Effective Training Design

Tim Bruce "The Training Guy" stops by to share his wisdom on effective training design. We explore the basics and the strong historical evidence of the Herbartian Steps, which led to the J-Methods used in the Training Within Industry TWI movement. These were training methods that are still in use today and were part of the foundation of the Association of Training Directors today known as the Association for Talent Development.

Herbartian Steps Circa 1894

Whether you are a learning facilitator or instructional designer, you are most likely to have been influenced by Johann Friedrich Herbart's (1776-1841) steps of instruction or commonly known as Herbartian Steps. Although Herbart wrote his philosophies in the early 1800s, most of it was not published until after his passing. The steps are:

1. Preparation (instructional aim, putting the learner at ease, finding what is already known)
2. Presentation (showing how things are done and allowing practice)
3. Comparison (reflection of given practice to instructional aim)
4. Generalization (elicit original ideas from learners)
5. Application (practice and observed evaluation)

These steps were modified by vocational educators to develop the successful instructional programs that helped the war efforts in World War I and II.

The Manual Training Magazine

Not to be confused with Training Magazine, a publication known as The Manual Training Magazine published at the turn of the 19th century, advocated for hands-on training and the value of practice over theory.

Effective Training Design

Regardless of the delivery methodology i.e. eLearning, ILT, VILT, effective training design has the same basic components known now for more than 100 years. It shows relevance to the interests of the learners, it provides a clear set of expectations and goals, it focuses on the practice of the tasks to be performed, it elicits the creativity and active input from the learner, and it gradually removes the learner's dependence on the instructor.

Want to learn more?

Check out this episode of StyleLearn Origins with guest, Tim Bruce "The Training Guy".