Building blocks in Digital Learning

The strength of digital learning is in its potential to reach a large and globally dispersed audience. The challenge for a learning content developer is to make the material effective for learners in different cultural and geographical contexts. It is complicated by the pressure to deliver new learning programmes within short time and under tight budgets. One solution is to build blocks of learning content. Then use them like lego pieces.

The blocks become the elementary building material of new learning programmes. They are created as self-contained units to hold only one idea. This preserves the pedagogical rigor of the content in each block. It also keeps their size manageable to handle. Small blocks of content being user friendly and easy to distribute over various technology networks on devices like mobile, tablets and laptops.

Learning paths are constructed by stacking-up the blocks. They provide flexibility to quickly dis-assemble and re-assemble new learning programmes. This meets the demands of multiple design and delivery changes that are typical during the development stages.

Learning journeys are based on the needs of the learners. The blocks are combined together to achieve their learning objectives. They consists of concept (Core) blocks and specific extension blocks (Introduction, Example, Vignette). The purpose of the extension blocks in each programme is to better explain the content of the concept blocks. Some learning paths have special blocks (Assessment) to hold tools, questionnaires, surveys, etc.  A separate category called evaluation blocks (Exam, Quiz) are created to measure the learning outcomes. For example, in a programme to develop soft-skills, the objective is declared as; to improve performance in global teams. The concept blocks and extension blocks are combined to deliver the objective. A core block is created to hold the definition of culture. The second core block holds a research based evidence of a culturally influenced behavior at work. The third core block is created to hold content on stereotyping. An extension block holds a context specific example, or a scenario, or a short story, etc. The fourth core block will hold a technique to employ to bridge cultural gaps. The fifth core block will hold a method to create awareness among the learners of the change the programme has brought about. The sixth core block will hold an idea to further leverage the potential of diversity in global teams.  A special block can hold a qualitative measurement instrument (Behavioral tool). An interactive block can be made that has the instructions to conduct a debrief session (one-on-one or in groups, face-to-face or virtual). The last block can be for evaluation (Exam or Quiz).

To deploy the above programme in different cultural and geographical contexts, only the extension block with the context specific example will need to be created again. Templates can be employed to shorten the construction time of new blocks. They also ensure a consistent look and feel especially during tight timelines. Different types of templates may be used, though they cannot be endless in number. Limiting the type and capacity of templates makes all parties plan the content carefully.  It forces the elimination of material that overflows the templates.

Ilustrated below is an online programme to develop soft-skills. Six types of blocks are used, whenever possible templates are employed. The blocks and their templates used to build the programme include: extension block for introduction and example, core block for concept, special block for a qualitative assessment tool, an interactive block that lists the steps to conduct a virtual live debrief session (for groups of two with a subject matter expert), and finally an exam block.

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