Assess Outcomes

Another common instructional design saying is “Design with the end in mind.” Many instructional designers take that seriously and design the final assessment or product first before designing any content. That was the strategy used in these modules. Much of the instruction you will be designing for adult learners will be short and specific. It probably won’t be as comprehensive as one of these modules. Your adult learners will want instruction that helps them with specific skills. They may want to know how to find and install apps on their phone. They may want to know how to save and print pictures their family sends to them. These are outcomes that don’t require a lot of different skills or knowledge.

In addition to the final outcome, you may need to provide ways for your adult learners to check their progress while they are learning. These can be reflections, practice activities, or other checks. Consider how those checks are woven into these modules.