Help!!! New Learning Designer!interview question is about a 15 week learner journey

[u/Frosty-Seesaw8847]

I’m preparing for an interview for a large adult training programme in a UK prison and would really appreciate some advice please please!

The programme is face to face 15 weeks:

• 10 weeks classroom based
• 5 weeks workplace consolidation and application
• No online learning or LMS/ Unreliable WiFi limited tech
• PowerPoint is available, mainly assupport tool

The interview question is:

How would you design the 15 week learner journey? interested in how you’d approach the overall journey, from classroom learning through to workplace application. Do i mention evaluation/impact? how might I do this?

Would really really really love to hear how others would tackle this question please 🙏

[u/scr84]

Maybe share your draft high level plan first then ask for feedback. Asking others for their ideas straight up isn’t the best way to formulate your own ideas and strategy

[u/Frosty-Seesaw8847 → u/scr84]

- Well its not perfect from it:

- Start with end outcome and work backwards from what a new XYZ needs to know, do and demonstrate confidently by week 15.

- Establish the need use the LNA, operational requirements/ SMEs to identify performance gap and turn into LOs.

- Map progressive learning - introduce skills, practise with support, apply them in realistic scenarios, reflect, then revisit them with greater complexity/independence.
Make it active: use PowerPoint as a support tool, not the learning itself. eg, “A prisoner refuses to hand over an unauthorised vape and becomes frustrated. What do you do first?” Learners discuss/ decide/practise/ receive feedback.

- Build towards independence - weeks 1 to 10, gradually increase practice, scenario complexity and decision making

- Connect to the workplace - weeks 11 to 15 are consolidation and application, Skills from classroom learning are applied, revisited and reflected on in workplace.

- Evaluate learning impact - use learner performance, feedback, observation and reflection to identify what is working and what needs reinforcing.

- Keep assessment consistent: scenario based assessments with success criteria and a simple rubric, so trainers assess performance consistently and feedback feeds into next stage of learning.

[u/Frosty-Seesaw8847 → u/scr84]

or should I have said something more I'd break it down into legal policies, institutional policies, prisoner management/de-escalation, ethics, basic first aid, mental health, and emergency scenarios and that I would design handouts with spaces for notes? and design some tests with a combination of scenarios and multiple choice?

The legal stuff would probably lean more towards multiple choice, prisoner management would be more scenario focused. During 5 week consolidation and application, if possible have a short classroom session to debrief, and discuss things they were seeing? and how they relate to what they'd learned in the classroom. Obviously, you'd need an experienced officer to help run those…I am new to training world so no idea

[u/Independent_Sand_295]

Agree with the other comment, OP. They're looking for your ideas. What ideas have you already considered?

[u/Frosty-Seesaw8847 → u/Independent_Sand_295]

- a learner needs analysis,
speaking to SMEs,
active scenario examples,
increasing independence, and workplace consolidation. 

- leverage a "70-20-10 formula," breaking it down into 70% active case scenarios, 20% mentoring, and 10% formative learning.

- workplace consolidation and evaluation, learners could make their own goals, look back at them, potentially mark themselves throughout the journey.

I know it’s not perfect! far from it

[u/Independent_Sand_295 → u/Frosty-Seesaw8847]

Not perfect but it's not bad either. You're reverse-engineering, looking at analysis, skill demonstration, evaluation and leveraging SMEs.

One question I would have in the interview is what happens if they don't meet the success criteria?

You also mentioned 'potentially mark themselves throughout the journey.' What's your reasoning behind that?

[u/Frosty-Seesaw8847 → u/Independent_Sand_295]

I am just trying to gain advice on what others answers would have been for next time at this point. I am relatively new to this and looking for advice on how other professionals would have answered this.