Tristia Hennessey, Evolve’s Lead Instructional Designer, was chosen to write this March’s “TD at Work Guide,” ATD’S monthly publication for talent development trainings.
In “Simulations: Learning Lived Out,” Tristia looks at the different types of simulations for learning and the nuts and bolts of implementing them. Offering tips for evaluating simulations for learning and how to gain stakeholder buy-in.
Simulations are experiential learning tools that come in a variety of forms and mediums. Providing learners opportunities to learn by doing at their point of need. They enable learners to practice procedures and operations in safe and scalable environments with less risk or waste.
The Tools & Resources in this issue are a simulation design process starting guide and a quality learning simulations checklist.
Check out the excerpt below and get Tristia’s March TD at Work guide here. If you have any more questions about simulations for learning schedule a consult with us today!
Excerpt from the guide:
“Securing Stakeholder Buy-In – C-Suite and Clients
Clients or executive stakeholders are focused on the goal of finishing a project, delivering, and solving the problem that your training solution is designed to address. Knowing that, before discussing simulation design ideas, think about how to manage that goal with them. Share projected development and review milestones; dates for internal testing, pilot testing, LMS testing, final delivery, and evaluation; the training course follow-up schedule; and other dates that may specifically apply to the project. Most importantly, share how the simulation addresses their specific problem. In her book Map It, Cathy Moore provides strategic advice on analysis, SME intake, and designing for organizational problem solving. The key, she explains, is to design for measurable business goals. By directly addressing measurable goals—for example, a 15 percent increase in customer service satisfaction report results, 20 percent fewer report errors when using XYZ software, or a 10 percent decrease in annual accidents caused by equipment mishandling—you are demonstrating the return on investment and the measurable value of your training efforts. Share your analysis process, which stakeholders you spoke with, and what you learned from them. Include your design approach and be sure to have on hand several examples of the simulation modality you’re proposing. Search the internet, and you’ll find a variety of simulations you can use as both inspiration for your design and for demonstrating the value behind the design…”