themselves and their performance hub, that they have met the learning objectives outlined at the beginning. Allow for feedback to be given and the agreeing of future actions. Learning certainly does not end there

A quick metaphor: think of an equilateral triangle with objectives, learning content and testing as the three vertices. Each vertex must connect with the other two: ideally, learning content should clearly help achieve the different objectives and each should be tested.

In On.Board, a program's learning curriculum is made up of a hierarchy of Sections, Steps and then Activities (which vary in their type). Select the linked text to find out more.