When Karl Kapp publishes a new book, it is almost instantly added to my “Read” list. I read a bunch of Karl books, and I always learn something new of them. His latest book, Learning before action: Techniques of educational design to engage and inspireis no exception. This book throws an overview of various ways of passing traditional passive learning experiences to focus on action. It brings together subjects on which he previously wrote as games and 3D learning in a practical accent on how to use these approaches.
Learning creation before action means:
- Start by making participants act at the start of learning experiences to attract attention and make them think.
- Work to maintain attention and continue to make it actively think and actively apply their knowledge throughout the experience.
- Finish with an active reflection to help learners plan what they have learned and make experience more significant.
Teaching techniques before action
After an introduction and an explanation of learning before action, each chapter explains an educational technique that you can use. This is a book that you certainly don't need to read directly; You can jump into the most relevant chapters for your own work. (You will not be surprised to learn that I jumped directly in the connection scenario before reading something else, right?)
- Card games
- Board games
- Evacuation rooms
- Educational comics (by Kevin Thorne)
- Connection scenarios
- Live interactive experiences
- Augmented reality
- Avatars and Metaverse
- Coaching powered by AI
Amy Pope contributed a chapter on accessibility in digital and physical experiences. Creating engaging, significant and fun learning experiences does not mean that you must ignore accessibility. However, it is easier if you plan accessibility from the start. Chapter 11 explains design considerations for accessibility and with relevant examples.
Case studies
Each chapter includes a case study with an example of how an organization used this in practice. It is often really difficult to find real examples of high quality learning experiences for inspiration. Much of the best work in our industry is kept in camera within organizations. There are good reasons for this (many of us work with confidential and owner content), but it also makes it more difficult for all of us to improve our practices. Having these real examples with concrete details is so useful.
I really appreciated the “learned lessons” at the end of each case study. The reflections on what worked well and what did not work did that each case study is authentic.
For example, one of the lessons learned in the study of ramification scenario was that “negative feedback does not mean that the design is bad”.
“The learners did not have to be happy to learn; Sometimes the difficulty and the struggle lead to better learning results than to do everything on the first try. ”
—Karl Kapp
I also encountered this with connection scenarios. If learners are used to training, it is so easy that it is almost condescending, then it can be a real shock when they have to make efforts and a critical thinking in a learning experience. They will complain! This is one of these situations that many of us have met, but we are not necessarily talking. These types of information make these case studies precious.
Buy the book
If you are looking for inspiration to improve your educational design techniques, I recommend this book. There are so many precious ideas and advice, even if you already use some of these approaches.
You can buy Learning before action on Amazon. (Yes, this is an affiliation link. It costs you nothing more, but it helps pay the cost of accommodation and management of my blog.) If you are a member of the ATD, it can be cheaper Buy it in the ATD bookstore. Check the ATD store for additional free resources, including a coloring book.
More recommended books
Are you looking for more books? I have a list with more 50 recommendations for books related to educational design and Elearning.
Consult my criticisms of certain previous books from Karl Kapp.
Related
At Learnopoly, Finn has championed a mission to deliver unbiased, in-depth reviews of online courses that empower learners to make well-informed decisions. With over a decade of experience in financial services, he has honed his expertise in strategic partnerships and business development, cultivating both a sharp analytical perspective and a collaborative spirit. A lifelong learner, Finn’s commitment to creating a trusted guide for online education was ignited by a frustrating encounter with biased course reviews.